Seniors Discover the Pearl of the Atlantic

Madeira, known as Pearl of the Atlantic, is a Portuguese archipelago that lies north of the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. The island of Madeira, relatively unknown to many senior travelers, boasts nice people, a great climate, great prices and a wonderful atmosphere. All this combines to make a great senior destination, actually a pleasant secret hidden out in the Atlantic.

Funchal, the capital of this stunning island is a lovely city surrounded by spectacular settings. Funchal has a population of just over 110,000 inhabitants. The name Funchal was given by the first settlers that landed on its shores because of  the abundance of wild fennel.  Funchal is full of life and super scenery.

A Most Beautiful Island

I have to admit that as a travel blog writer, I was not aware of the island of Madeira. I’ve missed all that deep azure water and lush green mountains. It is said to be one of the most beautiful islands of the world, a garden island.

The “Official Tourist Information” yields lots of information for first-time visitors. There are many tourist attractions on Madeira. You won’t want to miss the Monte Toboggan Sled Ride. You’ll love it just as Hemingway did. He found it to be the “most exhilarating experience” of his life…and he’d been around the block. The Cable Car ride is another must.

Seniors Get to Madeira

There are several airports that can fly you into Madeira including Gatwick and Heathrow. Wikitravel notes that Funchal has an international airport that can handle all sizes of aircraft. Upon landing, get ready to enjoy some great wine, fishing, beautiful walks and more.

While Portuguese is the official language, most inhabitants speak English and Spanish. Royal Caribbean cruises into Madeira, too, so talk with your travel agent and maybe just cruise on in. Let’s depart today by climbing aboard a noisy helicopter for an air tour of Funchal Bay, Madeira.

You’ll find that it’s one beautiful place.  Enjoy your visit to Madeira. jeb