Funchal to Lisbon

The weather in Madeira started to improve just as I was leaving. Typical! I packed my bag ready for check out and went for a quick walk down the hill to the Lido. The big pool would be lovely in summer. Today the air temperature was 16 and the water temperature 19. (My pool at Burswood is heated to 26 and I’d still like it a bit warmer). A few brave souls were swimming lengths:

It’s a really big pool, with hundreds of lounge beds for sunbathers (none today!) and the Atlantic waves were pounding the rocks below. Growing nearby is this magnificent tree:

Then it was time to get a taxi to the airport, where I had a couple of hours wait for the plane:

It was very windy as we walked across the tarmac to board. The plane took off into the wind and all was well.

The arrival in Lisbon was most depressing: heavy rain was falling. I’m staying in a private room in Lisbon Lounge Hostel, one of the first hostels to be built in the city for budget travellers. Dinner was available at 7.00 pm and I found myself eating with a group of 16 year olds from the American School in London:

They were very polite. I told them to read Never Let Me Go.