From Livramento back down
We had been warned that the end of the run was no where near the cable car but was just about halfway down the hill. It was a taxi or a long walk to get down to the town centre. We opted for a taxi and discovered that this would be the extortionate fare of 30 Euros.
We shared the taxi with a couple who were on holiday on Madeira. They told us that the weather had been so windy earlier in the week on the island that their plane had been delayed by 24 hours before being allowed to fly to Madeira.
The taxi ride may have been expensive but the driver clearly wanted to get back up the hill for his next fares as he drove down very fast, dodging around parked cars and I sear missing raised gutters by the smallest of margins.
Lunch on the Avenida Arriaga
The streets were now getting busy and we stopped at the first restaurant on the Avenida Arriaga for a beer.
Outside under their marquee we were sheltered and we watched people walking by as we relaxed with out drinks.
I went inside to use the loos and had a good look at the inside of the restaurant and at some of the meals that were being served. Once outside we asked the maitre d’ to transfer us to a table inside and we settled down for a good lunch.
To Rua de Santo Maria
After lunch we went looking for the row of decorated doors that we had heard so much about. On our way we stopped and did some shopping for locally made cork mats and to take in the sights.
Rua de Santo Maria
We joined the street some way down as we came to it from the the cable car station. The street ran parallel to to the sea. It was narrow and was a pedestrian only street with restaurant after restaurant along it. Their tables making the street even narrower.
Once on the street we turned right and I was busy photographing the decorated doors and walls.
Further up the street after crossing a small bridge the street widened and we now had to dodge cars as we walked along. At the top of the street we reached a small church on our left and on our right was the sea. Below was a swimming pool and to our right we could see the port.
I walked out along a walkway at the side of a restaurant to have a better view.
This was the end of decorated doors and walls and we turned back to retrace our steps.
The patisserie on the way back
We passed a patisserie with a queue of customers. This was clearly a popular shop from the queue. We joined it and bought a couple of the local speciality custard tarts to keep us going.
We soon reached where we had joined and now I had more decorated doors and walls to see as we walked towards the market. Our friends were on the street also looking at the doors. We all walked to the end of the street just below the covered market.
Along the Avenida Arriaga we passed young ladies still wearing their costumes after the flower festival.
We all then walked to the ship along the promenade rather than catch a shuttle bus. We watched the Costa cruise ship leave later in the afternoon.
