www.madeiraactive.com

www.madeiraactive.co.uk

A plea from Jennifer Mathieson

Elderly Friends of ours purchased a timeshare at the Madeira Regency Club in
1988 and visited their purchase in 1990.
They were thrilled with their investment and we spent a couple of enjoyable
holidays out there with them. A few years later when Friends of theirs felt
that they could no longer manage the long journey we purchased their
apartment from them.
I only have one thing that I miss when I am in Madeira I am a Quaker and I
treasure that quiet form of worship on a Sunday morning. Are there any
Quakers in Madeira?
After my mothers death I was surprised to find a postcard of a place I
recognised. It was from my Grandmother sent from Madeira in 1936.
Contact: jenifer.mathieson@virgin.net

Christmas Illuminations from 23 November

The preparations for the end-of-year festivities that take place all over the island begin in November. This event officially starts off on 23 November with
the switching on of the Christmas Illuminations. The city of Funchal is transformed into a very beautiful life-size nativity scene, and the streets are
decorated with all different sizes of multicoloured lights depicting designs that clearly symbolize Christmastime on the Island.
At the beginning of December, this scenario is further enriched, because these decorations are joined by Christmas exhibitions, many of which display
floral arrangements, featuring such flowers as Manhãs de Páscoa, Sapatinhos and many others that help bring beauty and joy to the streets of Funchal.
The streets fill up with people, who are attracted by the magic and by the sound of music that contaminates everybody. Some people use this as an opportunity to do their Christmas shopping, whereas others simply walk about absorbing the frenzied atmosphere and the “party” spirit that can be felt all over the city.

11th Madeira International Bridge Open
3 to 9 November

Madeira Sports Club, in partnership with Hotel CS Madeira Atlantic Resort & Sea Spa and the Top Atlântico Travel Agency, is organising the 11th Madeira
International Bridge Open, which will take place between 3 and 9 November. This event has brought many bridge enthusiasts to the Madeira Islands, and
this year it is offering more than €27,500 in Prize Money and will involve more than 300 participants. Further information is available from
www.bridge-madeira.com

13th CITY OF FUNCHAL MEETING OF UNIVERSITY TUNA SINGERS
1 December

Every year, TUMa (The University Tuna Singers of Madeira) organises the City of Funchal Meeting of University Tuna Singers, with the aim of promoting
the spirit and the academic life. This event has been held since 1995. It takes place on the first Saturday in December, and is staged at the highest
point of the Municipal Square (Praça do Município), with performances by the host singers and their guests.
This year, it will feature a special performance by “Jogralhos - Grupo de Jograis Universitários do Minho”. Socio-cultural activities for visitors are also
organized during this event. Further information at: http://www.uma.pt/tuma

Porto Santo - The stage for large European Golf tournaments
2 to 9 November

Porto Santo Golfe will be the stage for two important European golf tournaments, the “2nd Pro-Am Italy” and the “German Business Masters”.
The “2nd Pro-Am Italy”, which begins on 2 November will feature three days (2, 3 and 5 November) of competition and involve a total of 140 professional
and amateur Italian golfers, competing for 32,500 euros in prize-money. The tournament is being organized by Porto Santo Golfe, in partnership with an
Italian professional, Lorenzo Golzer of Golf Team, and is sponsored by PGAItaly, together with “i Viaggi di Atlantide”, an Italian tour operator. This
year, for the first time, the event will be covered by an Italian television channel, Sky 3, which will broadcast special programmes about the event, highlighting the fact that the
golden island is one of the Italian public’s main holiday destinations.
Straight after this event, from 6 to 9 November, it is the turn of the largest amateur golf tournament for German companies: the “German Business Masters”. Around 80 of the best German golfers, including some of the most important businessmen with connections to a wide range of the economic areas of the country, will be present at this event.
The event’s major sponsor will be the German economic newspaper “Handelsblatt”, together with other important partners, such as Alfa-Romeo, Jobsforfinance, EuroHypo, and will be covered by the German television channel, Artiv TV.
This tournament will also be supported by the Madeira Islands Promotion Association (APM) and the “Hotel Porto Santo”, where all the competitors will stay. The tournament will decide the German representatives for the final of the World Corporate Golf Challenge.

Source Madeira Tourismo

A new petition has been set up in a bid to halt the work proposed to build a new cable car in the area of Rabacal. If you would like to sign the petition then click on the image above and fill in the petition on line.

Tall ships visit Funchal

Pictures and arrangement by Tobi Hughes

In October, destination Madeira is the stage for various sports and cultural events which will fill the
remaining sunny days of Autumn. Make the most of this balmy climate and the still very pleasant
temperature of this month, and go swimming in the sea or simply relax on an inviting esplanade. Make
sure you also get to know the fairs and promotional events in which Madeira will be represented this
month.

Round the Island by Bicycle – Madeira

From 04 to 12 October, Madeira will host the XXXII Round the Island by
Bicycle event, a race included in the category of junior and amateur cycling.
This race, which covers the entire island of Madeira giving a different colour
to its regional roads, is organised by the Associação de Desportos da Madeira
(Madeira Sports Association) and will involve regional, national and
international cyclists.

IV Madeira Paragliding Meeting - II National WIND Meeting

Organised by the Associação de Voo Livre da Madeira (Madeira Free Flight
Association), from 2 to 5 October of the present year, is the 4th Madeira
Paragliding Championship, an event of national coverage designated as the
‘IV Madeira Paragliding Meeting - II National WIND Meeting’.
This event, included in the commemorations of the V Centenary of the City of
Funchal, will involve approximately 70 pilots from different regional and
national clubs.
The event will begin with a leisure component, where regional and national
pilots can make use of the first two days (Thursday and Friday) to train and
to test the flying conditions over the city of Funchal (Funchal Ecological
Park/Funchal beach), thus accompanying the nautical spectacle of the ‘Tall Ships Race’ taking place at
the same time in Funchal bay.

Regional Meeting of Bands – Ribeira Brava

In the month of October, at the end of the traditional religious feasts, the
village of Ribeira Brava welcomes the annual Regional Meeting of Bands.
This cultural and tourism oriented initiative,was created in an attempt to
conserve Madeira’s musical heritage and to publicly pay tribute to the
extraordinary collaboration of the Philharmonic bands in favour of the public
entertainment initiatives and the indisputable joyfulness that they instil into
Madeira’s traditional feasts.
A parade of all the bands will take place on Sunday 12th, at 16h, through the
main streets of the town of Ribeira Brava. Then the bands get together in the
stage at the coastal avenue and each band presents its individual repertoire,
usually for 10 minutes.
The meeting ends with a combined anthem composed specifically for the occasion. Trophies are then
handed out, and a celebration follows.

FICF - Festival Internacional de Cinema do Funchal (Funchal
International Cinema Festival)

From 07 to 15 November
A The 4th edition of the International Film Festival of Funchal, FIFF-Madeira,
will be held at the Baltazar Dias Municipal Theatre, from 7 to 15 November.
The main aim of the FIFF is to publicise quality cinematography as yet
unknown to the people of Madeira.
This festival welcomes the participation of feature films, in the 35mm format,
produced between 2006 and 2008, which shall compete for the “Caravela de
Prata” (FIFF Silver Caravel) award. The programme of the festival can be
found at the official website of FICF, which is www.funchalfilmfest.com .

TUI awards Albergaria Dias

A Albergaria Dias, a 4 star hotel located in the old part of the city of Funchal,
was elected by the customers of the TUI tour operator as the ‘Best Hotel in
the World’ and ‘Best Hotel in Western Europe, Mediterranean and Canaries’.
The selection of this hotel from Madeira was based on the result of 500
thousand questionnaires filled in by TUI customers and covered a total of 12
thousand hotels spread all over the World.
This small hotel has only 35 rooms, allowing for the provision of personalised
and family service, which was a factor differentiating it from its most direct
competitors.
It should also be noted that of the nine Portuguese hotel selected (Riu Palace
Madeira, Éden Mar, Pestana Palms, Alpino Atlântico, Albergaria dias, Jardim Atlântico, Quinta da Penha
de França, Riu Palace Algarve and Casabela), seven are situated in Madeira, which confirms the
excellence of the quality of the hotels in Madeira.

Hotel Jardim Atlântico recognised
The North American television channel “Fine Living” awarded Hotel Jardim
Atlântico as one of the ten best eco-resorts in the world, being notable as the
only European hotel to achieve this distinction.
The hotel, located in Prazeres, Calheta, ranked in seventh place in the “topten”
of the abovementioned television channel, receiving special mention for
its environmental practices and awareness, provision of service to guests,
and also for the more than 30 awards it has received since its opening in
1993, most of which refer to good environmental practices.
The North American site also makes specific mention of the “Passeio dos pés
descalços” (“Barefoot walk”), essentially an exercise of reflexology which
ends in a waterfall which runs down the mountain and is used for agricultural irrigation in Prazeres.
It should be noted that “Fine Living”, through its television channel and site (www.fineliving.com) has an
average monthly audience of 3.6 million people, the vast majority of which comprise the high
consumption segments, greatly concerned with ecological issues and the protection of Nature.

New air link

From the end of October, the Madeira destination will have yet another air
link between Madeira and Lisbon with two regular daily air links, operated by
the British low cost company EasyJet.
According to the airline company, the “enormous tourist potential” of Madeira
was one of the factors which led to the interest in the Lisbon-Madeira route,
and it aims to establish itself as the reference low cost company at Madeira
airport and achieve leadership in this segment.
EasyJet has operated at Madeira Airport since October 2007, offering daily
flights from Stansted, 5 weekly flights from Gatwick and 3 weekly flights
from Bristol.

Intense promotion of Madeira throughout Europe

The month of October marked the full return to action promoting destination
Madeira, with special attention to emerging markets such as Poland and
Romania.
On 8th October, destination Madeira will be present at the Reed Business
Forum, an event entirely devoted to the MI product (meeting incentives),
which will be held in Amsterdam. On the 14th and 15th, the cities of Vienna
and Graz respectively, will receive a workshop on destination Madeira, where
the novelties of the destination will be promoted on a market which has been
gaining an increasingly greater share of the market share.
In Poland, more specifically in Poznan, the 19th Tourism Fair Tour Salon will
be held on the 16th to 18th October, a highly reputed event visited by a vast number of professionals
and the general public in which the destination Madeira will be present with an exhibition module.
From the 22nd to 24th October, Madeira will be represented at the 36th Exhibition of Tourism and
Brazilian Congress of Tourism Agencies, to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with a Destination Module
integrated in the Portuguese Stand.
Aimed at increasing the volume of Romanian tourists to the Autonomous Region of Madeira, Madeira will
be present, from the 23rd to 26th October, at yet another session of the international tourism fair of
Romania, TTR – The Tourism Fair of Romania with an area of 9 m2.
Montreux, in Switzerland will receive, from the 29th to 31st October, the 33rd TTW - Travel Trade
Workshop, a fair destined only for tourism professionals, in which the destination Madeira will be
promoted.
From the 31st October to 3rd November, yet another session of the Launching of the Catalogue of the
German Tour Operator Jahn Reisen/LTU will be held in Berlin under the name “REWE Touristik”. This
event will include the presence of travel agencies, hotels, companies linked to the tourist sector and
Tourism Regions of different countries and parallel activities will be organised such as conferences and
different presentations on subjects linked to current trends in the international tourist sector.

Source: Madeira Turismo

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The programme of the commemorations of the World Tourism Day in Madeira includes the presentation of flowers and small gifts to tourists landing at Madeira Airport and in the streets of Funchal, free entry into museums and gardens, a concert of ancient music at the Palace of São Lourenço, performances by folkloric groups and philharmonic bands as well as a series of activities linked to Nature, such as a canyoning circuit, abseiling, sliding, Tyrolese or double bridge, archery, donkey rides, observation of cetaceans and a boat trip to the Ilhas Desertas. Tourists wishing to participate in these activities should acquire an access card at the Tourist Information Counter, Av. Arriaga, 18, Funchal, from 22nd September onwards

The month of August on Madeira is known for its traditional festivities, amongst which the main religious feast “Festa de Nossa Senhora do Monte” is a highlight. You may choose the lush green freshness of the Laurissilva Forest, on Madeira, or the warm golden hues of the magnificent sandy beach on Porto Santo. The warm weather and the sea also provide ideal conditions for practicing water sports.
Camachense Art Festival From 8th to 12th August, the typical parish of Camacha will hold the 20th edition of the Art Festival called “Art Camacha 2008”, a festival which is entirely devoted to local traOrganised by the Casa do Povo of Camacha, this year’s edition will include the special participation of the Portuguese “Xaile” and the Folk Dancing Group of Puerto de la Cruz of Venezuela as well as the usual folk dancing groups of the parish, amongst others. In addition to the musical entertainment, there will also be an exhibition of plastic arts by artists born in Camacha.
Porto Santo Megadance The “Porto Santo Megadance 2008” event, organised by Creatives RAM will be held at Penedo do Sono, and will bring internationally, nationally and regionally known DJs to the Golden Island. The choice at an international level fell on Laidback Luke, Dirty South, Mark Knight, Peace Division and the Hoxton Whores, while the national choice was Sexy Sound System, Overule, Pedro Tabuada, Jiggy, Lady M and Luís Leite. At a regional level, the electronic music has been given to Marco Camacho, Sil, Ricardo Gouveia, Pedro Afonseca, Filipe Quintal, Nélio Fabrício, Carl Ruas and Sérgio Soares. The Creatives RAM will also count on the performance of the singer Jaba, who sings “Rise Up”. From 8th to 19th August, Penedo do Sono will also provide entertainment in three bars (Dokaki, Yatch Club and Keops).

Monte Festival - From 14 to 15 August
This is considered the main religious folk festival in the region and it is also commemorated wherever in the world Madeiran immigrants are to be found.
The Church “Igreja da Nossa Senhora do Monte”, (Our Lady of the Mount), patron saint of Madeira, is also very popular with pilgrims who come here to pray or fulfil vows by the tomb of Emperor Karl I of Austria. Karl I died in 192at Quinta do Monte, now called Quinta Jardins do Imperador or Quinta of thEmperor’s Gardens.
It is a lively celebration lasting two days and transforms the romantic, picturesque parish of Monte into one of the busiest places in Madeira, full of traditional food and drink stalls and plenty of music.

Commemoration of 500 years of Funchal – City Day The City Hall of Funchal and Funchal 500 Anos E.E.M., have scheduled for the following 21st of the month – City Day, the festivities commemorating 500 years since D. Manuel I elevated the town of Funchal to the category of city. A programme has been created for this event with initiatives from a historical parade to a display by “Asas de Portugal” (an acrobatic team of the Portuguese Air Force), parades of the military, militarised and security forces, naval and air parades, music and a relay race which will involve 500 people and unite all the municipalities of the Region around its capital. The objective of these activities will be to involve the entire population of Funchal, as well as all its visitors. For more information on the programme, consult: www.funchal500anos.com

XVII Round Madeira by Canoe Organised by Centro Treino Mar, the XVII Round Madeira by Canoe will be held this year from 26 to 31 August. This event, integrated in an international race of the Portuguese Canoeing Federation and International Canoeing Federation, is already known for its high degree of difficulty as well as the natural beauty offered by the coast to its competitors. The race covers 141km distributed along nine laps, all supported by the organisation. thst
For more information, consult: www.madeiraemcanoa.com

Assistance to persons with diminished mobility Since the last 26th July, ANAM – Aeroportos da Madeira has provided a Service of Assistance to Disabled Persons and to Persons of Diminished Mobility called MyWay. This service basically involves accompanying the person to his/her place on the airplane where the Airport’s responsibility ends and consists in providing personal assistance and assistance for the check-in of baggage, at the security points, border and on boarding. This service is assured with duly trained and qualified personnel who are committed to complying with all the service quality levels recommended by ECAC.

International Astronomy Year launched in Madeira On the last 1st July – day of the Region and Communities of Madeira – the programme of the 2009 International Astronomy Year was officially launched on the Internet. This programme already includes 104 events and 12 initiatives, and it is probable that many more will be included up to the end of this year. For more information, consult: www.um

Madeira Wine Festival
Recalling the social and economic importance of Madeira wine, the Madeira Wine Festival is held in September during the grape harvest, going back to the population’s old customs since the island was first settled.

In Câmara de Lobos the festival begins with the live grape harvest. The picking of the grapes, the pickers’ parade, treading the grapes and the whole ritual oftypical Madeira folk celebration are enjoyed by all. In the centre of Funchal there are light, sound and folk shows connected to traditional wine-making.
2008 Madeira Ultra Trail On 20th September, the Island of Madeira will hold yet another ultra-long trial in the Non-Stop format called 2008 Madeira Island Ultra Trail, the objective of which is to walk across the Island of Madeira in the maximum time of 24 hours. This event, organised by the Mountain Club of Funchal in partnership with Confraria Trotamontes will be composed of two walks, one of about 100 km and another of approximately 55 km. The organisation combined a series of specific characteristics of the island, from the beauty of its landscape, to its local gastronomy and hospitality for the purpose of showing the participants its excellent environment for hiking through the mountains. For more information, see: www.madeiraultratrail.com

2008 “Xôpana Jazz” Organised by Hotel Choupana Hills Resort & Spa, the second edition of “Xôpana Jazz” will be held from 4th to 6th September. The first night of the event will present the Trioangular and David Binney quintet with Mark Turner, while the second night is reserved for the performances of the Julian Argüelles Quartet with André Fernandes and the trio formed by Steve Swallow, Ohad Talmor and Adam Nussbaum. For the closure of the “Xôpana Jazz” 2008 edition, the entertainment of the last day will be assured by Maria João and Mário Laginha, together with Julian Argüelles, followed by Enrico Rava, on the trumpet.

XV Canaries International Regatta - Madeira/ 500 years of the city of Funchal ANM and the Empresa Municipal 500 anos Funchal in partnership with the Real Club Náutico de Gran Canárias have organised the XV Canaries International Regatta – Madeira/ 500 years of the city of Funchal. This regatta will leave Porto de Las Palmas on the next 2 September for the city of Funchal on a journey of 290 nautical miles, and takes part in the commemoration of the 500 years of the city of Funchal as well as in the festivities of the 100 years of Real Club Náutico de Gran Canária. nd
VIP World promotes ‘Quintas da Madeira’ The VIP World, one of the largest national tourist operators and world leader on the market for the sale of holiday packages on the Portuguese market for Madeira, has presented a new travel catalogue devoted to the “Quintas da Madeira”, a product covering 15 country houses in the Autonomous Region. The catalogue which is being launched presents a carefully chosen selection aimed at the medium-high segment. “Live the difference, visiting gardens perpetuated in time, savouring gastronomic delicacies accompanied by a fine wine and, above all, enjoying a relaxing and very peaceful atmosphere, is what this catalogue of choices aims to present”, as note the promoters of the new brochure. The operator emphasises its initiative as “an important step to develop one of the reference products of the destination Madeira – The Country Houses” referring to this product niche as “a very high quality offer”, with the “contemporary touch allied to the historical richness of these stately houses giving rise to a product of excellence based on its differentiation”.

Golf operators meet in Madeira From 31st May to 4th June of next year, the annual convention of one of the most prestigious world golf organisations, the IAGTO, will be held in Madeira. ‘IAGTO – International Association of Golf Tour Operators’, was created in 1997, for the purpose of getting together, at a world level, the main actors of the golf tourism market. Madeira is the only Portuguese region where IAGTO has proposed creating its own centre, a result of the specific characteristics of the Region, as a golf destination. Over 50 golf tourism operators are expected to come, as well as journalists, IAGTO members and other opinion leaders, in a total of approximately 100 guests, all of enormous influence in this tourist segment. Participation in the annual conventions of IAGTO is subject to an invitation issued by the region hosting the event.
source - Madeira Tourism

78 years old `Grandad´,and son Peter Wadsworth 49 years old, from England,searched the Internet to fullfill a life long dream of catching a Big Blue ,and chose the `Savage´ built in 1955 and now operating for 3 years from the new Marina in Calheta Madeira,and after 3 days of fishing caught 2 Big Blue Marlin!Grandad caught the first fish and after only 45minutes the fish was brought to the side of the boat, estimated at 950lbs `it was the fish of a lifetime´ for Grandad and fulfilled a life long dream.
With Helmsman and first mate Matthew Waddell at the wheel,and Captain and linesman Charlie Smith handling the fish, it was safely released to fight another day.
On the 3rd day at 2.00pm an enormous Blue Marlin was spotted just a few meters behind the Savage (estimate 1200\1400lbs) it then dropped back an took the short right lure unfortunately it grabbed the leader before it took the lure and cut the line like a piece of cotton,and took a 150 euro lure with it.
At 6.00pm and with only 30 minutes of fishing left to go, the Savage headed for Calheta and on the last turn toward the Marina another Blue Marlin was spotted, and with a quick turn to Starboard the fish attacked and took the lure,then proceeded to jump toward the sunset! the fish put up a great fight with many spectacular jumps,exhausting Peter the fisherman after a 2 hour fight.
Unfortunately after the Marlin (estimate 750lbs) was brought to the boat it had the line rapped around its tail,and sadly drowned.The fish was later towed into Calheta Marina and donated to the old peoples home near Calheta.