Madeira - NOT JUST WINE, BUT ALSO THE ISLAND (continued, part 3) Today, tourism plays an important role in the economy of Madeira. Crowds of tourists climb to the church on the hill of Monte, located above Funchal, who is on a cable car, who is by taxi or bus. We usually do not go there, where many tourists, as you probably already know, but this time we decided to go to the mountains and on the way we stopped to look at the Catholic Church and those who ventured down from the mountain in Madeira, a braided sled punishment de seshtu. Most of the passengers seated sleigh with a stone face of fear, while the driver in big hats and shoes with thick soles sled run, dodging between cars. Such is the local extreme! Karu de seshtu winding roads of Madeira - it is a separate adventure. Flat land on the island are rare, and get from point A to point "B" through the mountains that grew straight from the sea, has always been a difficult task. Oddly enough, but the donkeys, which can be found throughout most of Portugal, Spain and Greece, not here. Had - the money the EU - to build on the island of tunnels with two-way roads, which bring tourists from Funchal to remote villages in a very short time. It is difficult to say how one can justify the construction of tunnels on the island with a population of just 280,000 people. Generally speaking, I do not currently represent the distribution of money to taxpayers when the EU first appeared on the horizon. It is also obvious that the builders had a good day when it was decided to build new houses, hotels and apartments on the horrendous cost. However, in general, on the island is clean and neat. On the streets there is almost no litter, and villages and the city look beautiful and well maintained. Mature ladies in vintage aprons and head scarves are constantly sweeping the stairs of their homes and look after their gardens, which date back to the hills. Local residents, both men and women who are pitchforks and hoes on their shoulders, wandered along the road home after a long day of work in the field. Men wear a traditional woolen hat with pointy ears, the shoulders are usually bags and a belt curve grafter. Above the clouds All the villages are mostly similar to each other: a few dozen white houses, school, football field (Cristiano Ronaldo was born in Funchal, in fact!) And a couple of bars. In general, not necessarily somewhere special to go to admire the architecture. In addition, the island is only 56 kilometers from shore to shore. However, we found one exception, however, it is no longer a village. Locality Calheta is today in transition from a quiet simple village to a huge seaside town. Beaches delight it brought from abroad, golden sand, a city built modern hotels, a large port is already full of yachts and ships, cafes and expensive restaurants. The cause of such rapid growth, I think, is an attempt to create jobs in the region and reducing the outflow of young people from the island, and, of course, the development of a modern economy. As a result, a beautiful island 600 kilometers off the coast of Morocco may well be another Algarve (thriving tourist region in the south of Portugal, ca. TRANSFER.) [Thumb http://trvlworld.net/uploads/posts/2010-07/1278388629_por10-calheta . jpg [/ thumb]] Calheta Once again, we were lucky. True, we are lucky all the time because our luck is well planned. But what we've come to the island in the very same weekend when the flower festival is held here, which takes place 2 weeks after Easter, was a real success. The Saturday parade brought thousands onto the streets of Funchal beautifully dressed children, who bore the greatest value of the island - flowers: orchids, bugenvelii, hibiscus and calla lilies. They carried them through the cobbled streets, adorned with a dark blue zhakarandoy (genus of evergreen trees, prim.perev.) To the city park of the Park-du-Munisipiu to build a "Wall of Hope". It was a colorful, joyful and pleasant event. The main celebrations were to be held on Sunday afternoons. By this time, crowds took to the streets, and dress the camera, waiting patiently for the emergence of vendors of balloons that are to loud music have been announcing the approaching main event. About an hour before the parade began to rain, a real English rain. People immediately ran away, where someone in search of shelter, many have already managed to get wet, others opened umbrellas, others fled to shops and sheds in office buildings, with happy faces (surprisingly), poking fun at each other. Surprisingly, where does the spirit of comradeship, when happen any trouble? The parade was canceled, as we were told this was only the second time in the history of the event. The holiday was moved to the next day, Monday. Flower Festival has come Monday, but we did not know that the start time for the parade will carry 2 hours ago, at 14:00. This was done in order to again avoid the rain that was promised in the afternoon. But of this we learned later. Quite by accident we came back to town just to the top. We were on a walk and decided that it was better to return to the city than to overcome the last 4 miles of steep slope. The parade, of course, was simply stunning! Group by group dancers, dressed in beautiful costumes, marched through the streets of Funchal, within an hour. All danced, sang, smiled, and all around there were flowers, flowers, flowers! As soon as the march ended, started the promised rain. But the rain got a strong wind, which rattled the windows in our hotel until the morning. Start material: Completion of material:
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