It is 6.30 a.m. on 31 December 2020. The alarm clock rings and we both get up from bed. It is the last day of this year that has begun.
To make this day extra special and festive we had decided to start today with a walk. But before the walk, first enjoy the last sunrise of the year, especially with a cup of tea at 1600 meters altitude.
We drove at a quarter past 7 from home to the viewpoint where we always go, so we'll be there well before sunrise. We brought a filled thermos, which we had just given each other as a present under the Christmas tree. Tea from Pukka with a blend of lemon, ginger & manuka honey. Isn't that how you want to start every day together?
Once arrived a small walk of about 10 minutes up from the place where we parked our car over the rough path with stones and crevices. Wonderfully fresh and around freezing point it is here at just over 1600 meters altitude. The small puddles and pieces of grass creak under our shoes as we walk up the path. But the creaking is the only sound you hear here, what a richness and so nice to experience. When we are upstairs we pour a cup of tea and both stare silently at the horizon around us. It's not the first time we are standing here, but that's how it feels. What a magic it always is, the beginning of a new day and this time also the last time of the old year.
For us it is so nice to be able to enjoy these little things together, which are actually the biggest you can wish for. The sun rises and the horizon turns as if it were a peacock that wants to show its most beautiful colours. This day is already a success, both of us realise that we live here together and are healthy as well.
Enjoying the beauty we just saw, we drive in the direction of Fanal. We would like to be there at an early moment, we thought. Once arrived a veil of fog and outside still a degree or three above zero. Fanal is a special place, a magical place that is centuries old. The view of the trees that stand here on the hilly landscape tell you that this is a place with history.
We walk together through this area, looking around us how it looks in the early morning. The feeling that you want to walk on and see more comes to the surface. We walk through the valley and from there up again, zigzagging through the landscape. The branches are overgrown with long stretches of moss and there through the first rays of sun coming over the hill. It seems like a fairy tale to be able to walk through here so early. After about 20 minutes at least 100 photos and a few minutes of this beauty filmed. Of that one tree, that light shining through the branches, my girlfriend standing on a hill and forming a beautiful image. We realise that we also have to go here with our friends from Holland, and the guests who come on holiday. You don't feel anything here and the silence makes it so special.
After an hour of wandering around here we decide to find a place in the early sun and eat our breakfast. While we sit here we look at each other and we know for sure. What a beautiful place we live in and what a privilege it is to experience this together with a whole life ahead of us.
Tonight together with our kittens and a crackling fire we make a beautiful dinner and usher in the new year.
From Madeira we wish everyone a healthy and happy year.
Hopefully we can welcome some of you here on the island. We will not disappoint you.
More then 30 ideas on how to spend a rainy day on Madeira!
Of course, when you're on vacation, it's usually more enjoyable when it doesn't rain. But Madeira has more to offer during those rare rainy moments than most people might think. For us, it was quite a surprise to see how much there is to do on the island, which may not always be immediately apparent to visitors. Here's a nice collection of things to visit or do on a rainy day during your vacation here.
About six months after we finished our project here on Madeira in 2019, suddenly everything came to a standstill again. We were just getting used to receiving guests in our little paradise. On 14 March 2020, not knowing then, we waved goodbye to our last guests, the airport pretty much went on lockdown and here on Madeira we went into a fairly severe lockdown.
Three years ago, Anne and I came to Madeira to settle down. By now, most of our project has been completed. With some small fun things left to do, we wanted to go for the next step. A new pet seemed like something really nice to have again.
Anyone who has not yet been to Madeira is mainly familiar with the name "Madeira flower island", but less obvious is the name "banana island". And that while the annual export is more than 600,000 kg to the mainland.
Maintaining a monthly blog in a period when the impulses from outside have disappeared does not seem to be easy at first. After all, we don't really experience much outside of our gate to write about. Provided you can count a weekly trip to the local supermarket. Let's not get into the details about that too much. Or is it?
In Madeira, you will find many roadside bars making Poncha. Often, this is already indicated outside with a sign with a picture of the traditional glass and a caralhinho (more on this later) next to it.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year - 5 redenen waarom je in December naar Madeira wil!
Madeira is onlangs alweer voor de vijfde keer verkozen tot ‘Best Island Destination Of The World’, iets waar we met z’n allen trots op mogen zijn. Jaarrond kun je hier genieten van de mooie en vaak ruwe natuur, het zachte klimaat en lekker eten en drinken, Madeira heeft voor ieder wat wils! Zo ook in December, mocht je nog een leuke bestemming zoeken voor bijvoorbeeld de kerstvakantie.
The last step of our renovation and looking to the future
On January 11, 2018 we came to Madeira together to start our new life. A new challenge, a different work pace, better weather and, above all, more time for each other.
Since we have been living in Madeira, a number of things have changed for us compared to our lives on Texel. There are great things that really make a difference, such as the climate.
After living in Madeira for almost 15 months, we moved in to our own newly renovated house 2 weeks ago. A reward for the long and intensive 6 months of renovation while living in the middle of the 'construction pit'.
Six months in rubble and dust ... We regularly scroll through our (mega) digital archive of renovation photos. So much debris, time and again we are surprised to look at the 'before photos'.
Six days a week 'our' workmen are busy preparing everything, so our week is always completely filled. Every morning from 8:00 we are ready for all questions and we try to have everything arranged as much as possible.
About a year ago we boarded the plane together to start our new life in Arco da Calheta in Madeira. After running a catering company on Texel for almost 16 years, we were ready to start a new life.
Hotel-restaurant De Smulpot in Den Burg will change hands after almost sixty-five years. Owner Dave Huizinga is moving with partner Anne Rienstra to Madeira early next year, where they have bought an estate.
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