Friday 23 January

Tom reminded me to tell you that, having had a three course lunch yesterday, which we’re not used to, a sandwich would do us for dinner So we walked down to the big supermarket to buy the makings of such, then we had to walk back up 110 proper size steps just to get back to lower street level. (Tom’s note – there are two supermarkets in that area. One is about 50 yards further, but on the flat. Maggie decided to go for the closer one!); then a steep slope up to Rua de Casa Branca where the hotel is and THEN up the 150 shallower steps to the hotel entrance! I think we can safely say that we had good exercise.

After yesterday’s exertions, and having woken up with a sore throat AGAIN, AND the weather looked decidedly dull, we thought we’d have another lazy day. The blog took ages anyway as I had to keep referring to the map and the photos we’d taken so I didn’t miss out anything.

In the afternoon we walked to the internet café and Tom posted the blog for your entertainment and checked the e-mails while I wandered and bought some postcards – not to send, so don’t expect any. Then we changed and caught the bus into Funchal. We had time to spare, so had a pleasant walk along the seafront, passing the boat the Beatles used to own, (now a floating restaurant) and then wandered around the streets and alleys.

We ate at a little café in one of the backstreets where the food was really good and very reasonably priced. Then it was time to make our way to the English Church where we had tickets to attend a Mandolin concert. Madeira’s Mandolin, or Bandolin in Portuguese, orchestra is the oldest of its kind in Europe and also has some of the youngest players. The youngest last night was 10. The orchestra was composed of sections similar to a string orchestra, with 3 different sections of Bandolins , 1 section of Bandoletas, 1 of Bandolas (bigger still), Bandoloncelos , 5 guitars and 1 Guitarrom (equating to violins, violas, slightly bigger violas, guitar and double cello,)

The orchestra’s conductor, Eurico Martins, who is also their director and music arranger, was ill so they played with no conductor, a difficult enough feat for even a mature orchestra, never mind one as young as this. The Leader, who was the lead guitarist, conducted from his position.
Not knowing quite what to expect, we were amazed to find it was one of the most enjoyable concerts we’ve been to. We knew all the items on the programme, which varied from the Skaters’ Waltz to “O Sole Mio” and “Winter” from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. The young soloist for “Winter” was Andre Martins, the son of the conductor and he was fantastic. He is only in his early teens but his ability can only get better. He looked so amazed at the applause he got at the end of the piece and again at the end of the concert. It was enough to bring tears to the eyes. Their final piece was Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, a very intricate and difficult piece, but apart from a slight hesitation in timing at one point, they performed it extremely well..

We bought one of their CD’s on the way out and came away feeling quite elated with our evening of “culture. The orchestra has performed all over Europe and is coming to England in July. If any of you are interested, their website is http://www.orquestrabandolinsmadeira.com/
And now it’s time to leave you for the night – “see” you tomorrow!