Funchal

Sounds like an Asian name doesn't it? I remember pulling into the bay there in Funchal, Madiera years ago. I had never heard of the place. We anchored off of there for the whole day but we couldn't go to shore. We anchored there to pick up Navy personell that were going to ride the ship with us into the Med. I could see with my binoculars everything there real close. The houses, the streets, the hills. The bay was full of yachts and people riding by our boat. The weather was great. I was picking up the local radio station. It was all in Portuguese, but modern music, recognizable songs. I even have some pictures of Madiera all very clear. Mostly with my shipmates in the bow of the ship with Madiera in the background. Interesting going to a place but never actually being able to get off and see it, but yet see so much of it via binoculars and so very close to shore. Even take pictures with Madiera as a backdrop. This is one place I have never heard of anyone ever going before or since my short visit enroute to Europe.