Grumpy in Madeira

Bom Dia,

When I went out to feed the beast’s this morning. It was a little unusual the two dogs and the cat were just sitting there looking around them. They are usually jumping around glad to see me and excited to be fed.

It looked like the dogs had a rave during the night, all blankets outside with chew toys and bones.

They were acting a little stranger than usual but there’s lots of strange things in Madeira.

I went to the food cupboard to sort out their breakfast.

Smokey, Bandit and Cookie watched me. Their look of alarm grew. It was as if they were thinking OMG he’s going over THERE!!!!!!!!

I saw something that explained why they were looking at me with TERROR in their eyes.

It was enormous. It was eyeing up it’s own breakfast, it had all eight eyes on the dogs and cats.

I tried to coax Cookie over to deal with the big intruder but I thought he/she was going to cry.

There was only one thing for it. To protect my terrified animals, I had to deal with it myself..

How hard could it be?

I’m usually not frightened of spiders. Although this one did have bigger and hairier legs than me and more of them. I didn’t want to kill it, even if I could!!!!

I got an empty yoghurt carton. I use it for the dog’s dry food. I then approached the big hairy, googly-eyed fucker.

Just as i placed the container next to it, IT JUMPED!!!!!! Right towards me and the pets. I jumped more than the athletic arachnid.

The cat scattered. The dogs ran for the kennel. I tried to get in with them but couldn’t, so I ran for the kitchen.

After my heart had slowed to rapid, I went back. The dogs poked their heads out from the kennel. The cat watched from the tree. The tarantula had gone.

Not a good way to start the day.

As if my heart didn’t beat fast enough this morning, Maria had an idea.

We’re going for a walk. It’s a lovely day for it, a hot and humid 28 degrees.

Maria’s son Ruben is lucky enough to live right in the centre of Camara de Lobos village. We parked our car at his place to start our walk.

We stopped at the harbour first for a coffee and a bottle of agua. They make a great Poncha here. We thought we’d better start with a coffee though.

We both had Garoto’s, it’s a small coffee, made with half coffee half milk.

Garoto means boy or little one. It describes a small coffee. This drink is perfect for those that like an espresso but prefer it softened with a little milk.

We wondered about the village, it’s surprisingly busy for 9.30, lots of tourists about.

We saw an old statue and a new one. Winston Churchill has been in the village for quite a while now. There is also a new one at the harbour.

We’re not sure what the new one depicts. Some say it’s a woman looking out to sea waiting for her fisherman husband to come home. Or she could be wondering where her husband has been for the last few weeks.

🤔

From the village, we walked up the steps. We continued onto the walkway that leads to Pria Formosa and then on to the Lido.

There were kid’s jumping off the pier and people in swimming and snorkeling already.

We walked up and around the corner. There is an area with rocks stained white. We saw a very old, strange building there. It is the Forno da Cal, a potash kiln, built in 1874 to produce lime. It closed down in the twentieth century and the fisherman used that area to dry the Scabbard fish (Espada)

Next is a swimming pool/Lido area. There is a small entry charge.

There’s a cafe, parasols and a big pool with a smaller Jacuzzi type pool. There’s access to the sea too.

There is also lifeguards on duty all day.

We carried on walking, the path is very good and well kept. Looking back towards Camara de Lobos the view is beautiful.

The rock formation is just a great colour and is so vibrant.

It’s lovely to look at. However, it always makes me uneasy. I’m no geologist, but it looks like sandstone to me. Isn’t that supposed to be soft?

I know having a sea view is desirable. But come on, do you really need to build your house so close to the edge?

As we walked on, the path comes up onto the road but only for fifty metres or so. Then you join the walkway on stilts that leads towards Pria Formosa.

This area at the start of the walkway is partly industrial. There is the Dry Boatyard, the Gas and Cement works. It is still nice to look out to sea.

It takes approx 25 mins to complete a leisurely walk to Pria Formosa passing the Orca Pria hotel. It really is a nice walk.

We walked to our favourite bar/restaurant Beira Calhau and had a tuna toasty and a beer or two & coffee. I’ll let you guess who had which. Then we walked back again.

The walk was great. Maria was happy she had over 14,000 steps. I was happy I had a few beers.

I had walked for over 14,000 steps. I was feeling good. So I decided to do what everyone who’s feeling fit and healthy does, I made a chocolate cake.

Grumpy’s Chocolate Cake

INGREDIENTS:

175g unsalted butter

175g caster sugar

3 large eggs

50g cocoa powder

100g self raising flour

2 tbsp milk

METHOD:

Heat oven to 190c/170c fan and butter a baking tin

With a hand held or electric mixer beat the butter and sugar until creamy

Add 2 eggs whilst mixing

In a separate bowl sieve the cocoa powder, flour and pinch of salt then add half of it to the wet mixture and mix well

Add the last egg and rest of the flour and mix until the batter is smooth and thick

Place mixture into prepared tin and place into oven

Bake for 25/30 mins or until skewer comes out clean

Remove from oven and let cool

sprinkle with icing sugar (optional)

Enjoy on its own, with ice-cream or custard. Coffee, Tea, Cerveja or Vinho.