The West Island tour that ends with Mojitos and the sun set

So it's Friday and I bet everyone is already planning their weekend! 

You may ask what do the locals do? well I can tell you what I am planning to do tomorrow!

Summer has reached the Island and temperatures are getting hoter and hoter by the day so tomorrow I will take myself on a west island tour. Starting in Funchal, my first stop for my morning coffee will be Camara de Lobos, The name of this parish comes from the fact that at the time of the discovery of the island loads of sea lions were sighted at that cove that still retains the same configuration. Currently these animals appear only occasionally on the south coast of the island, with a colony preserved in the Desert Islands. This is also where Churchill went to do his drawings. Up through the windy road I go until I reach Cabo Gir?o the highest sea cliff in Europe, the views are breathtaking and you will be taken aback with such glorious sights.

After morning coffee it's time drive through the dual carriageway and a another pit stop in Ribeira Brava This civil parish owes its name to the wild (Brava) river (Ribeira) that used to flow in this area, and sometimes it still does.  Here you will find lot's of cute shops with local products as well as a great shoe shop, you also have here the Museu Frederico de Freitas that is worth a visit. 

I think it may be nearly time for lunch, and where do I go, Ponta do Sol, here you will find some great local restaurants and the one right by the sea has a sea platter to die for, it say's for 2 people but I guarantee it could feed about 4. Lunch over and through waterfalls and hand made tunnels we go in direction of Calheta, where you will always be met by sunshine and a gold sandy beach, time for a Ice cream sitting on a sun Lounger I think! in Calheta you also have Casa das Mudas, that always has some excellent exhibitions on and worth a visit if not for the views!

My next pit stop is Jardim do Mar a cute little village where all the surfers go, there you a long promenade, the walk is very easy and worth the walk up the windy stairs to reach Joe's Bar, here you have great fruit juices, that will cool you down after your walk.

On the Paul de Mar it is and I can already hear the reggae music and the chatter of the locals waiting for the sunset. The Maktub bar or Bar da Pedra are the best places to be, they both serve great mojitos, poncha, caipirinhas and many other, you can also get some great snacks here like the Lapas, the Madeiran speciality.

So now relax take in the scenes, do it like the locals and wait for the sun to set.