A planned hiking trip along Madeira's levadas was cancelled after one travel companion injured a knee. Instead, the trip became a road journey based in Funchal.
From the capital, the writer explored the south and east of the island, stopping at the Banana Museum, Ponta do Sol and Câmara de Lobos, where fresh seafood and poncha were enjoyed. In the east, the cliffs of Ponta do Bode and the Guindaste Viewpoint offered very different scenery.
The account highlights how easily the island can be explored within an hour or so of Funchal, combining local culture, food and striking landscapes.