Napping is encouraged…”what’s not to like?”

 

Having woken around 3am in London, I reached Madeira 7 hours later.  Descending over dramatic, terraced and volcancic landscapes, spying many a terracotta roof and more or less skimming the sea as we touched down, I was excited.  That instant feel of warmth on my face as I left the plane.  In my head I was yelling, shouting, screaming to everyone on the plane, everyone I could possibly think of….

“I’M ON HOLIDAAAAYYYY!!!!!” ….but of course, just in my head.

Two around 5 ft 2″, seriously tanned individuals were standing waiting; clearly taking in yet another new arrivals area they were experiencing, looking pretty chilled but with a slight background look of ‘I hope she didn’t miss it’.

There is nothing quite like the familiarity of family.

A drive around the pretty stunning and heebie jeebie inducing, winding, mountainous roads of Madeira for the day.  We had some good limes in the car catching the parents up on London life and hearing the juicy details of their trip so far.  A little local market in the hills to stock up on fruit & veg and a fisherman’s town watching the salt fish drying and back to “Quinto de Lorde” to the marina (what a grand name!).  By which point my night had caught up with me and the relaxed smiles and soothing sounds of my happy parents sent me into pleasant snoozing against the window of the wee blue Chevy they had hired for the day.

I woke up excited to revisit my sailing roots that had been on somewhat of a hiatus for 15 months.  Basking in sunshine we set off out to sea, no destination in sight.  Bliss. Sitting on the side deck dangling my feet over the edge as we rolled along I regressed to my childhood day dreamer self, imagining animated cartoon sharks leaping out the water to nibble at my toes…and such like.  It took me a little while to find my inner sea balance with the roly atlantic swell but I was happy to take a bit of feeling a tad queasy later on in the day to gaze out at the horizon while sunning myself.  What’s not to like.

Naturally the open ocean lends itself to incredible sunsets on the horizon.  And as I woke up from my doze at 8:30pm, I was oh so very content.  A sport with great views, sense of adventure/achievement where napping is necessary if not, encouraged – must get rest to maintain focus on watch of course… (All that fresh air, and being outside all day, with so many colours too! What can I say – exhausting for us London workers).

Our stop off was a nature reserve island 180 miles from Madeira, remote would be the ideal way to describe it with the surrounding view of sea…everywhere.  A lot of rocks and a lone boat anchored didn’t make it look like a particularly sheltered overnight spot but it was good to be settled for the night. A toured walk (not allowed unaccompanied) up the back of the small hut where the island rangers, researchers and volunteers “lived” in their stays there, we explored the island.  Seized the chance for a swim in the sea before we went on for the further 100 or so miles to Tenerife.

Catching sight of the peak of the volcano on Tenerife before the sun went down was quite magical as we could still glimpse the Selvagem islands behind us yet we were still 70 miles out.  A sail by full moonlight and a stunning sunrise silhouetting one other sail in the distance and pink skies over El Teide (the volcano) brought us into Tenerife and by lunch time into the buzzing city of Santa Cruz.  My first experience of a marina literally on the edge of a city.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diversity of holiday was topped off with exploring, Spanish shops and reminiscing of my previous Tenerife visit in 2013 with my band.  We passed an outdoor classical concert, tree filled squares and Cuban cigar shops.  Much queso, mojo and red wine later we took the sleepy skipper back to the boat.  Markets, reading, wi-fi and prawns filled my Friday. How could the idyllic-ness possibly be continuing. 

On the last day we rented a car and drove up the mountainous roads to El Teide.  Passed the point where I had filmed a music video 18 months previously.  I was not impressed by the sight of clouds but we kept going up and up the windy roads through the clouds to the stunning blue.  Incredible views, incredible food (again!) if a little breezy at such an altitude.  Winding our way back down we turned off for Arafo to El Puertito de Guimar a small town by the sea.  Here we stopped to visit a friend of mine’s parents who live there (who I’d never met) and gave us true local hospitality. Out of the tourist areas and main cities is always the most real.

 

Got a friend of a friend whose sister’s friends uncle lives in a random country you’re going to – get in touch. It is always worth it.

Leaving paradise didn’t seem like a particularly viable option after such a wonderfully varied, stunning, tasty and relaxing week (what’s not to like!?) but a last cortado de leche leche in the airport and at least knowing I had a day of weekend in London before work eased the pain.  At least a little, tiny bit.  

Can’t help but think: thank goodness I’ve got adventurous parents doing this amazing thing in these beautiful places – great visit spots – what’s not to like?