Rafting out, at Funchal

We're off at 10am with following winds, a strong breeze. Then we get it right on the nose as we round the point before entering the Funchal Bay. We are following two cruise ships into the harbour. The visitors sailboat wall is reduced now to only three spots to raft out on. We're incredibly lucky. Today has been a changing of the guards day and the wall is surprisingly sparse with boats when we arrive. We're only third boat out alongside a German boat, "Makani", outside of Brazilian "Rapunzel". Norwegian catamaran, "Riga Balsam" is right behind, next line out.

In the harbour we're right in the middle of town, a palm-treed and flowery-leafy treed fringe along the harbour. Barely showing beyond is the stubby tower of the squat 15th century cathedral, called the Sé. The town is all hillside. Greenery, white houses, red-tiled roofs clinging on to the steep sides. Back at the harbour, there are two rather dominant features: the hot-air balloon and the restaurant-boat, "Vagrant", which advertises its previous owners, The Beatles. Verrry kitsch, it is surrounded by a kind of a moat with small rowboats cum café-tables. Beatles music from the loudspeakers.

Otherwise Funchal keeps it rather low-keyed. Gardens and walks and pricey shops.