Republic Day, Funchal closed

So, where's the parade?? The tourist Info office didn't even mention this in their Goings-on-this-week. The only event we noticed in connection with Republic Day was that everything was closed.

Except "The Madeiran Story Center"a museum over by the market. It's so new, started up in 2005, that it's not on the tourist maps. And neither was it mentioned at the tourist office. A stiff entry fee, 10 euro. It's modern, as in polished, big graphics and rather minimalistic and interactive. Great for 10 to 12 year olds I can imagine. You can buy a gondola, cable car, ticket with a reduced price along with your entrance ticket, too. We read all the texts, look at all the photos and illustrations, so as to get the most out of our entry fee. And play all the educational computor contests. (unfortunatly sinking my virtual 15th century portugese "carvelle".)

In the evening we go over to the dining section of Funchal, the old town, also near by the market. Avoiding all the hard sells outside big, empty restaurants we wait a half-hour for a table at "O Jango" which is supposed to have great food. And it does. At least the Bacalao I order was good.

But I have yet to find bacalao that compares to what they serve at the little sidewalk café in Viana do Castelo, "Restaurat a Covas".
Sigh.