Today’s photo – Many thanks to Pete … Quinta Magnolia gardens
Also three web snippets from Pete … many thanks :
Madeira how it developed since 1986
The Sardinha de Paiva family, Madeira and more
Many thanks to Paul for the next few articles :
Smartphone overseas internet warning from ‘Which’? The UK consumers’ association Which? is warning that people going abroad with smartphones can still face huge bills if they connect to the internet. By 1 July, new rules will come into force in the European Union which will cap bills for downloading data. But, until then, people travelling in Europe could face unlimited bills. And anyone visiting non-EU countries, like Turkey, the US or the Caribbean, will continue to have no limits on their internet usage.
Photo : Assorted smartphones
Bill shock. If you use your phone in the UK to connect to the internet, for example to check emails or go on Facebook, you don’t usually need to worry about the bill – most home tariffs include unlimited downloads. But, if you take a smartphone, like an iPhone, on your travels, it can have expensive consequences. One German man was reported to have been charged £41,000 after downloading a television programme onto his phone.
Advice. Which? advises users to go into their settings and simply turn off the data roaming facility. Users should, in any case, be warned about this whenever they arrive in a foreign country and their mobile operator is substituted by another. Otherwise, if you are travelling to Europe before the 1 July, you should get in touch with your phone company to agree a limit on data downloads. Those who want an allowance which is larger than 50 Euros should also contact their phone company, to get the limit raised.
Funchal: back in business! Independent newspaper article. “With its grand seafront promenade, black-and-white mosaic pavements, attractive historic buildings and old-fashioned shops and cafés, Funchal is back in business. The annual flower festival takes place 15-18 April.”
The Independent article gives great advice on 48 Hours In: Funchal.
Photo: Interior of the Igreja do Colégio off the City Hall Square (Praça do Municipio) in Funchal one of the best decorated Baroque churches in Portugal.
The Zona Velha. Paul has added in the commentary section of the article: Great article! Don’t miss the zona velha in Funchal!
Thee settlement of the island began more than five centuries ago in the traditional, colourful Santa Maria neighbourhood, the zona velha (old zone) where the street of that name, built in 1430, is the oldest thoroughfare in the city.
In this ancient neighbourhood there is the beautiful Church of Santa Maria Maior, which dates back to 1803, also known as Igreja do Socorro. the small Corpo Santo Chapel some fado houses, the Madeira cable car building, the starting point for the cable car up the city’s hillsides to Monte and a public beach.
In the yellow fortress on the Ocean front ‘Forte de São Tiago’ part of the defences against pirates is a Contemporary Art Museum and cafe, restaurant. Also sent in by Elaine and Becky, but thanks anyway.
Art in Calheta region in March. On the evenings of the 19th & 20th March at the Casa das Mudas art centre was a dance spectacular to classic and contemporary music by students of the Funchal-based ‘Conservatorio’ to celebrate the International Year of Biodiversity 2010. It was a celebration of life on earth and of the value of biodiversity to our lives.
2010 International Year of Biodiversity: our lives depend on biological diversity. Video of UN Secretary General Welcome Message for the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity HERE
John Fadeff Exhibition: Prazeres Gallery. Meanwhile, a new exhibition starts at Prazeres Gallery titled: ‘New Work/Old Work’ of the North-American artist John Fadeff. Link to the Gallery website
Today’s news headlines from the front page of the Diário de Notícias :
South-African buys Atalaia – The new owner places faith in the hotel sector. The 106 room Hotel Atalaia in Caniço has been sold by the Pestana Group to a new South-African owner, who may refurbish of redevelop the complex, which will continue as a hotel. The hotel has been closed for two years, because it was not profitable.
Transavia promises a daily flight between Madeira and Porto.
Today’s main news headline : Illegal Rivers – The 10 metres of bank are ignored.
‘Protectionism in the Public Security Police’ arrives to the Attorney.
Energy crisis leaves Chávez in the darkness – Venezuela without rain will not avoid a ‘blackout’ in May. The Diário analysed ghost-towns on the brink of collapse with impacts on the September elections.
Bloco de Esquerda [Left Block party] admits that it runs a risk. Party leader in an interview admits that the BE is likely to leave the assembly. The party is skint. Oh dear … more sleepless nights for me then.
The main sports headlines today : Insinuations and complaints obscure the victory of [Vítor] Sá – Miguel Nunes assures that the car of Sá had more revs and attacks the preparer of both, Barroso Sport.
Works on the Barreiros [Marítimo stadium] suffers a delay of four months.
The Juniors of Nacional ‘attacked’ in the final of the challenge against Atlético.
Rui Alves [president of Nacional] is running for the presidency of the League.
If anyone else can oblige with the translation of any of the ‘blank’ or sparsely filled headlines, or other news stories, here is the link. All contributions much appreciated.
Ah, at last spring has arrived, and it is just like a Spring day should be. We have a week of celebrations for the anniversary of the Junta da Freguesia here in Ribeira Brava, which has survived 548 years. It seems the council has pulled out all the stops this year with an extensive programme of events stretching through to next Sunday, probably to try and animate a population still hurt by the events of last month.
The Diário special edition yesterday, a month on from the February storm and floods, had a fairly balanced set of reports of the good and the bad of what has happened since then. The good of course has been well reported inside and outside of Madeira and Portugal. Two reports on the more worrying aspects caught my eye. One named a number of locations where it still looked like the storm hit yesterday. I can’t remember the names now, but Laranjal was one of them. Meanwhile the badly damaged sports stadium of Madeira in Ribeira Brava will be operational again within a month … ’nuff said?
The other one I will mention is the fact that the fund raising to help Madeira and it’s people, however successful, is not delivering the proceeds as hoped. How the Diário would know, I don’t know, as there are so many sources for this fund raising, but the report listed the amounts of money that had reached the final destinations so far, amounting to around a paltry €200,000. Quite how distribution of these donations is supposed to actually reach the pockets of those most in need, I don’t know, and it can’t be easy to decide who gets what and then actually get it to them. In the meantime solidarity within the population is hopefully keeping things going, but obviously it can’t go on forever like this.
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