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Madeira 2007 report Casa Velha Madeira Golf and Gourmet When the infante Dom Henrique,
better known in English as Prince Henry the Navigator gathered together
the finest cartographers at the beginning of the 15th century, his
plan was to extend the knowledge of the coast of West Africa. Armed
only with square rigged ships, compass, hourglass and astrolabe,
the initial sea captains were severely hampered in their endeavours.
To this end it was no wonder that two young Captains Joao Goncalves
and Tristao Vaz Teixeira were blown off course on their journey
around the African coast and after many days at sea found land on
a small island they named Porto Santo. They were ordered to colonise
the island the year 1419. A further year later after exploration
of the area rounding the headland of Manchico where today you will
land at the airport was the heavily forested island of Madeira discovered.
If you look at the size of Madeira,
you can hardly imagine that this island has so much to offer. From
historical monuments, squares and streets, crammed with shops and
pavement cafes and restaurants in the capital Funchal The gardens at Quinta do Palheiro
are famous not only for the variety of plants that grow there but
for the beauty of their setting in the hills east of Funchal. Madeira has long been called the
Garden Isle and it seems that almost anything will grow in its fertile
soil. As for tourism a trip everyone
should make is to ride on the cable car to the top of the Mont then
depart the Mont in what can only be described as a washing basket.
In reality these toboggans were used initially by the wealthy residents
to move around the island but now they make a great and exhilarating
ride down the mountain. A visit to the Old Blandy Wine Lodge in
Funchal is a must. 9€ is all it costs for a tour of the old
warehouse that stores the vast amount of aging Madeira Wine and
of course a tasting. Great fun, very informative and of course it
tastes wonderful. Casa Velha is also owned by the
Blandy family. It is a small boutique hotel with only 37 bedrooms
all different, we stayed in a standard room, which was roomy and
comfortable, however there was no air conditioning but a request
for an electric fan solved the problem. Decorated and furnished
in an old country house style which gives it a charm not always
experienced by a large modern hotel, and it also has a very rich
history visited by royalty, and has played host so I am told to
rather exotic parties in times past.
The two courses on the Island are
very different the Palheiro course I would describe as undulating
but some would call hilly. Parkland in design it meanders through
the estate. Very enjoyable, good condition some holes were cart
path only due to the severity of some of the slopes, a great holiday
course. Santa de Serra on the other hand is not for the faint hearted
long, very undulating but wider than Palheiro. Our champions for
the week from Blackmore GC in Hampshire, ladies winner Pat Wilson
and in the men's event from Henley on Thames Simon Lawson. This was our second visit to Madeira
and there will be many more to follow, but only to Casa Velha, golf
and gourmet. Why not join us on one of our escorted
golf tours, accompanied holidays or UK tournament breaks , contact
details below.
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Don't
delay book today.
If you
would like to book a break
or contact us directly about any of these holidays then call on |
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Escorted Golf Tours, Bluebell
House, Church St, Coggeshall , COLCHESTER, C06 1TY,U.K.
Tel: +44(0)1376 563104 Mobile24 hr +44(0)7801 428174 Info@escortedgolftours.com