An Essex Wedding - Mar/Apr 2017 (Issue 79)

J ust a three-and-a-half hour flight from London, Madeira is the ideal place for couples looking for a relaxing mini-moon. I was intrigued to find out why the island is so popular and I soon discovered it’s because of its subtropical climate, rich history, vibrant nightlife, relaxing beaches and delicious food. FOOD A PLENTY Shortly after arriving at Funchal airport we were whisked away to the five-star Belmond Reid’s Palace just outside of the city centre. We were escorted to our rooms where I was pleased to find a king-sized bed, grand bathroom and even a hand-written letter welcoming us to the hotel. A few hours later we began our food and wine tour courtesy of Discovering Madeira. Our guide was very impressive and helped bring the city’s rich history to life through her stories and demonstrations. We walked through the quaint streets until we came across a charming establishment called Espaço Café where we tried some of the island’s delicacies including black scabbard fish. The fish lives deep in the sea and reports say nobody has ever seen it alive and that the fishermen have to use specially made nets to capture it. We spent some time discussing the island’s rich history before moving onto a brewery that served traditional Madeira wine. We were lucky enough to sample a selection of flavours paired with Madeira cake – delicious. We also visited a traditional chocolate shop, each sweet was made using rich natural flavours and hand-crafted into a piece of edible art. Our last stop was an outdoor café where we enjoyed garlic bread and scabbard fish. It’s situated in a street that used to be considered a rough area by the locals until a group of artists decided to paint each resident’s door with rich and vibrant colours. After a thorough tour of the island’s cultural delights it’s safe to say that I was extremely full! UP IN THE SKY Once the tour was finished we decided to take a trip in a cable car so we could see some of the island’s beautiful sights from above. At the top we were lucky enough to try Madeira’s famous toboggan sled ride. These wooden carts were once used as a form of transportation; members of the public would ride these down steep hills and the staff would then have to carry the toboggan back up the hill on their backs ready for the next customer to use. It’s something that everyone should experience once in their life – it was so much fun and unlike anything I’d experienced before. After a busy day, we ventured back to the Belmond Reid’s Palace for a delicious three-course dinner. Our candle-lit table overlooked the sea and created a truly romantic atmosphere. For starters we had Famous for its food and wine, Melissa Barker discovers the beautiful island of Madeira Drink it all in 120