Look closely. Row crops right to the edge of the cliff. Due to the steep hillsides, that road hairpin turn is typical. I have referred to Madeira as the island of tunnels. Lots of roads go through the mountains at one point or another.

The cliffs a Ponto do Pargo, said to be 1200 feet high. We are at the western most part of the island. I asked the guide what was out there and he said, âÂÂAmerica.âÂÂ

The lighthouse at Ponto do Pargo, the locals call this the end of the earth.

I believe that these are vacation rentals.

Looking down at a seaside village.

Same village, a closer look. Many folks grow bananas in their yards. Also, look at that hairpin turn. One does not drive fast there.

There are still some farmers who grow sugar cane on Madeira, but the demand is small. Here, as in the Caribbean, sugar cane mills have gone into disuse.

Jim, what fascinating pictures, and what a beautiful place. Those cliffs are awesome, and a vacation in one of those rental places--esp. one with a pool--would be very nice.

What is their weather like at this time of year?

Thanks for giving me the chance to see and visit places I never would, otherwise.

The weather is temperate. When we were there last November, I wore shorts and a t-shirt.

The flora on Madeira show me that the ocean keeps it from getting too hot nor too cool. However, that fog thing could be an issue. I saw beautiful hydrangeas in late November and other flowers that would not be blooming in our Novembers, except on the west coast of USA.

Thanks for taking us along on your visit to Madeira. This way I don't have to look in person down big cliffs. In my misspent youth I did climb but somewhen along the way I got leery.

When he said "America" when you asked what was out there, did he mention how vast the ocean is inbetween there and where America is, since it's closer to the Portugal, African, and Spanish coasts (they form a triangle)?! Like the ENTIRE Atlantic ocean?

He knew. We were on the west coast of Madeira. Nothing but water.

thousands and thousands of miles. Whoa. I'd hate to be adrift on it. Isn't that the direction where the Titanic lay for so long because it was "too deep to reach"? Surely looks deep on Google Earth.

:/

Row crops next to the ocean.

WOW! I assume you were standing on the edge of the cliff top ? I like the picture, the design of the crops from 'on high' makes a neat pattern, but standing so close to the edge makes my stomach muscles tighten--even from this distance. :-)

Yes, about the west coast of CA and hydrangeas , early dec, and my hydrangeas looks the same as your pic.

I love your pictures Jim. When we went to Madeira several years ago, we so enamored that we were contemplating buying a vacation home there.

I think this photo is from the same viewpoint, looking down.
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and this one is a view of the cliff from the nearby fishing village. We were told that it is the second tallest sea cliff in the world.
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I missed this one. A bottle brush tree.