European island compared to Hawaii with subtropical forests and £33 flights from the UK
IT’S a moment every football fan dreams of.
I’m standing alongside one of the greatest players of all time – Cristiano Ronaldo.
Towering over me, the Portugal captain has a formidable stance — legs spread, arms stretched down by his sides, hair immaculate.
I inch closer, mirroring the sporting hero’s pose.
The only let down is the fact that my teammate is actually a 10ft bronze statue of the man himself.
I’m in Funchal, the capital of the Portuguese island of Madeira.
Here, on February 5, 1985, the soccer star was born.
The former Man U and Real Madrid player is worshipped like a god in Madeira — as well as a statue, the island’s airport is named after him and the CR7 Museum is dedicated to his career.
But with Hawaii-like scenery and world-class wine, there’s more to Madeira than Ronaldo.
I grab glimpses of the rugged landscape on the 20-minute drive from the airport to my hotel Barcelo Funchal Old Town, but the views of the Atlantic Ocean are even better from the balcony of my bright, contemporary room.
Made up of six 17th-century buildings, the renovated hotel still has a traditional charm.
The panoramas get even better from the 5* hotel’s rooftop pool and bar area — a stunning backdrop of tropical parks, flowering jacaranda trees and the cobbled streets of the old town.
I head here the following morning, swimming 50 lengths to work up an appetite for breakfast.
The food doesn’t disappoint, with everything from yoghurt and eggs to local delicacies like honey cake and Madeira bread (like flatbread, made with flour and sweet potato).
All of this is washed down with a free glass of bubbly.
Next I jump into a jeep for a safari into the hills.
Our driver Ivan takes visitors on tours through the BraveLanders group.
Venturing out of town, he takes us past the marina with Ronaldo’s statue and his mansion that’s chiselled into the hillside.
We stop at the Laurel Forest, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
At around 20million years old, this subtropical forest is sun-drenched and bursting with colour.
Back on the road, we arrived at a rural roadside shop where I had my first taste of traditional “poncha”, a boozy blend of Aguardente de Cana (distilled alcohol made from sugar cane juice), honey, sugar and orange juice.
This frothy drink packs a real poncha.
Thank goodness I’m not the one behind the wheel!
Stunning panoramas
As we descend from the highlands, vineyards appear through the clouds.
Madeira’s volcanic make-up has allowed plant life to flourish, and that becomes apparent at Quinta do Barbusano, where the vines grow vertically, hanging above your head on wires.
Sitting in the winery overlooking a valley, I savour each glass of chilled, crisp wine, all the while feasting on “espetada”, traditional barbecued skewered meats.
The bay-leaf sticks are hung on a bar at our table, and the beef juices drip over my Madeira bread.
Watching the sun set over the lush landscape that Ronaldo calls home, I realise that this beautiful island’s gone to my head.
GO: MADERIA
GETTING THERE: EasyJet flies from Gatwick to Funchal from £32.99 each way.
See easyjet.com.
STAYING THERE: Rooms at Barcelo Funchal Old Town cost from £155 per night on a B&B basis. See barcelo.com.
OUT & ABOUT: Jeep tours across Madeira cost from €70 per adult and €35 per child and can be booked through the hotel or at bravelanders.com.
