Madiera - Pearl of the Atlantic (1930s)

[Music] Madera peaceful e that like a bouquet floats on the blue Atlantic Madera is usually spoken of as though there is but one Island when in reality it is the largest of a group of volcanic islands the others being forto Santo the deseras and the salvajes they belong to Portugal about 400 m off its coast and were discovered in 1418 by a Portuguese traveler named zoga who landed on Porto Santo and then one year later on Madera the lack of old buildings is disappointing when one remembers the wealth of the early Portuguese Nobles who were the early settlers funchal is the capital and largest city and is one of the most interesting ports in the world almost before the anchor is dropped the steamer is surrounded by a flotilla of bumboats loaded with Wares under the ship sides and scuttling about the scores of these craft the natives yelling at the top of their voices among them are the tiny eggshell boats of the swimmers blackhaired fellows with shiny Olive colored skins they float and pose upon the Billows or squat at the edges of their little craft waving their arms and blending their clamorous shouts with the wrangling voices of the trades people toss a coin overboard and a dozen forms plunge into the sea to contest below the surface for the coveted prize the madans are world famous swimmers and divers and the daring Feats they perform in the water can nowhere be matched each one seeks to attract the coin tosses to himself and to drown out his Rivals by his own shouts and the result is bedum on the shore are found the stones which have been used for hundreds of years for Paving the streets of the towns as well as roads making throughout the islands these stones are small with rounded tops and only native madans can walk on them comfortably it is a choice between attempting The Stride of a giant or the Gate of a cat one thing can be said these roads will last forever the bulock Carol that quaint sledge so characteristic of Madera has for centuries been the chief passenger vehicle of fcha riding in one is an experience one never forgets you jolt and jar over the stone streets and to the shouts of the driver is added a most aggravating sound like a pencil squeak on a writing [Music] slate when speaking of Madera one is reminded of the beautiful needle work which is one of the Island's Chief Industries nowhere in the world will you see such beautiful designs in embroidery from large dinner cloths to small doilies and every piece is [Music] handmade viewed from the sea Madera affords a pleas seen the whole district is stuttered with pink yellow and white houses called Quintas once in a while you see an old house with a 15th or 16th century date or a coat of arms cut in stone over a Gateway it is Fiesta time and fun chall is crowded with visitors from the outlying islands the native costumes are quaint country women wear their colored cchs on their heads bright colored skirts and flat sold moccasins but unique of all are the Curious chicle shaped Woolen caps worn by the wealthier class of peasants from the island the PTO Santa the madaran loves his Fiesta he is easily amused and is a notable holiday maker extracting the greatest enjoyment from the simplest of entertainments here is a group of peasants drinking some of the celebrated Madera wine note the musical instrument one of the members of the party is playing let's listen in and here this curious instrument Madera is often referred to as the flower garden of the Atlantic nowhere in the world can one find flowers growing in such profuse abundance and the flower woman makes a Charming study for the artist the farmer here handled his produce by manual delivery everything direct from the farm groceries are delivered by the young boys of the town the milk by the milk boy with his can slung over his shoulder in a magical Ascent of half an hour this mountain Railway displays to The Traveler a glimpse of every sort of scenery from town to Hamlet from garden to Forest from Valley to Mountain somewhere along this this rout lived Columbus who married his school girl sweetheart daughter of the first governor of Madera here in this peaceful bit of the world he studied navigation here he dreamt of a water route to the golden Indies have you ever tasted Madera wine it's famous the world over the wine industry has been madera's main source of income for over 400 years golden hued black Rich Amber straw colored and white grapes are used to make these wines American Oak is mostly used in making the wine cks the wine is aged in these casks in specially built sellers called estufas each Year's vintage is stored in different compartments which are provided with double folding doors the inner doors being coated with lime [Music] once a year they are opened and the wine sampled to note the aging process the best Madera wine is aged 12 years in the wood before it is bottled there is a contagious Leisure and contentment pervading Madera and the essence of placid traveling is a ride in the Reed or the hammock used extensively by visitors to fcha boarding one calls for no little dexterity if you want to retain some measure of Grace the bearers are Mountaineers wiry and athletic who think nothing of carrying a passenger for Miles uphill and down over the roughest and narrowest of Roads it takes about half an hour to ride up to the mountain peak but the trip down is made in fast time for the return Voyage you use a quaint to bargain a low wide cushioned wicker chair mounted Runners with two white clad men in charge you start off sedat enough but that is only the beginning you soon gather momentum the slippery surfaces of the cobblestones are as smooth as ice the way is clear and down you go you are so occupied with hanging on and holding to your breath that at the end there remains but a vague and jumbled impression of high wall covered with flame red purple and orange flowers a far way town and a dazzling sea Thrills are not lacking sparks fly from the heated Runners you are making straight for a wall nothing could save you and low you are safely around the corner you shoot like a rocket down another straight run and it's all over for exhilaration nothing can equal it but a bob sled run at Lake plid C days again and Madera just a pleasant memory but there remains a desire to return again again someday for a longer stay in this lovely aisle pearl of the Atlantic [Music]