Ponta Do Pargo / Madeira
Ponta do Pargo sits on the westernmost tip of Madeira. Giant sea cliffs tentatively step into the Atlantic, constantly eroded back by the waves. There are no other villages from here to the Americas. Just the deep blue of the Atlantic and whatever weather gets conjured up out at sea. We had spent the night at the Casas de Levada agritourism complex in a lovely rustic villa surrounded by lush green palms and drinking wine with the local cats (literally) on the balcony.
Waking on our first morning in the village we were treated to one of the notorious morning mists, which blocked out everything beyond the grounds. We enjoyed a lazy morning waiting around for someone to come and check on our hire car, drinking beer and meeting the animals on the farm.
Lush palm trees all around enjoying the perfect Maderian climate
Enjoying a beer at Casas de Levada
Meeting the goats at Casas de Levada
An inquisitive rabbit at Casas de Levada
There were glimpses of sky in the early afternoon and the sun burnt away some of the mist. So after lunch we set off on a walk into the village of Ponta do Pargo itself and towards the dramatic lighthouse on the edge of the island.
Following the Levada into Ponta do Pargo
Santa hiding away in a quiet corner of Madeira
Ponta do Pargo felt very rural compared to some of the tourist areas on Madeira
Walking through the fields and smallholdings on the edge of the village
Being closely watched by a dog on the way into the village
The outskirts of Ponta do Pargo
The real rural colours of Maderia
Passing through the village we passed bars filled with locals playing cards and felt very much like we'd found the slow island life. Away from the tourists where only stray dogs joined us on the streets. Making our way through the white-washed houses we soon reached the sea. The wide open sea was hundreds of meters below our feet with just the lighthouse for company.
Houses perched on the top of the giant sea cliffs at Ponta do Pargo
The coastline at Ponta do Pargo
Church on the edge of the cliffs at Ponta do Pargo
The path Ponta do Pargo lighthouse
The blue Atlantic meeting the steep edge of Madeira
The lighthouse at Ponta do Pargo and the morning mist was still lingering in the air and would clear just enough to see a westerly sunset
Ponta do Pargo Lighthouse
A special sunset looking out into the Atlantic Ocean with nothing between here and the Americas
Watching the sky change and the clouds roll back in
Waves sloshing around 300 meters below
The lighthouse at the edge of the world
The last of the sunset
The lighthouse at Ponta do Pargo
As the sunset faded away, the wind picked up and brought a new group of clouds over our heads. As we walked back into the town the atmosphere changed and we made it inside a restaurant only a few minutes before one of the heaviest downpours I've experienced. Torrential rain came and didn't stop well into the night. Our restaurant was at least a 30-minute walk from the accommodation and we were lucky that the owner of the restaurant offered to drive us back and avoid a drenching. A big thanks to the owner of Restaurante Dominó for helping us out and sharing his views on the then recent news of Brexit.
