Nun’s Valley (2/23/26 Part I of II)

Once Bob and I understood that walking was difficult for Bob, we booked 2 tours for while we were in Madeira — one full-day tour and one half-day tour. Today was our half-day tour to Nun’s Valley.

We were to be picked up between 8:55 and 9:10 am. Our driver, Eduardo, picked us up almost 10 minutes early. It turned out to be one of my least favorite tours ever. There were only 6 of us on the tour, so the tour company ( the same one we used last Friday) used a smaller vehicle. There were 2 seats alongside the driver and 2 sets of three seats behind. We were the first couple picked up and were put in the seats next to the driver since another couple had requested the row of seats immediately behind the driver. This was a tight fit for the whole trip with me between Bob and the driver, holding my backpack on my lap.

If anyone knows me,they will know that I like a certain amount of personal space and certainly don’t want somebody right next to me blathering on during the whole trip. Mostly, he wanted to share information about the local flora, but I see no need to stop in the middle of a highway to share any information, let alone the different colors of calla lillies that can be found in Madeira.

We stopped initially at a viewpoint over Funchal called Pico Dos Barcelos. It was a nice 360 degree view, although at the time we were there it was too hazy over the ocean to get good ocean views.

The 2nd stop on today’s tour was at Eira do Serrado, which overlooked the Nun’s Valley. It consisted of a hotel, souvenir shop and cafe near a steep slanted and then stepped walk to a viewpoint over the Nun’s Valley. I was a bit miffed that the tour company hadn’t suggested another trip for us as I had said that Bob was walking with a cane. He was unable to get to the viewpoint.

Finally, our last stop was in the small community of Nun’s Valley. We had 45 minutes in a town with a few shops, a church, and a museum.