Madeira! Day 1

 8/3: Our first day at the Cliff Bay hotel revealed a HUGE breakfast buffet, with the most amazing fruit, and everything you could want to eat. After no one took our room number (which made life easier for us because we were 4 people not the registered 3), some of us enjoyed a little pool time, while Bob, Robo, and I walked into town to check out the cars that had raced through the town.

Cristiano Ronaldo was born in Madeira

We headed to the Marina for our 1400 boat ride. We enjoyed our time snorkeling, paddle boarding, and enjoying the ocean waves and scenery.

The largest sea cliff in Europe

The kids loved their first time snorkeling!

We finished our boat ride about 5:30, and the kids were pretty excited to eat at the McDonald’s that was right there in the Marina. The adults said ok :-) and Robo and Bob enjoyed a Big Mac. We headed back to the hotel for a quick clean up before Robo, Bob, and I headed out to see the Buena Vista Social Club (a group that Bob has been listening to for 20 years but has never seen!) Bob discovered they were performing that evening on a street sign during our walk into town earlier. The concert start time was 6pm, and we thought it would be fine to arrive at 7pm. When we arrived, though, we learned that the show was almost over! No! When Bob told the lady at the front how he has been listening to them for ages, and could you please just let us in for the end of the show…she thankfully said yes! We essentially got a backstage pass for the last 15 minutes of the show. Sweet!

The 3 of us explored the town a little bit (1 sugary margarita), then headed back to find Brandy having a lovely dinner at the Avista restaurant. We went one level up to the rooftop bar and enjoyed a phenomenal sunset.

DJ on Friday night was great!