Brazil — While the Amazon Rainforest’s historical drought was peaking in September 2024 whose waters rinse the traditional floodplain agriculture to flow production to governmental programs that distribute food to local schools about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) downstream there was no nutrient-rich freshwater to irrigate their small-scale crops of bananas This scenario is becoming more frequent in the Amazon and it worries traditional communities and Indigenous populations who rely on the Madeira as the 2025 dry season approaches and the Amazon — and the planet — gets warmer “There was a shortage of everything we cultivate here in the community and the well we used for water supply dried up,” João Mendonça a local health agent and the president of the Association of Paraizinho’s Farmers rainfall in the Amazon drops from June to November (also known as the Amazon’s summer even though it occurs in Brazil’s winter and spring) We also practice artisanal fishing but weren’t able to catch almost any fish – even for our own consumption it was difficult,” Mendonça said is particularly vulnerable to hydrological extremes Its levels are highly influenced by the North Tropical Atlantic which has mainly been responsible for the most extreme weather events in this basin since 1994 there’s a shift in the trade winds that bring moisture from the ocean to the Amazon,” Laureanti said The extremes are more impactful in the region because shorter rainy periods bring severe consequences to the dry season.” researchers identified that the Brazilian portion of the Madeira River lost almost 10% of its flow (400 m3/s or 14,125 ft3/s) in discharge per decade over the last 20 years the reduction was much lower (100 m3/s or 3,530 m3/s) regardless of what the atmosphere and the Pacific and Atlantic oceans are manifesting in 10 years it may have this reduction of 400 m3 again,” Laureanti said At the Madeira River Sustainable Development Reserve the 2024 drought came as a harsh glimpse of the future pumpkin and pepper crops were lost and the few items harvested couldn’t be moved as riverbeds went dry because it affects our income,” Silvana Cabral president of the Santa Maria do Uruá community association “The lakes from which we took our everyday food were very dry wells were almost empty due to the low levels of Maici and sometimes it dries completely,” Nilcélio Jiaui general coordinator of the Organization of the Upper Madeira’s Indigenous Peoples and it usually gives us skin or worm diseases.” The Madeira starts at the foot of the Bolivian Andes Mountains and runs 3,315 km (2,060 mi) until it reaches the Amazon River impacting a region that spans almost a quarter of the Amazon Basin the Amazon drought was a consequence of the warming of the Equatorial Pacific (a phenomenon known as El Niño) and the North Tropical Atlantic which reduced the moisture flow entering the rainforest the Amazon saw its rainfall reduced by up to 70% of the expected for 2024 according to the Geological Survey of Brazil “The Madeira is a little further below the equatorial region but more directly by the trade winds of the Tropical Atlantic region,” Laureanti said The Amazon has been warming since the 1980s, according to a recent article there have been seasonal extremes in the Amazon in 27 years: 15 with extreme droughts 11 with severe floods and one year with both “This did not happen in the 1960s and 1970s In the last four years, a sequence of two severe floods (2021, the largest ever recorded, and 2022, the fourth-worst) and two unprecedented droughts (2023 and 2024) reached the rainforest. These were the worst events observed in the Amazon Basin in more than 120 years of data, also affected by the melting of the Andes glaciers “These extremes can be an indicator that climate change is already affecting the region,” Arthur Matos coordinator of the hydrological alert systems of the Geological Survey of Brazil the dry season in the southern Amazon has become longer resulting in the delay of the rainy season by almost a month and precipitation decreased by 17% in the August-October period This combination contributes to more forest loss and makes the vegetation more vulnerable to fires The study highlights negative trends in discharge rates of the Ucayali the main tributaries of the Amazon Basin’s northwest have recorded an increase in discharge during the rainy season since the 1990s reflecting higher precipitation in the Amazon lowlands in Colombia Fishing activities have been affected hard by the changes in Madeira in recent years. Dams from hydropower plants have caused irregular river flow impacting migratory patterns and breeding (piracema) in fish This has resulted in a reduction in fish stocks and a 39% decline in annual catches in the municipality of Humaitá fishing has become more costly and demanding forcing fishers to travel farther to maintain productivity and some have resorted to illegal activities The unpredictable river levels and abrupt changes further disorient fish these issues have led to a decline in fish landings negatively impacting the local economy and serving as the primary protein source for riverine communities The Madeira also faces significant mercury contamination, primarily stemming from illegal gold mining activities. Miners use mercury to extract gold from riverbed sediments, often discarding it directly into the river. While initial data indicate that total mercury levels in the river water are currently below Brazil’s recommended limit they are considered elevated relative to other rivers Predatory fish species in the Madeira have been found to have mercury levels exceeding the safe limit for human consumption raising concerns about potential health impacts on local communities that rely on fish as a primary food source Researchers from Harvard and Amazonas State University are actively monitoring mercury levels in the water sediments and fish to better understand the extent of the contamination and its potential consequences Extreme dry years exacerbate these problems in the Madeira Basin the Madeira fills and creates flooded forests called igapó “The fish enters that forest area and eats the ripe fruits that fall into the water,” Samuel de Moraes president of Humaitá’s Fishers Association “This doesn’t happen in the extreme drought because the fruit trees are not in the igapós anymore So the fish can’t feed and become too weak to reproduce.” fish production in Humaitá dropped from 800 tons in the early 2010s to 100 tons per year “The fisherman’s life became tough here,” he said Fishing of most commercial species is forbidden in the Brazilian Amazon during their reproductive period the Brazilian government pays artisanal fishers a minimum wage for each month of restriction they received an additional payment as emergency aid to help offset their losses from the recent extreme drought In 2024, most of the rivers of the Amazon Basin dried up in the first year that the planet exceeded 1.5ºC (2.7°F) of warming compared with preindustrial levels — the Paris Agreement’s main target “This is the critical threshold that we should avoid so that the extremes are not so extreme and so that adaptation is possible,” Marengo said According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) it’s still possible to put the world on track to meet the target the current nationally determined goals would lead the planet to an increase ranging from 2.6-3.1ºC (4.7-5.6°F) over this century Marengo and colleagues evaluated the future climate of the Amazon under two scenarios outlined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) If temperatures increase between 2ºC and 3ºC (3.6°F and 5.4°F) by 2100 If it goes up to 3.2ºC (5.8°F) to 5.4ºC (9.7°F) the average temperature in the Amazon could rise by more than 6ºC (10.8°F) by the end of the 21st century The central and eastern Amazon could experience a rain deficit of up to 40% The differences in the scenarios are on the order of 10% in the eastern and southern Amazon changing the likelihood of events such as wildfires There are also projections of a substantial increase in consecutive dry days and days of intense precipitation Tapajós and Xingu rivers’ discharge rates would become more sensitive to precipitation changes drier conditions are also expected to the south of the Andean Amazon region which comprises the Madeira’s headwaters in Bolivia and Peru If the Amazon reaches its tipping point due to the climate crisis and land use changes the rainforest could collapse and it would cease to be a sink and become a source of carbon Marengo considers it necessary to expand the number of weather stations and integrate the hydrological and meteorological systems between Amazonian countries in order to minimize socioeconomic and environmental losses he said he believes curbing deforestation and investing in forest restoration are priorities The Geological Survey of Brazil has worked on flood alerts since 1989 and has recently expanded its scope for drought forecasts it is necessary that municipalities and states have adequate public policies for better adaptation and coexistence with critical events,” Matos said Laureanti highlights the Drought and Flood Forecast System for the Madeira River Sustainable Development Reserve developed and implemented by Amazonas State University in partnership with INPE Researchers from the Earth Climate System Modeling Laboratory known as Labclim produce diagnostics and prognostics three months earlier on variables such as precipitation river level and discharge rate and flooded areas in the Madeira Basin This tool is currently being expanded for all of Amazonas state and allows navigation planning months in advance Some regions do not have the resources to guarantee the maintenance of their livelihoods during the dry season so it is necessary to have alternatives for local populations that will spend four or five months a year without having their income resources,” Laureanti said Banner image: A young river dweller docks on the bank of the Madeira River in the late afternoon Hydropower plants disrupt fishers’ lives in Amazon’s most biodiverse river basin Laureanti, N. C., Tavares, P. D., Tavares, M., Rodrigues, D. C., Gomes, J. L., Chou, S. C., & Correia, F. W. (2024). Extreme seasonal droughts and floods in the Madeira river basin, Brazil: Diagnosis, causes, and trends. Climate, 12(8), 111. doi:10.3390/cli12080111 Marengo, J. A., Espinoza, J., Fu, R., Jimenez Muñoz, J. C., Alves, L. M., da Rocha, H. R., & Schöngart, J. (2024). Long-term variability, extremes and changes in temperature and hydrometeorology in the Amazon region: A review. Acta Amazonica, 54, e54es22098. doi:10.1590/1809-4392202200980 FEEDBACK: Use this form to send a message to the author of this post The “fortress conservation” model is under pressure in East Africa as protected areas become battlegrounds over history and global efforts to halt biodiversity loss Mongabay’s Special Issue goes beyond the region’s world-renowned safaris to examine how rural communities and governments are reckoning with conservation’s colonial origins and trying to forge a path forward […] Ohio (WKRC) - A Greater Cincinnati coffee shop is closing after decades in business "I regret to inform everyone that we are in our final days of Coffee Please Please know that this isn't because of anything other than the landlords have decided to go a different direction Without everyone's support over the years and making me laugh when I've needed it and I am honored to have been here to experience all of it." Ohio — A team of Madeira High School students has raised $13,000 to purchase automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for local facilities and schools that lack the life-saving equipment was created as part of a class competition in which three teams of students worked to raise money for organizations of their choice while developing business plans you don't realize how much (of) a difference you can make," said senior and business plan executor Sammy McClain The MAED for More team partnered with Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Project Adam "What we ended up doing was hosting all these events like the 5K we ran or the booths at the football games," McClain said Students said they had raised more money than they thought they would "We over tripled our expectations," McClain said The funds will provide AEDs and other life-saving equipment to facilities including the West End Community Center in downtown Cincinnati Purcell Marian High School and Gym Skills in Blue Ash Hear more about the students' mission in the video below: pediatric cardiologist and co-medical director at Project Adam emphasized the importance of these devices Project Adam is an organization that works to make schools "It's amazing because each of these machines have the potential to save someone's life," Powell said The students said Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin's cardiac arrest during a game at Paycor Stadium served as a significant inspiration for their project "We were really inspired by the Damar Hamlin situation and how that made a big impact for all of us because a lot of us on this team are student-athletes," said senior Caroline Horak who handled graphic design and social media for the nonprofit McClain is part of Madeira High School's wrestling team He describes watching someone go into cardiac arrest as "one of the scariest things you can see." The project took on additional meaning when Madeira's wrestling coach experienced a cardiac emergency at school "[He] went into cardiac arrest and thankfully for us there are AEDs close enough to where we were able to save his life," McClain said the students expressed pride in their contribution to community safety "It really shows the difference just eight high schoolers can make," McClain said The Southwest Ohio Baseball Coaches Association released the results of its fourth weekly poll for the 2025 season The poll is split into three parts with voting on Divisions I and II Divisions III and IV and a final poll with Divisions V Moeller and Badin again led in the polls while Madeira now leads in the small school voting Check below for the full voting from the SWOBCA Weekly scores: Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky high school sports scores, April 28-May 4 Geologically dramatic, bursting with exotic colour and warmed year-round by the Atlantic sun, Portugal’s most enchanting island is a place that keeps all its subtropical holiday promises. Pearl of the Atlantic, island of eternal spring…Madeira well deserves its fanciful nicknames and the affection visitors and locals alike feel for this tiny volcanic island that offers so much. Madeira Back to topAttractionsMust-see attractionsQuinta das Cruzes the Quinta das Cruzes is a quintessential old Madeiran manor house complete with gardens and a private chapel Zona Velha Once a run-down area between the Mercado dos Lavradores and the Fortaleza de Santiago in recent years the 'Old Zone' of merchant's houses and 19th… Mercado dos Lavradores Built in 1940 by architect Edmundo Tavares Funchal's art deco market is one of its top attractions as well as still serving as the island's best fresh… Sé Funchal's 16th-century cathedral once oversaw the world's largest diocese – all of Portugal’s overseas territories from Madeira to Brazil to Angola – and… Praia Formosa Anyone who says Madeira has no beaches should hop on bus 1 or 43 to the boulders and browny-black sand of this wild strand in Funchal's western suburbs… Camacha Wicker Factory Camacha is the epicentre of Madeira's wicker industry showcased at the O Relógio (The Clock) building in the centre of the village Jardins Botânicos da Madeira One of the island's top tourist attractions Madeira's famous botanical gardens are a must for most visitors Grutas e Centro do Vulcanismo Top billing on Madeira's north coast goes to this two-for-one attraction just south of São Vicente The first part of the experience is a guided tour of… View more attractionsPlanning ToolsExpert guidance to help you plan your tripBest Things to Do An expert's guide to the Portuguese island. Plan with a localExperience the real Portugal Get startedArticlesLatest stories from MadeiraRead more articlesFilter by interest: Coasts & IslandsFood & Drink All Interests Adventure Travel Art & Culture Beaches Coasts & Islands Food & DrinkBeaches Discover the top things to do in Madeira including must-see attractions scenic hikes and local cuisine in this guide to Portugal’s enchanting island Read more articlesBuild a memorable collectionGet to the heart of Madeira with one of our in-depth Visit in ShopPocket Azores $14.99 Visit in ShopPocket Lisbon $14.99 Go to checkout (0 items)Go BeyondMadeira and beyondFunchalBeyond MadeiraFor Explorers Everywhere No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. — In 2021, ABC Action News first told you about an 11-year-old girl living in Maderia Beach who created her own non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the environment Caymus Maxson visits beaches and parks throughout her hometown of Madeira Beach to clean up her community She said Trash Turtles is much more than just a nonprofit—it’s a lifestyle WATCH Madeira Beach teen saving the planet one piece of trash at a time When Maxson started Trash Turtles as a 10-year-old in 2020 it was mainly her and her family picking up litter at the beach and the non-profit has gained hundreds of volunteers picking up an estimated 10 tons of trash “It’s really important to take pride in your hometown because it’s where you live it’s where people come to visit from far away provide that with a warm smile or keeping the beaches clean,” said Maxson Maxson said you don’t have to start your own organization or even attend a cleanup to make a difference Just follow one simple lesson: “Leave With Three.” we would make the biggest dent,” said Maxson Maxson's conservation efforts have even brought her celebrity status with her friends you’ve been doing all these wonderful things.' They are like Maxson was even appointed to the Jane Goodall National Roots and Shoots Youth Council working with like-minded kids from around the country she may even inspire the next 10-year-old to create their own non-profit “It makes me feel nice that someone cares about the environment because some people just leave stuff around and that’s just not good for the environment,” said Lane Coleman Maxson's main focus right now may be Maderia Beach but she has much bigger plans for the future “There is a lot of trash in the atmosphere around Earth from satellites to old rocket parts from the 60s So if we can figure out a successful and sustainable way to keep trash out of our atmosphere we can hopefully find a sustainable and safe way to keep trash off the planet,” said Maxson and I feel like that's part of where the system failed" Henry Betsey Jr. is facing charges for marrying three Florida women in three different counties at the same time. Now saying the system that handles marriage licenses kept them in the dark Latest Pinellas County News from ABC Action News Report a typo Subscribe Now The American chestnut is a lost Appalachian treasure one Portuguese community holds close a relative of the bygone nut By Caroline Hatchett October/November 2024 The Portuguese word saudade expresses all the emotions mixed up with longing for place Saudade—that feeling swept through me in Curral das Freiras an interior valley on the Portuguese island of Madeira and a community defined by its isolation and principal crop In the hamlet and on the surrounding steep slopes I found chestnut reverence as I imagine it existed in Appalachia a century ago—in Western North Carolina where I camped every summer of my childhood and in the Tennessee mountains that produced my reserved This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Castanea dentata grew for forty million years in North America the blight had decimated some four billion chestnut trees—and a way of life—as chronicled in Donald Davis’s book The American Chestnut which I read on a direct flight from JFK to Madeira Corkscrew roads delivered me from Madeira’s capital of Funchal to Eira do Serrado I watched mist roll over volcanic peaks as if they were the Great Smokies carved by millennia of erosion and rockslides the only way out of the valley was to climb at first under the shade of chestnut trees The valley walls amplified the trail’s music: Pollinators buzzed over blackberry blossoms a historian from the island’s Regional Directorate of Culture a landowner bequeathed the valley to the Convent of Santa Clara whose nuns ran a farming operation from afar The sisters resided in the larger city of Funchal and paid foremen to oversee production; poor settlers worked the land and forfeited much of their harvest for the privilege of a homestead the sisters fled to the valley to escape a pirate’s raid I beheld the snaking trail I had just descended from the terrace of Sabores do Curral The restaurant serves cane syrup–drizzled chestnuts a rustic chestnut soup with pork and sweet potatoes the owner of Vale das Freiras bottles sweet chestnut liqueur I accessed a small chestnut museum with artifacts of a working life: baskets into which men thrashed off chestnut skins Madeira’s earliest settlers brought the Castanea sativa variety with them to the island It shares a common ancestor with the American chestnut whose genetics split off soon before the two landmasses ripped apart the town hosts a festival with every imaginable chestnut foodstuff best for a day visit as part of a longer stay in Madeira visit the church with Santa Clara enshrined in stained glass Locals dammed a stream to form a swimming hole known as Poço dos Chefes; I bathed with a school of rainbow trout and sunned on the rocky banks There are a few home rentals nestled in the valley I slept in Funchal (ensconced in the luxury of the Savoy Palace hotel) Families supplemented their diets with chestnuts as well as wild foods whose harvest the nuns did not demand Virgínia Camacho grew up among twenty-seven siblings and half-siblings here She showed me how her mother cooked pots of an endemic tuber called brigalhó over a wood fire She pressed until I accepted cordial glassfuls of homemade ginja and she led me to a shed perched over her downstairs hearth When I asked if she knew any chestnut songs she belted out a tune in twangy Portuguese Curral das Freiras’s remoteness preserved this folk culture—and most likely spared its chestnuts from disease locals found that Asian chestnut gall wasps had invaded A common root fungus has also plagued trees a chestnut specialist from the Regional Directorate of Agriculture says the cure for the latter must be applied tree by tree many of which are too dangerous for her team or landowners of advanced age to access the chestnut festival director imported 250 kilograms of nuts conservationists in the States have worked to breed a blight-resistant American chestnut Hopes surrounding a genetically modified tree were dashed just this year when researchers found that it was vulnerable to fungus the Directorate of Agriculture has attacked the gall wasp by releasing a second parasitic wasp into the valley’s chestnut groves It also launched a program to promote new plantings and better irrigation; Portugal will modernize the valley’s chestnut processing facility to diversify output Viera da Luz will know if they have eliminated the gall wasp Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain wonderland still sparkles These top-notch bakeshops let flour-free customers have their cake—and pies The future of conservation in the South just got a little bit brighter—and not just for salamanders but they’re the craftsmanship of local crustaceans called lawn lobsters The drawls are receiving a lot of flak across the internet but a North Carolina linguist argues they’re actually pretty accurate a seasonal makers market featuring over 50 local artisans Held weekly on Wednesdays from mid-November through May from 10am-2pm Since I Love the Burg launched in May of 2009 Miller Union chef Steven Satterfield has partnered with Dive Wine to open Madeira Park in Poncey-Highland In a slew of wine-centric restaurants popping up around Atlanta recently the long-awaited Madeira Park has opened in Poncey-Highland marking a major turn for wine-focused restaurants opening in Atlanta Madeira Park is Satterfield and McCarthy’s first new project since opening Miller Union in 2009 They have transformed the former Highland Inn space at 640 North Highland Avenue NE to open the restaurant The focus of the bar is obvious: good wine. What sets them apart is Willard’s knack for finding hidden gems, Old World classics, and rare vintages — something he’s been doing while running Dive pop-up events like Loire Bar Just don’t call Madeira Park a natty wine bar We’re trying to do something different,” says Willard “A lot of consumers that want to love wine haven’t connected with it because they haven’t had that aha moment with a classic wine.” general manager and sommelier who worked the Loire Bar pop-ups at Larakin will offer full and half-pours of 25 wines by the glass and carry a library of about 80 bottles and non-alcoholic options by bar manager Philip Weltner Palmer has hand-written a selection of rare wines in a secret menu called “The Book,” which will get updated regularly iconic allocated wines that you don’t see a lot of You’re only allowed to choose one bottle for the entire experience,” says Willard “The only way to access the list is to have a conversation with a sommelier.” Chef de cuisine Ollie Honderd (formerly at Bocca Lupo and Gunshow) and Satterfield have collaborated on the menu think snacks and shareable small plates like cheese (from local cheese shop Capella Cheese) and charcuterie boards and butterscotch pear with blue cheese and pecans “We leaned into shareable plates that are delicious on their own or can be mixed and matched to preference and occasion,” says Satterfield in a statement The restaurant has a dining room with communal seating and a bar that seats 14 and Willard designed the place with AI3 Architects A central focus is a wall with a map of the Poncey-Highland neighborhood and the interior is dotted with hanging globe pendant lights in the dining room The restaurant neighbor another heavy-hitter later this year with Talat Market opening Thai bar called Some Luck in the same building “I think it gets put on the shelf for a little while.” Madeira Park is open every day except Mondays Tonight is a sold-out ticketed event; the restaurant will be open starting tomorrow Just as was done with the Santa Catarina Park which is no longer open 24 hours a day and is now closed at night admits that a similar measure could be implemented in other parks/gardens in the city given the history of vandalism that has been occurring there “Santa Catarina Park was a forbidden place 20 years ago There were all kinds of initiatives that I wouldn’t even recommend entering This isn’t the case with other spaces we have but some should start thinking about [fencing them] also because of the vandalism that has been taking place” on the sidelines of the ceremony for the 20th anniversary of the Santa Catarina Park Playroom The mayor points to the example of Funchal’s Municipal Garden “in front of the [Baltazar Dias] Municipal Theatre” given the number of incidents recorded there against the botanical heritage She acknowledges that “it is not easy” to fence off a public space and limit its access to the population but the proof that this measure may be the most appropriate is the current reality of the attractive Santa Catarina Park She therefore maintains that “we cannot stop considering the pros and cons” in the certainty that it will not be during this term of office that the perimeter of the Municipal Garden will be fenced off I would recommend patrols of the area via an automated camera surveillance system and response dispatched in the form of a security officer Fencing off the park will be detrimental to its appeal during the day Why do you link the increase in tourism with the increase in crime people like me who have been visiting as tourists for 25 years will stop coming Well Eleuterio Pestana complete right with the new utomated camera surveillance add to Funchal they also should add them there also And more anyone caught vandalizing the garden and other structures if caught oblige them doing commity service there Catarina é um local aprazível deve-se em parte ao ter sido vedado durante a noite Concordo que a CMF use igual procedimento com o Jardim Municipal Os madeirenses e aqueles que nos visitam ficamos todos a ganhar This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here you'll find a portion of Madeira Way closed to cars and traffic it's lined with tents for local vendors to set up shop Tampa Bay Markets hosts the event every Wednesday morning from 10 a.m giving visitors and locals a chance to shop local Marley's Main Man Matthew Pelllisier started the company because of his love of a good cold brew it's just been increasingly better business I got my start because of them over in Dunedin and then I've just been working all the little markets that they have." Aimee Lepri Jewelry She's a jewelry maker who makes all her jewelry with a propane oxygen torch so the market has been a great plan to help make ends meet It's actually something that restored normality to our lives after the hurricane and it's just great to see all the locals come out and support us and all the local business owners have a space to sell when their retail location might have been taken by the storm." Psalm's Peanut Brittle You'll find Carlton Owens at this market selling Psalm's Peanut Brittle and chances are high you will hear him say "She used to make it for Christmas all the time and people kept asking about her brittle after Christmas and I realized then that she had something special you should start making your brittle and start selling it.' Phones started ringing more than 100 people have filed for demolition permits and residents said it's hard to see the neighborhood they love change so quickly The City of Madeira Beach confirmed that at least 125 people now have demolition permits Long-time resident Mary Pendergast said the hardest part of recovery is seeing the changes in the neighborhood it's sad watching all the houses go down because to me that is what gives Florida the ambience—the old Florida houses," Pendergast said She's concerned about what will replace the demolished homes She said they were home to her friends and neighbors who couldn’t move back into their houses after the storm They just didn’t want to deal with it anymore,” Pendergast said They're not alone—demolitions are happening across Madeira Beach Christopher Palmer with Sarnago and Sons Demolition said they have never been busier City officials said at least 125 homes have demolition permits I think it will definitely make a comeback Madeira Beach suffered serious damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton Residents and business owners are still dealing with significant losses from the 2024 storms work is still going on to rebuild for those who can and permits are still being filed WATCH Madeira Beach working to recover from Hurricanes Helene and Milton We have almost all of our beach accesses open Homeowners are starting to get their homes back together So I think we're doing really good," said Mayor Anne-Marie Brooks Madeira Beach only has a few thousand people who live on the island Those residents really came together after the storms one of the biggest things that I saw after residents were able to come back onto the island—we were driving around the city giving out waters and ice to residents who were cleaning out their homes—and the thing that just caught my attention right away was the residents that were coming out and helping their neighbors And even though they were dragging everything they owned to the road they still found a way to smile and be grateful You stick together and you work together," said Brooks and just a few months away from the 2025 Hurricane Season City staff continues to work with residents to get them through those hurdles We have open permitting hours two to three days a week Permitting department is still working seven days a week behind the scenes It's three days that we open the doors and have residents come in the staff is very accommodating to help residents with getting their paperwork uploaded to the system So I think that we've done a really good job in getting residents back into their homes getting their permits issued," said Brooks It's something that we all want to preserve," said Brooks The city is also planning the 78th Founder's Day Captains Party. It's May 3 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and is family-friendly. You can read more about that by clicking here. Efforts for a master plan in the City of Madeira Beach are also underway to help plan for the future. You can give feedback and follow along by clicking here. Big plans call for a new high-rise, condo, hotel and retail property called the Beachmaker. It's what's being referred to as Phase 4 of the Madeira Beach Town Center Project and is the vision of local developer and for about a 30-minute ride in any direction So we went to the Marriott Autograph Collection and we're building one of the most beautiful resorts that have hit this whole Florida coastline in a long time The Beachmaker will be part of the Marriott Autograph Collection a resort is where you come and you don't really leave We've got a couple pools—two pools—six different restaurants So it's got that all-encompassing resort feel that we don't have really anywhere we have that void that we're filling with the Beachmaker," he explains So now you're seeing a town in transition right as everything progresses but it's making that transition from the beach town to more of a resorty beach town and with that comes a little bit more luxury a little bit more better shops and bars and restaurants and feels and opportunities and experiences for the different visitors They hope to break ground sometime this year Pete Rising in this year\u2019s Best of the Bay Awards By using this website, you agree to our use of cookies. 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Learn more The new corner kitchen and Coffee House will replace sweet brewnette in madeira beach | photo provided The quaint Sweet Brewnette Cafe in Madeira Beach was one of many businesses that fell victim to Hurricanes Milton and Helene that hit Florida last year Similar to the beloved Sweet Brewnette Cafe Corner Kitchen and Coffee House will serve made-from-scratch breakfast and lunch items and coffee inside the corner building at 13999 Gulf Boulevard when it opens later this month I jumped on it,” said Corner Kitchen and Coffee House owner Jonathan Olejnik “The storms have affected my family as well—both personally and professionally,” continued Olejnik “I'm not trying to replace Sweet Brewnette I've been looking for an opportunity to open a cafe that would become part of the community a longtime restaurant owner and manager at his family's various establishments previously operated the Rocky Point Deli in Tampa's Waterford Plaza office building and five Nature's Table restaurants in the Tampa Bay area He was working at his family-owned Sunset Cafe and Beach Bar in Treasure Island when he received the keys to the 1,213-square-foot cafe in February The cafe will serve coffee and made-from-scratch breakfast and lunch | photo provided Corner Kitchen and Coffee House will feature a modern yet laid-back tropical theme with colorful murals of palm tree leaves painted by local artists The full espresso bar will offer a variety of popular espresso-based drinks and more with coffee beans from Italian coffee giant Lavazza the cafe will have a beer and wine license allowing Olejnik to serve craft cocktails with Prosecco and other sparkling wines Corner Kitchen will also serve made-to-order breakfast and lunch items Owners Jonathan Olejnik and Victoria Helton outside the future home of Corner Kitchen and Coffeehouse in Madeira Beach | Photo provided "Everything we make will be made in-house,” said Olejnik “We’re going to try to cook everything as quickly as we can There’s a big quality difference when food is made fresh.” The menu will include breakfast sandwiches in addition to soups and salads available in the afternoon “My Cuban sandwich has been the number one seller at all our restaurants,” Olejnik added “I’ve perfected it over the years using a Boston butt [a cut of pork from the upper front shoulder of a pig] that I slow-cook Then I make a sauce we call the Tony Montana sauce and top the sandwich with baby Swiss cheese and some good pickles on bread from La Segunda.” Corner Kitchen and Coffee House will be open seven days a week from 7 a.m ranging from house to Sublime-style beach reggae music Be sure to follow Corner Kitchen and Coffee House on Instagram for the grand opening announcement and the latest menu offerings Want to be the first to know what’s coming soon to the Sunshine City Sign up to receive the latest news straight to your inbox Contact - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy© 2024 St Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Luke’s Hospital with his loving family by his side.  Portugal and was the beloved son of Silvino Madeira and Maria (Bizarro) Madeira He had worked in construction over the years David Madeira and his wife Michelle Madeira Nelson Madeira and his wife Sandy Gomes-Madeira and Rui Madeira; as well as several nieces and nephews Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Perry Funeral Home Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors The wine bar is a partnership between Miller Union’s Steven Satterfield and Neal McCarthy and Dive Wine’s Tim Willard It’s a project that Miller Union co-owners chef Steven Satterfield and general manager Neal McCarthy have been working on since 2018 they teamed up with Dive Wine pop-up founder Tim Willard to bring the bar to life Madeira Park will soft open to the public tomorrow with limited hours (opening at 5 p.m.) “It’s a wine bar with great food—something that’s missing in Atlanta,” Willard says “We have great restaurants with amazing wine programs but no place with a worldly list where you can stop in for a bite and a glass of wine or come with friends for a full meal.” The wine list will feature a mix of Old and New World wines with natural There will be about 100 to 120 bottle offerings with 25 by-the-glass picks chosen by Willard “We’ll have a lot of options by the glass that you generally wouldn’t see,” Willard says Palmer says she’s particularly excited to offer a 2010 Daniel-Étienne Defaix Chablis 1er Cru Clos de Lechet by the glass ($18 for 2.5 ounces) higher-end Chablis with complexity and 15 years of age at an accessible price,” says Palmer who used to be a wine buyer for Hop City at Krog Street Market “We’ve gone all over the world looking for the best possible wines,” McCarthy adds and sherry) and spritzes will be on the menu as well led by bar manager Philip Weltner (formerly of Biltong Bar) Madeira Park will also stock one type of each base liquor for simple requests such as vodka-soda or bourbon on the rocks Acquiring a retail license will allow Madeira Park to host winemakers and importers for special dinners and enable them to sell their wines onsite afterward it leaves open the possibility of a wine club once the bar is running smoothly At the beginning, Satterfield will be in the kitchen with chef de cuisine Ollie Honderd (formerly of Loire Bar), preparing finger foods like oysters, fries, and crispy chickpea fritters starting at 3 p.m. Expect local Capella cheeses and larger-format dishes (including a half chicken offering some additional lunch-specific menu items As Satterfield focuses on launching Madeira Park Miller Union Chef de Cuisine Jay Felton will stand in at the lauded flagship restaurant “He has been preparing for this for a long time,” Satterfield says “The restaurant is in great hands.” McCarthy will split his time between the two businesses The new place will feature a variety of seating options but the restaurant will hold a good portion of the space for walk-ins as available for just a snack and a drink or a full deep dive into the menu,” Satterfield says You can gather at the bar or outside—wherever.” Like Miller Union—which was named after the stockyards previously located there—Madeira Park refers to the former name of a nearby neighborhood (now home to the Carter Center) We thought that was a charming tie-in,” Satterfield says “We think this is going to be a really fun experience that we’re excited to debut to Atlanta.” This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Job Title: Director of curatorial and visitor services for New York State Favorite Trinity Memory: One of my most significant memories is from senior year during my Senior Art Show as a studio major My parents (who have since passed away) came to see my work displayed in the Austin Arts Center gallery My father had a successful career in business and had always tried to steer me toward business studies as an undergraduate I finally listened to him and attained an M.B.A. which has been instrumental for me in leading and shaping organizations I would not change a thing about the path I took and the decision I made to study studio arts and history at Trinity and preservation of the fine and decorative art collections owned by the State of New York Rockefeller Empire State Plaza Art Collection and the New York State Harlem Art Collection as well as the art and historic furnishings in the New York State Executive Mansion and the New York State Capitol In addition to overseeing these important collections I provide policy leadership and direction to New York State I also manage the New York State Capitol Tour Program and the Empire State Plaza Visitor Center and Gift Shop and direct the interpretive programming for the Empire State Plaza What was your path to your current position After working for a few years at a private high school I wanted to pursue a career that combined education with art and creativity My first museum job was for the opening of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington where I became director of special exhibits for the National Museum of Natural History I then served as deputy director for the Kohler Arts Center in Wisconsin and later as executive director of the Southern Vermont Arts Center a dream job that allows me to work with an incredible collection of monumental abstract expressionist art while guiding the historical interpretation and public programming for the New York State Capitol and Executive Mansion I get to lead a variety of projects and work with an amazing team From exhibits on the history of New York and its people to long-term conservation projects for pieces such as our Alexander Calder sculpture or Claes Oldenburg’s Geometric Mouse such as working with the Louis Vuitton Foundation on loaning our Mark Rothko for its retrospective in Paris I organize new interpretive tours for the New York State Capitol and assist the governor in finding historic art and furnishings for the Executive Mansion It’s incredible to combine my love of history and art in a job where every day presents new tasks that touch on both disciplines How did your time at Trinity prepare you for your work ignited the passion that directly led me to my career I’m fortunate to be doing exactly what I studied at Trinity and found a career I love where I continue to learn new things nearly every day What was the most memorable course you took at Trinity Professor James West’s historiography class wasn’t just about studying history; it was about understanding why we study it and how we approach it The course examined underlying characteristics of how history was recorded and it opened my eyes to the broader impacts of demographics and lesser-known connections that shaped historical events It was the first course for me that raised more questions than it answered but it ultimately set a high standard for how I think about learning Did you have a professor who was particularly influential Professor George Chaplin saw potential in me and pushed me to do better He had a subtle yet hilarious sense of humor and encouraged me to find value in everything I did but that’s not important because who cares what I think why aren’t you doing better if you know you can?” Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More — Middle school students at Madeira Beach Fundamental School returned to their school on Monday have been closed since September due to damage from Hurricane Helene the grounds and the building’s electrical system middle school students will return to the second floor and portables located at the campus until all work is complete Students have been attending school at Osceola Fundamental High School for the past few months school start and end times have been updated The middle-school grades start time is 8:15 a.m and classes for elementary students start at 9:45 a.m as well as teachers and district officials Best in Travel is here! Discover 2025’s destinations The 30 best countries, cities and regions to visit in 2025 Plan your trip with Elsewhere, by Lonely Planet See where a Lonely Planet Membership takes you Subscribe to our weekly newsletters to get the latest travel news, expert advice, and insider recommendations Explore the world with our detailed, insightful guidebooks Stay ahead of the curve with our 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these islands that are better known for their pebble-lined shores Throughout Madeira you will find a pleasantly mild Mediterranean climate that easily lends itself to breezy beach days you might end up at a (relatively) busy swimming hole in Funchal or on the most dramatically rugged coasts with steep green mountains seemingly dropping towards the sea.  To help you figure out which of the island’s beaches must make it onto your itinerary here’s our shortlist of the top 15 beaches in Madeira.  Ponto do Sol is Madeira’s warmest and sunniest town its beach makes for a beautiful swimming spot it’s bordered by rock formations built out with steps and a diving platform making it one of Madeira’s more atmospheric swimming spots Detour: To access the waterfall from the beach head northwest through the old tunnel to a stone bridge you’ll also see the entrance of a former prison Best for a great expanse of black sand coastline in the city Located on the eastern end of Madeira’s capital city of Funchal, Praia Formosa is not only a convenient beach to visit but it’s also the island’s largest beach that stretches out for well over a mile Though this is one of Madeira’s many pebble-heavy beaches it’s nonetheless a popular spot for swimming Praia Formosa is staffed with lifeguards.  Planning tip: Try the Doca do Cavacas natural pool complex at the southern end of Praia Formosa where magnificent views of Praia Formosa and Cabo Girão add to its allure Look for special access to the beach via a rock tunnel at the on-site seafood restaurant.  you will find a natural pool that’s good for a relaxing swim.  Detour: A short walk west of Praia do Porto do Seixal are the Piscinas Naturais the aquamarine water forms a stark contrast to the dark lava rocks that have formed arches and other photogenic shapes Access to the pools does require a super-steep descent Best for the boardwalk and family-friendly amenities Wedged into the mouth of a deep creek, tiny Madalena do Mar has a long undisturbed atmosphere that feels a long way from Funchal It’s also the jumping-off point for one of the island’s simplest walks Madalena do Mar’s beach has a pleasant expanse of pebbles and black sand that leads to a calm corner of crystal-clear ocean water this is a good family-friendly beach option signed alleyway across the highway from the beach the trail is under a mile and can be walked in 30 minutes or so Located on the north shore of Madeira Island, Porto Moniz has large natural pools largely formed from volcanic rock on both ends of its busy seafront. Those on the east end near the Cachalote restaurant are free, wilder and less affected by high waves. Meanwhile, the pools on the west end charge a small admission and usually have tame waves but they can get swamped when the Atlantic shows even mild fury Planning tip: If you’re looking to stay outside the relative hustle and bustle of Funchal, the Hotel Aqua Natura Madeira has comfortable and stylish rooms and suites perched right by the natural pools they have a full-service spa and wellness area on site.   Just to the west of the Piscinas Naturais do Seixal is Praia da Laje which locals often call Praia da Jamaica (Jamaica Beach) for the string of palm trees that edge the Atlantic.  On the west side of the outcrop is a pier suitable for swimming but keep in mind that the currents tend to be rougher on this side of Seixal the only “crowds” at Praia da Laje are likely to be a few locals fishing Best for scenic hiking and secluded swimming Located near the eastern tip of Madeira Island Prainha do Caniçal is one of Madeira’s very few natural fine-sand beaches this wild arc of mostly copper-hued sand is backed by cliffs leaving no sand – get there early and you’ll have the place to yourself (for a while at least).  Detour: To see even more of what makes Caniçal so special, hit the hiking trail and continue eastward. You can stop at Praia de São Lourenço for a spectacular pristine beach. Then, hop back on the trail to reach Cais do Sardinha a dramatically rocky corner of coastline with a diving platform  Praia da Alagoa (or Alagoa Beach) in Porto da Cruz really stands out for its waves, making it the perfect spot to learn to surf through local surf schools like Surf Clube da Madeira and Salty.  backed by cliffs and equipped with a small pool and cafe is a handsome option for beach loungers and casual swimmers Detour: Roughly halfway between Porto da Cruz and Seixal, Ponta Delgada is a lovely town worth stopping to soak in the Complex Balnear da Ponta Delgada for two saltwater pools.  Best for experiencing Madeira’s banana belt at its finest Clinging to a speck of coastline west of Câmara de Lobos is Fajã dos Padres fecund enclave that takes the form of an almost-jungle-like green strip A three-minute cable-car ride on Teleférico Fajã dos Padres escorts visitors to sea level about 300m (984 ft ) below this verdant strip of land has tropical fruit trees such as avocado plus it has a centuries-long winemaking tradition that carries on to the present day a sunbathing area where loungers and umbrellas can be rented during summer Best for ample sunshine and sweet delights  Madeira’s first man-made beach – actually two sandy spots facing each other – was created in 2004 with sand imported from Morocco and is a feature that dominates the local seafront golden sand is the rarest of things on the island Access is free and facilities include a bar area and changing rooms Detour: The Engenhos da Calheta sugar mill rum distillery and museum complex has a shop and simple cafe where you can buy or sample one of the island’s best versions of bolo de mel Best for a classically beautiful golden sand beach Located on the island of Porto Santo to the northeast of Madeira Island Ponta da Calheta on this island’s far southern end has its own unique feel with its photogenic rock formations Come for the amazing views of the uninhabited island of Ilhéu da Cal over the turquoise waters and stay to dine at the small cafe and restaurant nearby Ponta da Calheta has a rare slice of soft golden sand that makes for relaxing walks on the beach along with a few tidepools that only make this beach even prettier Detour: Follow a bumpy dirt road in the island’s far southwest corner to find the path to Praia do Zimbralinho rocky beach dramatically hemmed in by ancient lava formations and fronting a giant natural pool of azure water.  Best for a long and soothing beach experience Extending from the ferry port to the island’s southernmost point for over 5 miles (9km), Praia do Porto Santo is nothing short of spectacular this long beach is regularly voted one of the top 10 stretches of sand in Europe The large grains are tiny fragments of coral – the remains of reefs dating back 20 million years – and are considered to have therapeutic properties Gently shelving into the cooling Atlantic and backed by Porto Santo’s extinct volcanic cones the beach has relatively little development and retains a wild feel.  Detour: Stop in for a poncha (white rum and juice cocktail) and the eponymous snack of broad beans at Fava Rica Best for big-wave surfing and a romantic lighthouse The charmingly beautiful fishing village of Paúl do Mar is considered the surfing capital of Madeira so much so that it even hosted a leg of the World Surfing Championships in 2001 so this is generally considered a beach for experienced surfers only Praia do Porto do Seixal and Praia da Alagoa are better suited for beginner-level surfers.) Autumn and winter are the best times of year for big waves Detour: About 14km (9 miles) northwest of central Paúl do Mar sits Madeira's most westerly point at Ponta do Pargo you can drive all the way to a lighthouse that sports spectacular Atlantic vistas Best for dramatic views of craggy coastal canyons At Porto Santo Island’s far eastern end is Praia do Porto dos Frades Bookending the rocky beach are some almost fantastical layered sand formations that terminate in a series of small canyons and caves It’s a short walk from the beach to a series of natural pools as well as the remains of salt mines and a lime factory Even if you’re visiting during the bustling summer season Machico may be “Madeira’s first city” where the Portuguese first landed in 1419, but the big draw at the shore is a man-made, gently sloping beach created with golden sand shipped in from Morocco and protected by two artificial breaks. Praia de Machico’s facilities include toilets There are a couple of places to eat nearby as you watch planes gliding low across the mouth of the bay Detour: A short walk east of Praia de Machico sits a majestic waterfront fortress along with the office of the local member of the European Parliament This article was adapted from Lonely Planet’s Pocket Madeira guidebook, published in March 2025. Moses Brown’s Lilly Madeira earning recognition for this week’s ABC6 Sports Play of the Week The senior committed to Jacksonville University scoring an impressive backhand goal against Bishop Feehan Cloudy weather will have been a relief for the 8,800 seated spectators mainly tourists paying 30 euros for a seat to watch the parade Animad suprised the crowds with the release of red balloons each participant in the troupe carried a balloon For a moment the released balloons diverted the attention of the large audience that filled the avenues along the Funchal seafront the floats were regrouped in the Cais 8 car park where they will remain on display until the end of the afternoon (6 pm) tomorrow Well anyone intrested how the Flower Festival in Madeira started in1954 with the holding of the “Festa da Rosa” in Funchal The Ateneu Comercial do Funchal organized this event which involved a flower exhibition and awards for the best flowers the festival became known as the “Festa da Flor” and became a very successful annual event The organization was transferred to the Regional Tourism Board the former regional secretary for Tourism and Culture in 1979 that made this a main event in Madeira I’m looking forward to returning next May for the Flower Festival What an amazing experience our first time on this beautiful island and so lucky to see the whole parade Myself and wife spending our 25th Wedding anniversary here what a a fantastic day Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights 04:45pm EDTShareSaveComment@font-face{font-family: "Schnyder"; src: url("https://i.forbesimg.com/assets/fonts/schnyders/schnyders-bold-webfont.woff2") format("woff2") url("https://i.forbesimg.com/assets/fonts/schnyders/schnyders/schnyders-bold-webfont.woff") format("woff"); font-weight: 700; font-style: normal;} @font-face{font-family: "Merriweather"; src: url("https://i.forbesimg.com/assets/fonts/merriweather/merriweather-bold-webfont.woff2") format("woff2") 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.font-size{font-size: 26px;} #article-stream-0 .subhead3-embed.color-body #article-stream-0 .subhead3-embed .color-body{color: #333333;} #article-stream-0 .subhead3-embed.color-body-border{border-top-color: rgba(51,51,51 #article-stream-0 .subhead3-embed .color-body-border{border-top-color: rgba(51,51,51 0.8);} .bg-body{background-color: #333333;} #article-stream-0 .subhead3-embed.font-accent #article-stream-0 .subhead3-embed .font-accent{font-family: Euclid,"Noto Sans","Droid Sans","Helvetica Neue",Corbel,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;}Praca do Município town square in Funchal Often described as the “Hawaii of Europe,” thanks to its volcanic beaches, lush forests and picturesque mountains, the Portuguese island of Madeira is in the middle of the Atlantic about 300 miles west of Morocco it’s an ideal holiday destination any time of the year (the average daily temperature is 70°F (21°C) diving or surfing and for the delicious Madeiran fortified wine and fabulous food Originally constructed in 1804 as a hunting lodge by the Count of Carvalhal today the historic building is a country house hotel owned by the Blandy (Madeira Wine) family set in a garden paradise The 37 spacious rooms and suites look onto the lush gardens that surround the Manor House floral fabrics and antique furniture with all the modern amenities you’d expect from a luxury hotel par 72 championship golf course surely has one of the best views in the world with lunch served in the garden of the hotel or at Vista Balancal Restaurant at the golf course the hotel’s fine dining restaurant offers often changing menus by Chef Gonçalo Bita Bota featuring local products Les Suites at Cliff Bay is another luxury choice with lovely views of the sea and Funchal Bay are set in lush gardens with a blissful infinity pool and jacuzzi overlooking the sea Reid’s Palace opened as the New Hotel in 1891 and was acquired by the Belmond group in 2014 a fancy cocktail bar and 158 suites and rooms each with a balcony or terrace that overlooks Funchal Bay or the gardens Winston Churchill and Roger Moore have been among the famous guests The rooftop terrace bar at Se Boutique hotel Sé Boutique Hotel, a 4-star with 54 modern rooms and suites is in a brilliant location in Funchal old town The hotel’s brightly decorated rooftop terrace bar attracts guests and locals alike who come for the 360 degree view across Funchal and the excellent cocktails is available for private hire and sleeps 17 Surrounding Casa Vehla and beyond are the lovely Palheiro Gardens within the 120 acre Palheiro Nature Estate The gardens have been meticulously cultivated since the early 19th-century by the Blandy family and their dedicated team of gardeners There is plenty to explore for hotel guests and visitors (admission is 11 euros) where you’ll see a beautiful range of flowers and trees from around the world in the Main Garden And be sure to take a box of chocolates home as they use typical Madeiran products like Madeira wine Step back in time at Fabrica Sto Antonia a family-run biscuit and cake factory and shop since 1893 The shelves and cabinets are the same as they’ve always been famous Madeira cake and ginger and nut biscuits Located in a 19th-century photography studio, one of the oldest in Portugal, Museu de Fotografia in Funchal old town is a photography buff’s dream the museum also has a vast photographic archive consisting of about three to four million photos The museum also holds temporary exhibitions and has a lovely cafe Olga Samara on violin and Andrei Ladeishikov on piano at The English Church and The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughan Williams an ethereal experience by two musicians of a standard as high as you’d see in London or New York See Madeira and the coastline from a different perspective on a sailboat with Happy Hour who provide private charters for up to six people A half day tour can include a cruise down the south coast of Madeira Island with stops at private beaches accessible only by sea If you’re in Madeira for a few days, especially if you’re hiking, cycling or doing something active, a session of cryotherapy at Coolzoone Madeira is essential Providing a wellness experience like no other this newly opened health center features the largest longest and widest walk-through cryotherapy chamber in the world There’s an infrared tunnel with ionized oxygen that can help to reduce stress and a rather daunting machine that measures body fat using a 3D scan of your entire body but the main attraction here is the cold therapy experience You start in a “balmy” -10°C room before moving to -60 and then to an exhilarating -110°C triggering your body’s natural healing and survival mechanisms The possible benefits are impressive: reduced inflammation improved circulation and a natural endorphin rush we certainly left feeling energized and keen to return for another treatment to take in the variety of landscapes on this beautiful island from sea to mountains Both companies have private and group tours and specialise in off-road excursions that use old Municipal and forest paths A tour to the southwest coast of Madeira can include stops at Camara de Lobos the cute (although crowded) fishing village a glass floored clifftop viewpoint and lunch at the charming Ponta do Sol beach Mudas is Madeira’s fantastic contemporary art museum located on a hill overlooking the town of Calheta The stunning building with a rooftop garden was designed by architect Paulo David the museum has been awarded the Alvar Aalto medal (2012) and nominated for the European Prize for Contemporary Architecture Mies Van Der Rohe (2005) The museum showcases Portuguese artists and features several temporary exhibitions each year drawn from its impressive permanent collection of contemporary Portuguese art BAM – Banana Museum is a quirky museum about the history and culture of the yellow fruit Immersive and artistic installations divided into themed zones covering the history future challenges and nutritional role of the Madeira Banana Outside you can walk among the plantation and try banana delicacies in the cute cafe The 'Levada dos Pionais' makes its way along the top of the Socorridos valley near Lombada on the island’s west end covering 11.8km (7.3 miles) round trip Lunch at Akua near the Marina is chef Júlio Pereira’s fourth (and newest) restaurant in Funchal braised tuna with razor clam rice and market fish and a moreish dessert of white chocolate black olive and passion fruit are standout menu items Dinner at Oxalis at Casa Velha by Chef Gonzalo Bita Bota is one of the island’s best fine dining experiences with 12 carefully crafted courses (don’t worry Highlights of the current menu include tuna belly with ponzu Horta Starters and salads are particularly good including cauliflower and mango couscous with wild shrimp or quinoa with pistachio The tasting menus (7 or 9 courses) at Audax offer an outstanding gastronomic experience The Chef and his kitchen team are inspired by the classic regional dishes and flavors to create new Theo’s has been a restaurant since 1933 when it was a simple teahouse under the leadership of Chef Júlio Pereira (of Kampo and Akua) Theo’s has been reborn with a renewed purpose to serve up modern Portuguese cuisine with a focus on the local Sol Poente high above Ponta do Sol beach on the south west coast specialises in fish and seafood and stunning sea views Start with limpets (tiny shellfish) and garlic bread and for a main For drinks before dinner, the Terrace Bar at Sé Boutique Hotel serves unique cocktails with 360º views over the city from sea pools to volcanic heightsA subtropical island in the Atlantic Madeira has rugged volcanic mountains that rise above the clouds natural swimming pools down at sea level and more than 1,900 miles of historic aqueducts tracing the landscapes in between This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK).Four hundred miles off the north coast of Africa Madeira is an island of lush terraced hills and winding hairpin roads which transport visitors in minutes from mountaintop hiking trails to coastal villages serving local seafood such as limpets The first known settlers of what’s now an autonomous region of Portugal arrived in the early 15th century in the tunnel between Arco da Calheta and Madalena do Mar the Calheta Volunteer Firefighters went to the scene with three ambulances The accident resulted in three minor injuries especially in areas with heavy traffic such as the connection between Arco da Calheta and Madalena do Mar An official website of the United States government Latest Earthquakes Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center conducted an elevation survey at Madeira Beach A team of USGS scientists collected beach elevation data both above and below water at Madeira Beach An individual equipped with a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver and antenna mounted on a surveying backpack collected above-water (beach profile) data Scientists navigated two personal watercrafts each outfitted with GPS and sonar technology along designated transects to measure below-water elevations Data have been collected at the study site since 2017 The site also includes a coastal video monitoring station which records water levels and waves at the shoreline while offshore instruments make observations of waves The full set of data supports research and skill assessment for the Total Water Level and Coastal Change Forecast These items are in the RSS feed format (Really Simple Syndication) based on categories such as topics You can install and RSS reader browser extension or use a third-party service to receive immediate news updates depending on the feed that you have added they may look strange because they are simply XML code An RSS reader can easily read this code and push out a notification to you when something new is posted to our site Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program News St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center News Game Recap: Softball | 2/28/2025 4:46:00 PM Thanks for visiting — Hurricane Helene damage more than half of luxury developer Bill Karns’ 90 properties on Madiera Beach he still sees opportunity on the island and has since bought nearly a dozen condemned homes He said 54 properties were impacted by Helene and half of those do not have flood insurance said he has lost more than six figures in rent “We’re down $120,000 a month in rent,” he said a lot of adjusting financially to meet all of our obligations to make sure that we can build these back.” Karns said getting a three-month forbearance from his bank has been crucial to give him time to rebuild The developer said some of his tenants will not return he still sees opportunity in the heavily battered beach town and has begun buying as many condemned homes as possible Karns said he has purchased 10 properties from homeowners who want to move away from the beach They’re at an age where they don’t want to get a mortgage and they’re just selling and leaving the island,” he said Karns said the substantially damaged properties have been selling for about half the price as they would have pre-Helene He said a couple owned a home on the intracoastal which would have sold for $1.5 million before the storm “They had been here for over 40 years and lost everything in the house So they took that money and they actually moved over to Seminole Karns said some homeowners who get a flood insurance payout but can’t rebuild because of FEMA’s 50% rule can almost be made whole when they sell their condemned home He also partners with other homeowners and they split the profit when the new house sells “Those are the opportunities where we can make sure they get their insurance claim money Then we’ll build a new house and sell it.” The developer said he encourages homeowners to hold on to their properties because they have value which he expects will grow in the future Karns said he enjoys giving back to the community. He raised and donated $1.8 million to the city for ROC Park, in honor of his son William Karns III, 26, who passed away in 2013. ROC stands for Remember Our Children. He’s now using the ROC Park foundation to help host Beach Aid on the Saturday after Thanksgiving “The first one’s going to be at City Hall building where we can host a few more people,” he said “We’re doing between 2,000 and 3,000 traditional Thanksgiving dinners but all the beach communities from Clearwater Beach to Pass-a-Grille.” Karns said mental health counselors from Crisis Connect will host breakout groups where 20 or 30 people can talk about how they’re feeling In how they walk and talk and react with the community,” he said “So real important for mental health awareness.” We don’t want to talk about FEMA and all the problems and all the rebuild things,” he said “We want to take Saturday and make it a day about you listen to some music and have a great meal Beach Aid is scheduled to take place on Nov. 30, at the Madeira Beach City Hall Complex a celebration that symbolizes renewal and hope the Flower Parade has stood out as the most magical and enchanting moment of the Flower Festival A grand spectacle that transforms the city centre into a garden of colour and movement dance and spread joy along the city’s main avenues – Avenida do Mar Avenida das Comunidades Madeirenses and Avenida Sá Carneiro Creativity comes to life with the multiple choreographies and costumes The countless flowers and multicoloured elements draw the attention of the thousands of spectators in a parade that is expected to last more than two hours of authentic celebration of flowers The grand spectacle of colour and movement started at the Praça da Autonomia Avenida do Mar and the Madeiran Communities (south strip) to the Francisco Sá Carneiro Roundabout and Avenida Francisco Sá Carneiro with the following order of participating groups: João Egídio Rodrigues ‘Madeira of My Enchantments’; Isabel Borges ‘From the Sea to the Mountains’; Caneca Furada Samba School ‘Flowers of Dreams’; Animad Association ‘Rosarium’ Fantasy Smiles ‘Secret Garden’; Plots and Plots Association ‘Flowers and Dreams’; FT Association – Fitness Team ‘Paradise’; Poeira D’Enigmas – Recreational Cultural Association and Samba School ‘Island of Dreams A Refuge Between Sky and Sea’; Batucada da Madeira Association  ABM ‘Dona Orquídea and her Colors’; Palco D’ Emoções – Cultural Sports Association and Samba School ‘A Dream of Flowers ⁃ Fado and the Rose’; Geringonça Animation Association ‘Citrus Bloom’; Nuvem D’Afectos Animation Association ‘People of dreams Customs and Flowers’; Império da lha Cultural Association ‘My tropical island’ the floats will be regrouped in the Cais 8 car park About us | Advertise with us | Contact us Madeira Airport becomes one of the few airports in the world to benefit from this cutting-edge technology to mitigate adverse wind conditions the system will collect meteorological data with high precision and in near real time NAV Portugal has officially launched a new wind detection system at Madeira International Airport marking a major step forward in enhancing the safety and efficiency of airport operations in the region This initiative underscores NAV’s dedication to modernising air navigation infrastructure across the country The “MADeira Winds” (MAD Winds) system features an X-Band Radar, a LIDAR system, and an advanced processing platform capable of analysing meteorological data with high precision and near real-time accuracy This state-of-the-art system provides critical operational support and boosts crew confidence by delivering detailed insights into local weather conditions “This investment reflects NAV Portugal’s commitment to operational safety and the efficiency of air operations in this case particularly with the Autonomous Region of Madeira guaranteeing robust technical support for controllers pilots and airport operators,” said Pedro Ângelo The system delivered in December 2024 to Madeira airport the result of an investment of 3.5 million euros by NAV Portugal has the main objective of improving the analysis and forecasting of critical meteorological phenomena The system enables more effective knowledge of wind conditions in the very short term particularly during the most critical phases of flight – approach The alerts automatically generated by MAD Winds will be transmitted by air traffic control to aircraft providing essential support for operational decisions and empowering crews to make decisions as they will be better informed about the weather conditions they may face the system will contribute to greater efficiency in air traffic management With a range of more than 10 km around the airport the system will collect highly accurate weather data in near real time This information will be analysed by the competent authorities and could support a possible revision of the wind limits in force around 80% of wind-driven divergences are only up to 3 knots above the limits making this system a crucial tool for a more accurate and potentially more favourable assessment of the operation The MAD Winds System is now starting a 365-day pre-operation period during which it will be continuously evaluated and subjected to adjustments in its configuration and parameterisation in order to optimise its operation in relation to the physical and operational characteristics of Madeira Airport This period will also allow for comprehensive analysis in different weather conditions consolidating the data needed for even safer and more efficient operations Madeira Airport thus becomes one of the few airports in the world to benefit from this cutting-edge technology to mitigate adverse wind conditions Inspired by similar infrastructures implemented at airports such as Hong Kong and Palermo the MAD Winds System is positioned as a valuable tool for improving safety predictability and confidence in operations reaffirming NAV Portugal’s commitment to innovation and operational excellence Enjoy International Airport Review’s content Sign up to our weekly newsletter to ensure you stay in the know about the latest airport news and thought leadership articles and interviews SIGN ME UP By No comments yet All subscriptions include online membership giving you access to the journal and exclusive content By By Comment *document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id" "a665d053232cc8b714a594f975d27aa9" );document.getElementById("d6337c1004").setAttribute( "id" Write for us | Advertise with us International Airport Review is published by: Russell Publishing Ltd.Court LodgeHogtrough HillBrasted © Russell Publishing Limited, 2010-2025. All rights reserved. Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy Website design and development by e-Motive Media Limited Videh Kumar Jaipuriar has been nominated for his exemplary leadership in managing and navigating Delhi International Airport (DEL) during the COVID-19 pandemic He led multiple initiatives to ensure business continuity at DEL which included passenger safety and convenience and care for environment and employee safety He proactively engaged with the government stakeholders and supported them in safeguarding aviation through strong confidence building measures for travellers such as developing several indigenous technology solutions like air circulation with six changes per hour and a combination of UV and plasma disinfection systems to provide safest journey experience to their passengers DEL has been forefront of implementing safety measures which was later adopted across the country Jaipuriar ensured that DEL was operational for rescue missions and transporting medical essentials to various parts of the country He further led the Vande Bharat Mission flights of Government of India (a rescue mission to get Indians back to India) as well as rescue flights by other international governments His outstanding leadership across all areas across the stakeholders in the aviation ecosystem and going beyond the call of duty in managing and navigating this crisis for a national capital airport having national importance makes him the apt choice for the Person of the Year Award Adnan Saggaf continues to demonstrate strong leadership skills throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and brought out of the box ideas in attracting traffic and to support his team during this difficult time With new innovative ideas in balancing cash flow the facilities were kept maintained and the personal were kept employed Saggaf has protected the financial stability of his staff income shown excellent performance of crisis management and exceptional negotiation skills shown with authority regarding agreement restructuring and receivable payments To handle the loss of Umrah traffic to the airport to use the terminal with attractive offers and more reliable services He built a new strategy by diversifying the airport offers He prepared the facilities by deploying new technology and working on enhancing passenger experience Saggaf also initiated a capacity building programme for the airside team by drafting SOPS as well as initiating dedicated workshops to discuss ideas and to deploy new initiatives and this is exactly what Saggaf showed and why he deserves to be awarded as the Person of the year 2021 Peter has been with the Sangster International Airport for over 25 years operations and now oversees the security function and is also the Chief Operations Officer Peter has been instrumental in co-ordinating the preparation and implementation of a COVID-19 response plan for not just MBJ but to guide the operation of all agencies operating on airport The aim of this plan was to ensure a safe environment for staff and the travelling public; therefore this plan was instrumental to establish consumer/travellers/public confidence and provided information and guidelines on the new protocols implemented at the airport Peter is well known for his expertise in investigation and aviation security His co-operation with law enforcement stakeholders has been unrelenting in assuring the security of the airport and stakeholders alike While Peter is known as a firm individual that displays the outmost professionalism and integrity he operates on the basis of equity and fairness in all matters relating to staff Robson Freitas has developed and led the BH Airport plan for the resumption of airport operations post-COVID-19 as well as being responsible for leading the group of Directors and Managers at the airport defining the three main pillars of recovery: Health and Safety of People Institutional and Integrated Communication and Institutional Partners These central pillars include ensuring hygiene and health and social distances measures for passengers in addition to participating in strategic committees involving the public sectors to comply with regulatory rules Freitas developed the COVID guardians programme who were responsible in monitoring and following up on the measures already implemented for COVID-19 and advising users employees and other people on compliance with distancing hygiene and health measures recommended by health authorities He also developed a COVID booklet with information and guidance for the airport community regarding good hygiene and health practices and led the beginning of the publication of a monthly newsletter with passenger curve information allowing the planning of reopening and rehiring by commercial stores Freitas also supported the reduction of OPEX by planning the temporary closure of areas toilets and equipment in common use and internalising some activities Raghunath worked closely with all the aero concessionaires and cargo operators to minimise disruption and provide financial relief to them The airline marketing team helped launch a historic first route to the U.S West Coast and the cargo team at BIAL also achieved record numbers over this period with the airport becoming India’s leading airport for the export of perishables Raghunath has led a digital transformation and expansion at BIAL airport with new initiatives and the deployment of the fully biometric-based self-boarding solution for seamless passenger flow and travel experiences and a process automation and analytics platform meant that the airport won ACI World’s ‘Voice of the Customer’ initiative which recognised BIAL airports efforts to prioritise their customers during COVID-19 Raghunath has remained a staunch and resilient leader during such an uncertain time and is very much appreciated by his team Alicia Prince has played a critical role in leading and navigating Cairns Airport through the COVID-19 pandemic Prince implemented a functional plan to ensure business continuity and staff welfare segregating front-line operational staff into work teams to avoid interaction between groups She ensured that the $55 million domestic Terminal upgrade continued safely despite the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis She also deployed the COVIDSafe Operation Plan for Cairns Airport which was endorsed and later commended by Queensland Chief Health Officer As part of this plan Alicia developed an airport layout to provide physical separation of low risk and high-risk arrivals and initiated increased hygiene and sanitisation protocols The health and safety of the airport community was paramount to maintaining operations and in response to this Alicia initiated a COVIDSafe training program for the entire airport community and worked closely with her team to deliver As a result of the great work Prince has done to ensure COVID-19 best practices Cairns Airport was one of the first Australian Airports to be awarded an ACI Global Health Accreditation Alicia also led the terminal optimisation project which assessed and implemented terminal downscales due to the crisis Significant savings (both financial and environmental) were achieved by reducing the operational footprint of the airport Whilst maintaining operations throughout the pandemic was a priority Alicia ensured her team were kept well informed and engaged Cairns Airport has a team of 33 volunteers which form part of Alicia’s wider team To ensure they remained connected and cared for Alicia and her team created care packages including home-made cakes and personally delivered to each of the volunteers’ houses in a COVIDSafe manner Alicia demonstrated great leadership throughout the pandemic and continues to do so today Her clear and transparent communication and collaboration with other Australian Airports and key agencies to ensure best practice and alignment contributed greatly to business continuity all the above was managed whilst working remotely and juggling home schooling with her two young boys Balram Bheodari leads Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as North America’s most efficient airport due to his vast knowledge of and astute attention to efficiency in aviation which has allowed the airport to thrive in the most difficult of markets and selflessness to provide a quality of leadership throughout Atlanta Airport He oversees all facets of airport governance including operations and a multi-billion-dollar capital improvement programme designed to pave the way for Atlanta’s growth over the next 20 years Bheodari developed a comprehensive resumption of operations playbook that served to support ATL’s recovery efforts With guidance from the Federal Aviation Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) amid evolving health and safety guidelines Bheodari steadfastly encouraged collaboration among stakeholders he participated in daily calls with Airports Council International and other large-hub airports to share best practices as well as information from Washington He aimed to restore customer confidence and ensure the airport was a healthy facility using COVID-19 safe protocols the airport achieved Airport of the Year by the Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) Bheodari was the most ardent supporter of our mission-critical employees Having worked his way up through the ranks he fully appreciates the oftentimes thankless jobs these employees perform that keep the Airport safe and running optimally at all times Morale never flagged because Bheodari made sure those employees felt valued through hazard pay His actions and his directives all reflect his commitment to the three key focus areas of our organisation’s strategic plan: people Jonas Abrahamsson has shown the strength to steer the company towards its long-term sustainable goals Abrahamsson has ensured that Swedavia achieved its net zero target for all ten of the airports in 2020 and has continued to support strategic development and innovation to further the cause of sustainable air travel when passenger numbers where down over 90 per cent and a lot of investments were paused he decided that investments in the company’s net zero target should proceed allowing Swedavia to become the first net zero airport group by the end of 2020 Chris Dinsdale has worked at Budapest Airport since 2015 where he was nominated for the position as CEO fought relentlessly to make sure that the company survived the crisis and worked with great commitment to secure the funding of the airport a voluntary salary cut for the executives and the founding of the Budapest Airport Foundation which supports blue collar workers who lost their job during the COVID-19 pandemic After being nominated to CEO position in March 2021 Dinsdale continues to work closely with the executive team to create a clear COVID-19 recovery strategy for Budapest Airport This will also mean that we come out stronger of the pandemic and have a clear focus Dinsdale is an inspiring true leader who helped us all to cope with the very difficult times of the pandemic and I am convinced that he truly deserves this award Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website These cookies do not store any personal information CookieDescriptioncookielawinfo-checkbox-advertising-targetingThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Advertising & Targeting".cookielawinfo-checkbox-analyticsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent WordPress Plugin The cookie is used to remember the user consent for the cookies under the category "Analytics".cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessaryThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".cookielawinfo-checkbox-performanceThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent WordPress Plugin The cookie is used to remember the user consent for the cookies under the category "Performance".PHPSESSIDThis cookie is native to PHP applications The cookie is used to store and identify a users' unique session ID for the purpose of managing user session on the website The cookie is a session cookies and is deleted when all the browser windows are closed.viewed_cookie_policyThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies It does not store any personal data.zmember_loggedThis session cookie is served by our membership/subscription system and controls whether you are able to see content which is only available to logged in users looming volcanic mountains and stunning black-sand beaches has been called the "Hawaii of Europe" this autonomous island chain off the north-west coast of North Africa has a culture and history all its own that is leading more and more travellers to explore its far-flung shores Rajan Datar, from BBC's The Travel Show recently journeyed to the archipelago to explore its unique ecosystem and look at the ways the area is tackling its increase in tourism Settled by the Portuguese in 1425, the island quickly became a hotspot for sugar production and local arts, including the bordado Madeira a unique style of embroidery that has been passed down on these islands for generations most people around the world know the name Madeira because of its famous fortified wine What makes Madeiran wine so unique is its ability to age almost indefinitely Winemakers heat the wine to a temperature of 45C to 50C for around three months and then let it gradually cool before beginning the ageing process The type of grape used also greatly affects the wine's flavour tangy Sercial to a dark raisin- or caramel-flavoured Bual "The Caminho Real was built for mobility so this is its purpose," explained Gouveia "This is a good alternative for people to know Maderia in an immersive way." Some Caminho Real routes offer sweeping views of one of Madeira's main natural features that remind visitors of Hawaii: its stunning Madeira's beaches range from golden sand imported from Morocco to striking black-pebbled beaches created by ancient volcanic activity There are also excellent opportunities for water sports here this far-flung corner of Europe has experienced a recent uptick in visitors since the Covid-19 pandemic there has also been a major shift of the type of visitors coming as well "There were families with children [coming after the pandemic] there were young people that were just trying to go somewhere," said Ana Isabel Faria As more people discover Madeira's natural beauty residents here are determined to maintain the island's laidback culture and preserve its delicate ecosystem For more on the island's transformation, check out The Travel Show's full episode on Madeira If you liked this story, sign up for The Essential List newsletter – a handpicked selection of features  For more Travel stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram. 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In November, my friend and I began booking a March trip to Portugal We selected our hotels and then moved on to flights a Portuguese island 600 miles into the Atlantic Ocean We each paid $565 round trip to fly from New York City to Lisbon and $171 round trip to fly from Lisbon to Madeira We experienced our first red flag months before we flew and our experience only got worse from there we received an email stating that our itinerary had been changed TAP Air Portugal did not respond to a request for comment We had planned to fly on Thursday to save money Staying an extra day would cost us about $200 for the hotel alone like dining out for the day (probably another $100) We planned to use the extra time in Lisbon to do a quick day trip to Sintra Though it wasn't the end of the world for us to stay longer this would've been a huge inconvenience if either of us had a tighter budget or needed to be back in the States sooner Four days after we landed and explored Lisbon, it was time for us to fly to Madeira Our flight was set to land on Wednesday afternoon We arrived at Lisbon's Humberto Delgado Airport almost three hours early We joined a crowd of about a dozen people who were at the check-in desk looking to book new flights A TAP Air representative gave us two new seats for a flight five hours later meaning we'd land at midnight and get only a few hours of sleep before our hike at 5:30 the next morning He gave us $250 flight vouchers as well as meal and snack vouchers We took them and played cards to pass the time until our next flight we got an email notifying us that our return flight to Lisbon in two days was canceled we were notified that we had been automatically booked for a new 9 p.m flight on the day we planned to leave — a full 12 hours later than our original one Frustrated, my friend booked us on an earlier Ryanair flight back to Lisbon instead we changed plans and unexpectedly spent more money as we planned the first time our flights were altered we looked for more things to do in Madeira because we'd be back in Lisbon later We booked a morning sunset excursion (with a 5:15 a.m pickup time) to still feel as if we did some exploring After this flight cancellation, we were eligible for a refund, according to TAP Air's terms and conditions because our flight was more than five hours delayed and we weren't taking a replacement flight through the airline There was just one problem: We weren't able to access the refund through the airline's website I watched my friend input all her information hit "request refunds," and be prompted to restart the process again When she tried to file an online complaint she was met with: "Your request was not sent successfully!" Because my friend bought both of our Madeira tickets I tried inputting her information on my phone we had about 24 hours until our flight home We saw it as an opportunity to slow down after all the travel mishaps spending the last few hours unwinding in our hotel When we arrived at the Lisbon airport for our flight back to New York City we stopped by the TAP customer service desk My friend took screen recordings of her trying to use the website and showed them to the representative She was told by TAP Air's customer service that she could request refunds only on the website or over the phone "But the website doesn't work," my friend said "You have to use the website," the rep said we ended up paying way more than we budgeted for The problem wasn't that we had a canceled flight or got overbooked — it happens and is always something I'm mentally prepared for It's that we ticked off multiple unlucky flight experiences Other people may have had smooth trips through TAP I will be more diligent about pre-flight research I'd pay the extra $100 or $200 for a flight from an airline I've had better experiences with for an international flight I'd also stick to Ryanair or easyJet for shorter flights because I've at least had decent experiences with both I would prepare to be disappointed and adjust my trip Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience We're always trying to bring you more amazing hotels But not every hotel can immediately connect their reservation system with ours we provide real-time rates and availability via a partnership with Booking.com You'll still enjoy the full fabulous MICHELIN Guide experience when you book including our legendary service and delightful style This hotel offers rates & availability on request only Submit a request below and a travel specialist will assist We’re not currently taking reservations for this hotel Please explore other hotels in our selection Non-members can add the privileges at checkout through our 30 day free trial By continuing I accept the Terms & Condition and Privacy Policy. I would like to receive Newsletter from MICHELIN Guide Save lists of your favorite restaurants & hotels Nowadays, these same levadas help to guide hikers through the island's diverse topography — winding through forests, mountains and coastal bluffs. Don’t miss a morning jaunt on the Levada do Caldeirão Verde, a moderate-intensity point-to-point hike that skirts a deep emerald wooded ravine. For history buffs, this route can be paired with a visit to the famous collection of traditional A-framed houses named ‘Casas de Santana’ in the afternoon. you can take your pick of Madeira Island’s famous tropical fruit — from passionfruit to custard apples and pears Many of Madeira’s hikes finish in villages or towns offering the opportunity to sample national or regional delicacies stop at a taberna (local restaurant) and expect to be served hearty espetada — a succulent beef skewer there’s nothing better than tucking into some fresh tender polvo (octopus) or grilled tuna line-caught that day washed down with a poncha cocktail (aguardente lemon or orange and sugar or honey) after a bracing walk The more adventurous can also sample distinctive local delicacies like the toothy black scabbardfish with bananas Jason Hoch’s house in Madeira Beach is a question mark It’s a question mark keeping him up at night now our dream’s turned into a nightmare with this whole thing,” he said His waterfront home had never flooded before until Hurricane Helene “We had 15 inches of water in the main part of the house Lost all of our belongings and our walls,” he said but what’s worse is the uncertainty now setting in because of FEMA’s 50% rule which is used to determine if a home was substantially damaged If you live in a special flood hazard area and suffered damage during Milton or Helene the rule prevents you from making improvements to your home if those improvements exceed 50% of your home’s value the value is confined to that of your home’s primary structure It’s determined by your county property appraiser or a third-party appraiser even if you do the work yourself and/or use donated materials If your home’s repairs exceed 50% of your home’s value Hoch believes his home is not substantially damaged “I’ve seen estimates anywhere from $175,000 to $400,000 Madeira Beach city staff answered questions about the rule and explained that fighting it could lead to serious consequences City staffers are currently inspecting homes to see if they are substantially damaged or not Mayor Anne-Marie Brooks doesn’t know what FEMA’s 50% rule will mean for her quaint coastal community She fears the rule will force out longtime residents and bring in more investors and vacation rentals which she said would change the fabric of Madeira Beach Even though the future of his home remains a question mark tells ABC Action News her city staff has no direct contact with FEMA which has complicated the process of answering the public’s questions and providing them with reliable information about the rule and process of rebuilding