The titled and the prosperous retired Brits used to spend winters on Madeira.

Madeira has everything and much more to make the mature visitor happy. It is clean,warm and sunny,[oh,it can rain,too, I have been a witness to it several times, but the downpours are short and sweet],the food is good,the wine very nice indeed.I am teetotal,it means I do not drink, well,I never used to at all, but the last several years there has been so much publicity exalting the benefits of red wine for the heart, to ignore it would not be very prudent,so since I have been cruising, I do have the odd glass,especially Madeira,for its aroma and sweetness.When I was with my sister on Oceana last month we had none, neither have I had any wine to date on Ventura,but I did have Budweiser the first formal evening and Carlsberg the second. So what is there not to love about this enchanting little Ilha da Madeira [Island of Timber] inhabited by some 267 000 people,that lies in the Atlantic ocean about 600 miles west of Lisbon. To spend winter months on the island must be heaven. The Brits have now stopped coming to Madeira,they go to Spain instead,it is nearer and cheaper. And it is not only the wealthy and the titled any longer, it is all and sundry and that is the way it should be. Funchal has some lovely little boutiques.My favourite is a shoe shop called Eureka, I discovered it two or so years ago only and on Wednesday was my third visit there. I always know if I want something the moment I look at it and in Eureka there is so much to like, but I did limit myself to two pairs of sandals only,hard as it was. There is a clothes boutique I always go to, but I liked nothing enough to want to have it, even though the costume jewellery was quite stunning.I love clothes and everything that goes with it, but I am a sensible shopper, I am not a shopaholic.In my favourite coffee shop Docura Madeirense I had freshly pressed orange juice, coffee and a cake filled with sweet cheese and then began to walk back to the ship taking the little side streets.Passing one very small boutique with just one assistant inside, the window display caught my eye,several items elegantly placed,simple bags,colourful scarves. I walked in.There were two cotton short sleeved tops I liked very much,they fitted like a glove and I decided to buy them.When paying a conversation took place that makes me chuckle still.