Everybody knows that it’s easy to fall in love with Portugal! The booming tourism industry is enough evidence that the world is mesmerized with the country, however off its coast there is a special pearl in the Atlantic where I am constantly scoping out my next visit.
Madeira is a bodacious island, with lush, fertile terrain that is one of the most alluring regions of Portugal. Once you find that place, as I have, it’s easy to understand how visitors return to the destination incessantly—it’s where we all feel at home. With so much to explore, there’s always something new to discover.
Every year, the Tourism Board orchestrates a schedule of events to highlight the most prominent culture and cuisine, culminating in an epic end of year celebration, however, of all the many festivals, there is one that stands out as unique to Madeira.
Carnival is the Portuguese Mardi Gras and what had appealed to me for another rendezvous on the island.
At first glance, it looked unlike anything I had come to expect from Madeira. The island likes to have fun but this appears different, as if the masquerade unleashed its inhibitions, exposing extroversion with flashes of skin and intoxication.
I saw in real life how the celebrations are an exotic touch of colour and joy that fill the entire archipelago with liveliness. Streamers and confetti spread across different parts of the island with a great parade of floats in the capital city, Funchal. Revellers adorned masks with flashy costumes, littering the streets with an explosion of contagious enjoyment.
It looked magical and Madeira definitely knows how to celebrate in style with an event that brings everyone out. Like typical hospitality there, inclusion is inherently part of the festival and everybody is welcome to participate. There are many displays of creativity with no shortage of interesting caricatures to interact with, much to the delight of the spectators. It’s the pinnacle of hard work and dedication that comes together as a noisy, bright and cheerful atmosphere. The festival is lively and fun-filled so it’s easy to get into the party spirit of things.
It was great to see Carnival for the first time. On each visit to the island I find some sentiment of euphoria that further corroborates why I make plans for another visit like how a snowbird returns to a winter nest. I always leave that place with a growing adoration. That’s how easy it is to be smitten. To find Madeira is truly finding a place for all and to visit Carnival is to be kissed by a pearl.
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