TODAY'S PHOTO : Thanks to Tobi ... some of the Tall Ships moored in Funchal at night. It's like Christmas come early!

Front Page News : source Diário de Notícias 5/10/2008

Many Madeirans are panicking about the situation with many international banks running into financial problems and bankruptcies, and running to the bank to withdraw savings, despite advice to the contrary from the government and Bank of Portugal that they should stay calm. There are protection measures for savers in Portugal with the 'Fund of Guarantee of Deposits' where the first €25,000 of savings is covered against loss by the holding bank (see http://www.fgd.pt/default_e.htm - in English), and that is seemingly against each account held. It is worth having a look at the F.A.Q. section also, as it also covers foreign currency accounts, and also makes up the loss of interest to the date the money is lost.

The illegal extraction sand and inert materials from the Ribeira (river) dos Socorridos continues, despite being officially warned by the responsible government department that what they were doing was illegal. Several companies are involved, and the Diário reports seeing lorries transporting the material away at the rate of one every 15 minutes. The story just goes on and on, whilst substantial damage is being caused to the landscape, and there is potential for big problems during winter storms.

In a scene fit for an action film, Funchal police on Friday pursued a BMW containing 3 men and a kilo of hashish. It started in Ajuda at around 5.30pm after gunshots were heard fired from a police vehicle, and the chase commenced. The BMW drove at high speed through the streets, at one time going the wrong way down a one-way street, and performing other 'risky manoeuvres'. A police car crashed during the chase, but eventually the BMW was trapped by other officers. One of the fugitives is known as 'Popeye'. They went before a judge in Funchal accused of drug trafficking along the south coast of Madeira, but for reasons not made clear all three were released.

Most of the front page was taken up with football, so that's it for the headlines for today.

Other News :

The gardens of 'Dolce Vita' (which I assume refers to the shopping centre in Funchal) were raided by thieves during the early hours of Saturday morning. They stole around 100 cacti plants, that cost around €30 each. The gardens are now being replanted with more common species, with plans to replant more cacti later. The Diário cites other recent cases of plant theft, including Palm trees from the Lido area, and Azaleas from Monte gardens.

Nacional managed a 1 - 1 draw yesterday at Académica, not enough to keep them at the top of the Portuguese league, but after 6 weeks at the top it's probably some sort of record for the club.

Sheila's latest article about SPAD (Animal Protection) and animal welfare is now available online. Please take a look and if you can help with a donation to SPAD, or help in another way,  it is much needed. http://www.madeira4u.com/m4u_RI/resources_i_zz_animal_news_madeira.html

I went into town to buy a new laundry basket a few days ago, and after all the hassle I have had over the years with being overcharged, this time I was recognised and given a discount ... a first for me. A Madeiran friend who lives nearby says she always asks for a discount in the small shops, and she nearly always gets one.

Many thanks to everyone who sent in tall ship photos. I have enough to last the rest of the year, but to keep a variation in the daily photo sorry I won't be able to publish most of them. I did look at every one though and enjoyed them immensely, especially as I didn't get to see the event itself. I did get to see one tall ship over at Ribeira Brava yesterday ... but I can't quite figure out why it was over this way when the rest of the parade was going in the opposite direction.

-----------------------------------------

The 'contact us' form and the excursion and car hire booking forms on the main website still has a fault. Nothing is coming through to me. If you have to send anything or have made a booking, or wish to, please email me. Very sorry for the inconvenience, I am trying to fix it asap.

www.madeira4u.com

Aside from your valued blog responses (you can reply direct using the form at the bottom of each blog comments page), please send any unreported Madeira news, photos, events information, or snippets for the madeira4u blog to blog@madeira4u.com - anyone can join in! Thank you!