Madeira Island and Porto Santo Island - Madeira Travel Guide

<pre>strict warning: date() [<a href='function.date'>function.date</a>]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. Please use the date.timezone setting, the TZ environment variable or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'UTC' for 'GMT/0.0/no DST' instead in /var/www/vhosts/madeirahelp.com/httpdocs/modules/node.module on line 1009.</pre><pre>strict warning: date() [<a href='function.date'>function.date</a>]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. Please use the date.timezone setting, the TZ environment variable or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. 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<channel>
 <title>Madeira Island and Porto Santo Island - Madeira Travel Guide - Maps Weather News Thing to do</title>
 <link>http://www.madeirahelp.com</link>
 <description>Madeira Island and Porto Santo Island guides, mission to serve all the tourists visiting Madeira island. </description>
 <language>en</language>
<item>
 <title>Levada walks safety guidelines</title>
 <link>http://www.madeirahelp.com/levada_walks_safety_guidelines</link>
 <description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src="http://cdn.madeirahelp.com/madeira_levada.jpg" alt="Levada, Madeira"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Madeira is known by its &lt;i&gt;levada walks&lt;/i&gt; which are walks on a footpaths along a water channel. These footpaths were originally built for the maintenance of the &lt;i&gt;levada&lt;/i&gt; but today they are mostly touristic and every tourist visiting Madeira has to walk on one to get his Madeira experience complete.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;There has been some fatal accidents during &lt;i&gt; levada walks&lt;/i&gt; and most of them could have been prevented, so we here present some &lt;b&gt;safety guidelines for people walking on &lt;i&gt;levadas&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Walk only on the &lt;i&gt;levadas &lt;/i&gt;recommended by the Madeira Tourism Board - the ones which at the beginning of it are marked with PR, have a board with information about its difficulty, distance, altitude, a map of the route and have signage along the path&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Check the weather forecasts and if there is strong wind or heavy rain do not go. If the weather conditions change suddenly during your walk ponder if it is safer to continue or to turn back through the same way&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Do not go alone on this walk, take at least 1 more person with you&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Ask local people if the &lt;i&gt;levada&lt;/i&gt; or footpath is safe before you start your walk&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Always tell someone where you are going and at what time you intend to be back&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Take your mobile phone with you and remember the &lt;b&gt;Emergency number is 112&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Take appropriate shoes and clothes and never forget a warm jumper&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Do not go out of the trail, even if it 'seems' safe for you to go outside it&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;If there is a built obstacle closing the path it means it is not safe so turn back through the same way and never surpass the obstacle&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Do not run any risk&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;/br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
</description>
 <pubDate>Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:44:55 +0000</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
 <title>Still Christmas season in Madeira...</title>
 <link>http://www.madeirahelp.com/still_christmas_in_madeira</link>
 <description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src="http://cdn.madeirahelp.com/christmas_madeira1.jpg" alt="Christmas Scene, Nuns Valley - Curral das Freiras, Madeira"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Christmas season in Madeira is only over after Santo Amaro's day, on the 15th January. On Santo Amaro's day is the day of "Varrer dos armários" (the cleaning of the shelves) which is a tradition in several parishes of Madeira. People visit friends and family with a broom and the hosts have a table full of the traditional delicacies of Christmas. So the visitants eat and drink and when leaving the house they leave a broom with the date and year carved on it. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;So, until middle January there is still the opportunity to admire the Christmas scenes built all around the island and which will only be dismantled after Santo Amaro's day. A suggestion we leave here this year is to visit the Nuns Valley and its mega Christmas scene built by the Associação Refúgio da Freira.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;img src="http://cdn.madeirahelp.com/Christmas_nuns_valley2.jpg" alt="Christmas Scene, Nuns Valley - Curral das Freiras, Madeira"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
On this amazing Christmas crib it is represented many of the Madeira traditions and customs. This walkable artwork is visitable everyday until the 22nd of January 2012, from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;img src="http://cdn.madeirahelp.com/christmas_madeira2.jpg" alt="Christmas Scene, Nuns Valley - Curral das Freiras, Madeira"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;/br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;img src="http://cdn.madeirahelp.com/christmas_nuns_valley.jpg" alt="Christmas Scene, Nuns Valley - Curral das Freiras, Madeira"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
</description>
 <pubDate>Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:54:23 +0000</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
 <title>Madeira New Year's 2012 Fireworks - live here!</title>
 <link>http://www.madeirahelp.com/madeira_2012_new_year_fireworks_live</link>
 <description>&lt;p&gt;Following the success of the last three years, once again we will broadcast Madeira New Year Fireworks 2011-2012. Live broadcast will start at 23:55 GMT.
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Kckz2gMzJ6w" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kckz2gMzJ6w"&gt;Madeira New Year Fireworks 2012 HD&lt;/a&gt;</description>
 <pubDate>Sun, 01 Jan 2012 15:40:00 +0000</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
 <title>Christmas in Madeira</title>
 <link>http://www.madeirahelp.com/christmas_madeira</link>
 <description>&lt;p&gt;In Madeira tradition dictates that homes are decorated on the holiday of the 8th of December - day of Our Lady of Conception. Despite the Christmas tree it is typical to assemble the Christmas crib or, as we call in Madeira, "a Lapinha". Normally the &lt;i&gt;Lapinha&lt;/i&gt; can be build in 2 different ways: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;the usual Christmas scene with the figures of Holy Mary, Baby Jesus, Joseph, the 3 wise men but then with many sheep, cows, donkeys, shepherds and children miniatures and some offerings as fruits of the season around.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;/br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;img src="http://cdn.madeirahelp.com/presepio_portomoniz.jpg" alt="Christmas Scene, Porto Moniz, Madeira"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;li&gt;An altar where baby Jesus is on the top and his offerings placed around him&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;/br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;img src="http://cdn.madeirahelp.com/altar_emanuel.jpg" alt="Lapinha, Madeira"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;It is also common to decorate the &lt;i&gt;Lapinha&lt;/i&gt; with &lt;i&gt;searinhas&lt;/i&gt; which are crops of corn, wheat, lentil or lupine in small vases. Its seeds are usually soaked for 1 or 2 days and then are planted on the 8th of December so they are relatively grown on Christmas day. Some native plants to Madeira are also used such as the Climbing Butcher's Broom &lt;i&gt;Semele androgyna&lt;/i&gt; - Alegra-campo in Portuguese, the Hare's Foot Fern &lt;i&gt;Davallia canariensis&lt;/i&gt; - Cabrinhas and some other not native as the Lady Slipper Orchids &lt;i&gt;Paphiopedilum sp.&lt;/i&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;img src="http://cdn.madeirahelp.com/lapinha_emanuel.jpg" alt="Lapinha altar, Madeira"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Merry Christmas to everyone and a Happy 2012!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
</description>
 <pubDate>Wed, 28 Dec 2011 21:15:57 +0000</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
 <title>6º Funchal Film Festival 2011</title>
 <link>http://www.madeirahelp.com/funchal_film_festival_2011</link>
 <description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;/br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;img src="http://cdn.madeirahelp.com/funchal_film_fest_2011.png" alt="Funchal Film Festival 2011, Madeira"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
For the 6th consecutive year Funchal is holding an International Film Festival in Baltazar Dias Theatre, from the 12th to the 19th of November 2011 and this time it will make a tribute to two important men in the universe of cinema: Terry Jones, a British known by his innovations in the comedy world and Roberto Farias, a Brazilian with many feature films produced and directed.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Programme of the 6th Funchal International Film Festival is divided into the Films competition with several categories and with some special screennings:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Competitive Programme:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;International Competition for Feature Films&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;International Competition for Short Films&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Premiere Madeira - competitive section for films produced in Madeira Island&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Naval Video Sub - special section for sea movies&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Special Screennings:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Opening Film&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;International Year Comemorations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Special Retrospective for the Faria's Family&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;AnimArte - special programme for the young audience&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Homage&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Closing Ceremony&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The schedules and titles of each film will be disclosed soon and you will easily get it in Baltazar Dias Theatre, downtown Funchal or at your hotel.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
</description>
 <pubDate>Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:36:15 +0000</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
 <title>Easily walking over Funchal hills</title>
 <link>http://www.madeirahelp.com/easy_walk_funchal_hills</link>
 <description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Camacha - Choupana - Curral dos Romeiros - Monte ( 6+2+2 Km)&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Starting point:&lt;/b&gt; Vale Paraíso, Camacha&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Finishing point:&lt;/b&gt; Choupana / Curral dos Romeiros / Monte&lt;br /&gt;
This walk can be done by everyone, you just need to tailor the walk according to your wishes and physical conditions. You may just walk the first/easiest part of it (A) or also the following sections (B and C) if suited for you.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Advices on equipment:&lt;/b&gt; raincoat, warm sweater, walking boots/comfortable shoes, water, some money for a tea on the way and a bag to keep litter with you.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;img src="http://cdn.madeirahelp.com/levada_choupana.jpg" alt="Levada dos Tornos, Funchal, Madeira"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;Section A:&lt;/b&gt; Vale Paraíso, Camacha – Choupana&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Distance: &lt;/b&gt;Approx. 6 km&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;b&gt;Difficulty grade: &lt;/b&gt;2 – Easy walk&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;b&gt;Walking time: &lt;/b&gt;Approx. 2 Hours (slow walking)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;b&gt;Name of the levada:&lt;/b&gt; Levada da Serra do Faial&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;b&gt;Description: &lt;/b&gt;The begining of the levada is signaled by a wooden sign written Choupana - Monte. Trek on a wide walking path for about one hour through some exotic forest and some inhabited areas with views over Funchal amphitheatre and its bay. When you get to a break on the leavad path due to an old cobblestone road, take left and go down that old road for about 5 minutes until you get to a tarmac road. Cross that tarmac road and continue downhill towards Choupana Hills Resort &amp;#038; Spa and soon you will be at Largo da Choupana.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;b&gt;Bus to Camacha: &lt;/b&gt;Nº129 departs from Funchal everyday at 9:00, 10:00, 11:00 &amp;#038; 14:30, among other scheduled buses. For the levada walk get out at Estrada para Carreiras&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;b&gt;Friendly tip: &lt;/b&gt;Stop at Choupana Hills Resort &amp;#038; Spa for a complete tea (12,5€), for a snack or even for dinner while enjoying its peaceful atmosphere and nice landscape.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;b&gt;Bus from Choupana:&lt;/b&gt; if you were at Choupana Hills for a meal they might offer their scheduled courtesy bus back to Funchal. If not there is a public bus that departs from Choupana every week day at 12:35, 13:35 &amp;#038; 18:55.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;img src="http://cdn.madeirahelp.com/choupana_view.jpg" alt="View from Choupana Hills Resort &amp;#038; SPA, Funchal, Madeira"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;Section B:&lt;/b&gt; Choupana – Curral dos Romeiros&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Distance: &lt;/b&gt;Approx. 2 km&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;b&gt;Difficulty grade: &lt;/b&gt;3 – Moderate walk.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;b&gt;Walking time: &lt;/b&gt;Approx. 30 Minutes (slow walking)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;b&gt;Name of the levada:&lt;/b&gt; Levada dos Tornos&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;b&gt;Description: &lt;/b&gt;After you reached Largo da Choupana just go down the same road for a few meters more and you will find Levada dos Tornos on your right. Follow that levada westwards and on an easy walk with only a few short vertiginous sections, you will get to Curral dos Romeiros. If you wish to finish your walk here, take the steep flight of concrete steps on your left, just before getting to the village.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;b&gt;Bus from Curral dos Romeiros: &lt;/b&gt;Nº 29 runs everyday at 12:40, 16:00 &amp;#038; 19:05, among other scheduled buses&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;Section C:&lt;/b&gt; Curral dos Romeiros - Monte&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Distance: &lt;/b&gt;Approx. 2 km&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;b&gt;Difficulty grade &lt;/b&gt;3 – Moderate walk.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;b&gt;Walking time: &lt;/b&gt;Approx. 40 Minutes (slow walking)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;b&gt;Description: &lt;/b&gt;Following the Levada dos Tornos, you will soon have to divert from it, just after a sharp bend in the levada that passes by a waterfall you should take the steep steps down to the village. The way to Monte is then on a path, not along a levada, which goes down in the valley and then up again to get to Monte. This part of the walk is not advisable for those who suffer from vertigo.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;b&gt;Buses from Monte:&lt;/b&gt; Nº 20, 21 &amp;#038; 48 running everyday, regularly.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Note: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;i&gt;The bus schedules, tea price and the description of the levada were updated on the 6th of October 2011. After this date this data may change, so it is always better to confirm it before you do the levada walk.&lt;/i&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
</description>
 <pubDate>Thu, 06 Oct 2011 18:10:49 +0000</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
 <title>Choupana Hills Spa - a deluxe detox!</title>
 <link>http://www.madeirahelp.com/choupana_hills_spa</link>
 <description>&lt;p&gt;Choupana Hills is situated on a mountain above Funchal giving it the privilege of a great view surrounded by forest. Choupana Hills Spa is therefore not only a &lt;i&gt;Sanus per Aquam&lt;/i&gt; facility with sauna, hammam and hidromassege pool but also the ideal place for a deserved detox or body treatment, such as:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;img src="http://cdn.madeirahelp.com/choupana_spa.jpg" alt="Choupana Hills SPA, Funchal, Madeira"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;Facial Therapies&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Taster facial&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Exotic moisture dew&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Oxygen skincalm&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Visible brillance&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Pro-collagen quartz lift&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Skin IQ facial - for men&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;Body Cleansing Rituals&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Devils mint scrub&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Exotic lime and ginger salt glow&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;Detox - Wrap Therapy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Musclease aroma ocean wrap&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cellutox aroma ocean wrap&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;Exotic Rituals for Total Mind and Body Indulgence&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Coconut rub and milk ritual wrap&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Frangipani body wrap&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;Deep rhythmic pressure massage&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Stress-a-way&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Spirit reviver&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Muscle melt&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Ayurvedic holistic massage&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Hands and feet massages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;Choupana's specials&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Indian head massage&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Hot stone harmony&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Orient essence ceremony&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Moroccan rasul&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;We listed some of the SPA treatments of Choupana Hills but you may always check it on the &lt;a href="ttp://www.choupanahills.com/en/en_index.html"&gt;hotel website&lt;/a&gt;, see the descriptions of each treatment and choose the one for you!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Remember you should always book your SPA treatment in advance!&lt;/p&gt;
</description>
 <pubDate>Sat, 30 Jul 2011 10:01:44 +0000</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
 <title>Raízes do Atlantico 2011 - World Music Festival</title>
 <link>http://www.madeirahelp.com/raizes_atlantico_2011_madeira_music_festival</link>
 <description>&lt;p&gt;From the 21st to the 23rd of July 2011 the Municipal Garden at Funchal is the stage for the  "Raízes do Atlantico" (Atlantic Roots) Festival. Its first edition dates from 1994 and is now known as the oldest festival of world music in Portugal. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Festival has created a connection between traditional music from Madeira, Portugal and World Music. This year's program holds different styles of music from Madeira, Azores, mainland Portugal, Italy and Guinea:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;u&gt;Thursday, the 21st of July 2011 at Jardim Municipal do Funchal&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt; 21h30&lt;/b&gt; - &lt;b&gt;Galandum Galundaina&lt;/b&gt; - A group from Miranda do Douro who combine their traditional melody with a modern sound by playing folk instruments like the Mirandese bagpipes or the castanets.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;  &lt;b&gt;22h45&lt;/b&gt; - &lt;b&gt;Gattamolesta&lt;/b&gt; - This Italian group with a music style sometimes bizarre, privile the contact with the public and make the everyday street stories their own music.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;u&gt;Friday, the 22nd of July 2011 at Jardim Municipal do Funchal&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;  &lt;b&gt;21h30&lt;/b&gt; - &lt;b&gt;Projecto Griotizando&lt;/b&gt; - Angelo Torres and José Galissá aim to recreate the important character of social life and African culture: the Griot. To listen and travel through the word is what is proposed by this African duo who will tell a story by the rhythm of the Kora instrument.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;  &lt;b&gt;22h45&lt;/b&gt; - &lt;b&gt;Gaitúlia&lt;/b&gt; - From the east tip of Madeira comes the Gaitúlia group which were created in 2007 in Machico. They ally the bagpipe to other percussion instruments. This will be their second performance on the Raízes do Atlantico Festival&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;u&gt;Saturday, the 23rd of July 2011 at Jardim Municipal do Funchal&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;  &lt;b&gt;21h30&lt;/b&gt; - &lt;b&gt;O Experimentar nã m’incomoda&lt;/b&gt; - The challenge of this group is to reinvent the Azores' traditional music with a more cosmopolitan sound. This Azorean group plays their regional folklore through the &lt;i&gt;dub&lt;/i&gt;, an&lt;br /&gt;
Animal Collective style.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;  &lt;b&gt;22h45&lt;/b&gt; - &lt;b&gt;Banda d’Além&lt;/b&gt; - This group is already a reference in the traditional music of Madeira. On this festival the band will present their new album that, despite many news, will feature the usual sound of the&lt;br /&gt;
strings and percussion instruments and flutes.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>
 <pubDate>Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:46:18 +0000</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
 <title>Funchal Jazz Festival 2011 - July 7th, 8th &amp; 9th </title>
 <link>http://www.madeirahelp.com/funchal_jazz_festival_2011</link>
 <description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src="http://cdn.madeirahelp.com/funchal_jazz_logo.jpg" alt="Funchal Jazz Festival"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
The Funchal Jazz Festival has evolved gradually and it is now a major magnet for the so-called &lt;i&gt;cultural tourism&lt;/i&gt; and a landmark event in the cultural life of Funchal city.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This 12th edition of Funchal Jazz Festival proves that we can always improve and do better when working with aim of excellence. All the musicians that make up the poster of this festival are unique jazz and blues talented personalities. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;On &lt;b&gt;Thursday, July 7th&lt;/b&gt;, &lt;u&gt;John Scofield Quartet&lt;/u&gt; will be on stage led by one of the greatest jazz guitarists of our time, master of improvisation and composer of great stylistic diversity - John Scofield. This first day of Funchal Jazz Festival will close with the original sound of the &lt;u&gt;Danilo Perez Trio&lt;/u&gt;, the pianist and composer of Panamanian origin who has carved a solid reputation in the international jazz scene as a musician but also as a teacher. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Friday's&lt;/b&gt; programme, &lt;b&gt;July 8th&lt;/b&gt;, brings us two examples of great musical complicity. In the first part of the night we will have &lt;u&gt;Branford Marsalis and Joey Calderazzo&lt;/u&gt; who had a long way together, as the pianist Calderazzo was part of &lt;u&gt;Marsalis Quartet&lt;/u&gt; for more than ten years. Branford Marsalis, saxophonist known for his innovative spirit, will also act with his quartet.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;img src="http://cdn.madeirahelp.com/branford_marsalis.jpg" alt="Branford Marsalis"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Branford Marsalis&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
On the second part of Friday's night the City of Funchal and Funchal Jazz Festival organization will make tribute to a very special Portuguese musician - Rui Veloso. Currently celebrating 30 years of a career filled with awards and great successes, Rui Veloso continues to be a reference in the Portuguese music since 1980, when he released his first album. So this second concert will bring the blues back to Funchal Jazz and will star &lt;u&gt;Rui Veloso with his friend Todd Sharpeville&lt;/u&gt;, a talented guitarist, singer and composer, member of one of the oldest aristocratic families in the UK, impresses his public by mixing pop sensibilities with the deepest feelings of blues. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;To end this 12th edition of the Funchal Jazz Festival, on &lt;b&gt;Saturday, July 9th&lt;/b&gt;, we are pleased to announce a great jazz diva. Winner of two Grammy &lt;u&gt;Cassandra Wilson&lt;/u&gt; is a blessed singer with a unique voice, that seems to flow effortlessly and allows one to reinvent the boundaries of vocal jazz. She is an established artist in the world, but deep down still a Mississippi girl whose art reflects her deep cultural roots.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;img src="http://cdn.madeirahelp.com/cassandra_wilson.jpg" alt="Cassandra Wilson"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Cassandra Wilson&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Alongside the concerts which take place on the main stage, framed by the lush gardens of the Parque de Santa Catarina, there will be room for the traditional Jazz / Blues / World Record Fair.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>
 <pubDate>Sat, 02 Jul 2011 17:19:23 +0000</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
 <title>Madeira Flower Festival 2011</title>
 <link>http://www.madeirahelp.com/madeira_flower_festival_2011</link>
 <description>&lt;p&gt;The Madeira Flower Festival is a celebration of Spring and Nature and in 2011 the theme of the Festival is "The flower I chose".&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;img src="http://cdn.madeirahelp.com/madeira_flower_festival_2011.jpg" alt="Madeira Geranium"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Madeira storks bill &lt;i&gt;Geranium madeirensis&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Since the 5th of May 2011 one could already admire flowers in downtown Funchal with the Flower Market on Avenida Arriaga and with the natural flowers' tapestries being done.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;An exhibition of flowers is held on Largo da Restauração and can be visited until the 10th May 2011.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Saturday morning is time for children to fill in the Wall of Hope with flowers on Praça do Município and on Sunday afternoon the highlight of the Madeira Flower Festival happens on Funchal roads with a parade of hundreds of dancing people colored with flowers.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>
 <pubDate>Sat, 07 May 2011 15:11:15 +0000</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
 <title>Madeira secret places</title>
 <link>http://www.madeirahelp.com/madeira_secret_places</link>
 <description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;/br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;img src="http://cdn.madeirahelp.com/chao_ribeira_madeira.jpg" alt="Madeira agricultural landscape"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
</description>
 <pubDate>Tue, 12 Apr 2011 11:11:38 +0000</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
 <title>Pride of Porto Santo - a new species of Echium</title>
 <link>http://www.madeirahelp.com/porto_santo_new_echium_species</link>
 <description>&lt;p&gt;Porto Santo Island has gained another endemic species of flower. A new species of Echium, from the Boraginaceae family, was recently described for Porto Santo Island as &lt;i&gt;Echium portosanctensis&lt;/i&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;img src="http://cdn.madeirahelp.com/echium_portosanctensis.jpg" alt="Pride of Porto Santo, Echium portosanctensis"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
This species presents different characteristics from the Prides of Madeira &lt;i&gt;Echium candicans&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;Echium nervosum&lt;/i&gt; which inflorescence are mainly blue. The Pride of Porto Santo is also a shrub, like the other Madeira Echiums, which can grow up to 2.4 meters but shows pinkish-white inflorescence with reddish stamens.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The new taxon is a rare species only found in Pico Branco and Pico da Gandaia, in Porto Santo.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>
 <pubDate>Sat, 02 Apr 2011 17:52:25 +0000</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
 <title>Snow in Madeira - the coldest days in 40 years</title>
 <link>http://www.madeirahelp.com/snow_madeira_cold_days</link>
 <description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;/br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;img src="http://cdn.madeirahelp.com/snow_madeira.jpg" alt="Madeira, Ponta do Sol valley"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Last Monday, the 14th March 2011, Madeira has registered the coldest temperatures since 1972, with -3ºC in Pico do Areeiro and Bica da Cana (between 1400 and 1800 meters of altitude) and 9ºC in Funchal. In 1972 the sames places recorded even lower temperatures with -4.3ºC and 7ºC respectively.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;img src="http://cdn.madeirahelp.com/snow_paul_serra.jpg" alt="Madeira, Paul da Serra"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
The low temperatures felt from Sunday to Tuesday, a week before the start of the Spring were due to a maritime polar air mass that covered the island. This weather event covered Madeira's peaks with snow and made people in Madeira complain about the cold as the island's homes are not prepared for these temperatures...&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;img src="http://cdn.madeirahelp.com/snow_madeira_peaks.jpg" alt="Madeira, view from Canhas"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
The landscapes in Madeira got whiter than ever which took many people to the peaks to play with snow. Madeira was whiter than ever!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cgbszgHVFGQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
</description>
 <pubDate>Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:52:51 +0000</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
 <title>Madeira ancient habitats</title>
 <link>http://www.madeirahelp.com/madeira_ancient_habitats</link>
 <description>&lt;p&gt;"Madeira continues to amaze, whether by the great capacity for rapid regeneration, after extreme weather events, or the generosity of sharing an unique biodiversity, which displays proudly on an annual cycle of landscaped news and events. Recreating authentic scenarios that captivate even those who think that already know well this Atlantic Island.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;img src="http://cdn.madeirahelp.com/above_serra_dagua.jpg" alt="Madeira, above Serra d'Água"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
It is at the "top of the valley" that the beauty and simplicity of this land welcomes us as its sons. That's where we let ourselves get caught, hoping to uncover the secret of such perfection. Deciphering the habitat that surrounds us becomes a pressing necessity which requires the aid of those who know best. Feel welcome in this sensitive natural area!"&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;img src="http://cdn.madeirahelp.com/ribeira_brava.jpg" alt="Ribeira Brava, Madeira"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Text and photos by Tânia Pestana&lt;/p&gt;
</description>
 <pubDate>Wed, 02 Mar 2011 17:55:46 +0000</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
 <title>Madeira peaks</title>
 <link>http://www.madeirahelp.com/madeira_peaks</link>
 <description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;/br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;img src="http://cdn.madeirahelp.com/areeiro.jpg" alt="Madeira peaks from Pico do Areeiro"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
</description>
 <pubDate>Tue, 11 Jan 2011 01:09:47 +0000</pubDate>
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