Funchal, Madeira

We have just finished our first full bridge day at sea.  Actually, we had one a few days ago but this is the first of the seven straight days.  The competition is pretty touch and I don't know how some of the ladies can pick up their hands to hold their cards ... their diamonds are too heavy! I have never seen diamonds like the one being flashed around here.  Thye majority of the players are from Florida and they go on all the Larry Cohen cruises and most of the Regent cruises.  There is another cruise director on the ship as every Regent cruise has a bridge director who teacher the Audrey Grant bridge lessons.  Audrey Grant supplies all the cruise directors for the cruise line.  Enough about bridge ....
Yesterday we docked at Funchal, Madeira which is a Portugese Island off Africa.  What a beautiful island; especially since Andrea and Dave where there to greet us at the warf.  We hopped into their rented car and got a guided tour of the island.  Actually, Dave's GPS was guiding us!  They got me out of my comfort zone with heights!!!  We drove to the highest point on the island and it really was spectacular.  It was 6,000 feet above sea level and we were far above the clouds and could actually look down on our ship.  Lots of cool photos.
Madeira us called the island of flowers and is volcanic which gives spectacular rock formation and vegetation.  The road that crosses the island has a section that us an UNESCO world heritage sight because the forests go back hundreds of years.  This is one place where we could return to easily.  We have lots of great photos and Andrea and Dave will have a whole week's worth.  Lots of great spots for them to hike.
Around 2 o'clock we brought them back onto the cruise ship and we had lunch by the pool with some great wine and beer.  The cruise ship was very obliging when we asked permission for them to come aboard.  They had made up bording passes for them and they left their passports at the entrance while they were on board.
The weather is lovely with the air temperature around 20 deg.  It is sunny with calm seas.  According to the captain, weather looks good.
Regent had a "Black Friday" sale on Friday and Saturday, so we took the opportunity to book another cruise for next November.  This one is a 23-day cruise which starts and finished in Miami and travels up the Amazon River.  There are 7 ports in the south Caribbean and 5 ports along the Amazon River.  The ship has only 490 passengers.  This should be a real adventure!!
All the news for today.  Love to all ...