My Portuguese Holiday

Slept like a baby.
Woke up to a Madeiran sunrise by the Atlantic Ocean.
Had international breakfast like a king. (Of course I had the portugese egg tart too)Dived with rainbow-coloured fish, sea urchins and sea snakes.
Lunched like a pauper (Breakfast was just too good.)
Watched the sun set behind mountains of deep green and gold.
Scanned the horizons and the limitless span of sky, sea and ever-changing clouds.
I am happy.

Yeah, I was a teeny bit enslaved to work on Monday, and some of Tuesday. I must say I have underestimated how potent the work poison is. One drop of work is capable of dissolving the most delightful holiday mood. That single drop of work was capable of conjuring up thoughts of removing myself from my profession altogether. I finally understood why a person who works has an occupation. If you allow it, your work will just occupy you.

Now that I’ve gotten the last ounce of work off my chest, I’M FREE!!! Free to sit out in the open like now, free to watch the blue skies and clouds reflected off the glass on my table, and free to watch seagulls soar above the sapphire ocean.

To my right lies an endless stretch of shimmering blue and green that blend straight into the sky. Above this undefined line of water and sky lies puffy clouds dyed pink and orange by the morning sun. I enjoyed my lovely breakfast to this every single morning. And as I look at the calm infinity pool, I see the pink, orange and blue sky all mirrored on it. A perfect reflection like no other.

To my left lie the hills and valleys of Madeira. I have never seen hills and mountains that extend up thousands of feet up into the clouds! You cannot even see the sky, just green, brown, yellow and gold shrouded in mist.

I was buzzing around like an excited kid on my mini tour up the mountains. It just felt surreal to be in the clouds and to look at postcards in live size. I couldn’t even believe that they weren’t postcards. (My friend had to put up with me and remind me to calm down.) Dotted all over the hills are houses, white with orang-tiled roofs. There’s the occasional bright pink house too. If kids ever colour their drawings of houses, fish and hills in rainbow colour, they’re not wrong. These exist!

On top of these hills, I enjoyed Strawberry Cheesecake B&J ice-cream. Yes, B&J ice-cream business has soared to certain heights eh? I also had to take away with me Madeiran chestnut liquer as souvenir. I do not take much alcohol, as some already know. But, I’m a tourist right? Of course I have to bring something back with me that is unique and only available from here.

I am a happy tourist. Happy enough, and inspired enough to blog again. :)