Walking on Air

We walked across the island yesterday, entering a levada near Machico on the south side of Madeira, then cutting north after an hour or so to hike Boca do Risco, one of the region’s most popular trails, along the northern coast.
Boca do Risco is not for the faint of heart. It’s “exposed,” to use the guidebook language, which is another way of saying it’s hanging off the side of a mountain. But the path is wide enough to prevent major vertigo and fairly level once you get to the top.
At points little streams cascade across the path, slicking the rocks and further slowing movement. But it’s all part of the ambiance, the unique blend of trail, water and sky. The ocean is many shades of blue, all of them lovely.
Three hours in, we could see our destination, Porto do Cruz, but it was still hours away, including 30 minutes straight downhill at the end. But once there we found coffee and tea and a well-deserved meal before climbing back onto a bus to return home, a plodding trip at best. But for a few hours, we were walking on air.