The Madeira Tiger

I have just returned from a brilliant weeks walking on Madeira where I had one of my lifes ambitions realised - I saw the Madeira Tiger (Panthera tigris ssp madeirensis). Little is known about this almost mythical creature that is believed to habit the high wooded mountain slopes of the island, there have been very few sightings but talk to the locals and they will tell you stories about the prowess of this magnificent beast.
I had been joking with the group about the Madeira tiger and of course no one believed me that the creature existed but a walk last Sunday changed all that! I decided at the last minute to walk a different levada to the one planned due to cloud cover and rain. The walk begins through the forests above the levada, it was wet, not cold and we were all in high spirits when out of no where this beast was spotted - for once in my life I was speechless - but one of the group manged to take a photo. It was one of those moments that was very, very special and I just want to take this opportunity to thank Volker, Malcom, Gwyn, Chantal, Sabina, Tracy, Rachel and Margarete (the 'A' team) who shared this adventure with me.

Its amazing how you can take walks for granted and not appreciate how beautiful they are. I have been guilty of that but this week has made me realise what I have been missing. Last Friday I revisited a short walk near Quarteira, it was one of my first walks here in the Algarve and I walked in quite frequently but then I dont know why it just got 'shelved'. But looking for some new walks I decided to redo it and oh boy I am so glad I did - it is just fantastic and the Quarteira gorge is a positive oasis of beauty so close to the tourist town of the same name.
Then yesterday 'All Saints Day' I went to rewalk and extend one close to the village of Pera which takes you down to the beach. I knew much of it but I wanted to lengthen it and get a start from a local cafe which I successfully managed but that wasnt the half of it. A new path I took led me down to some creeks, off shoots of the Alcantarilha river and there while I walked musing over a work problem was a lone flamingo wading in the water just below me. As I walked he/she followed and I just had to stop and talk to it (yes, this is the first sign of madness but what a madness!)this was just such a magical moment and eventually a really good walk.