Senhora de Piedade

If all Portuguese have something in common, it's their love of religious festivals. After attending several on the mainland, this was my first in Madeira. Every third Sunday of September, our mother of mercy (a senhora de piedade) is celebrated. The town of Caniçal - next to Machico - becomes a big fair with giant barbecues and long spits with meat.

I happened to pass it at the end of a walk around the Pico do Facho and got some of the ambiance where everyone boards fishing boats and they make a round of the bay.



In the town itself, a lot of people had gathered for the procession and although it rained from time to time, nobody seemed to mind.

When I got back to Machico in a very hot and full bus, my underwear had dried. I had to put it inside because the intermittent rain kept it wet, but after a day everything is now dry.



I hope I can dry the rest of the laundry outside - if I get it done because I haven't found a washing machine yet. Otherwise it'll be Canaries.