FUNCHAL

Funchal, Madeira's most important city, is named after funcho, which in Portuguese means Fennel that grows wild everywhere. Its location on the Gulf Stream gives the ideal weather all year round; flowers, roses and bougainvillea fill the landscape. Madeira is an "autonomous region" of Portugal, its inhabitants are, for all intents and purposes, the Portuguese. They speak Portuguese, vote in Portuguese elections and celebrate Portuguese holidays. The lucky transatlantic cruise passengers who have Funchal as one of their ports of call will find cuisine that celebrates the freshest ingredients of these places, a population that is joyful and graceful.