This day was probably my favourite. I had become reasonably used to the concept of such an immense distant, and had already made plenty of notes on this other-island life.
Our plan for the morning was to go to a place they called "Mango Beach", but I don't think that that is the place's true name. The locals access it by a frightening looking elevator which is attached to the side of a cliff. Everyone used to get there that way, until they installed a teleferico which, let's face it, is a lot less terrifying as a prospect. Down at the beach (which, as all other natural beaches in Madeira, was very stony), we saw all kinds of fruit and vegetables growing. The day was beaming as the sun, we were all roasting and blinded, but in a way which did not feel so bad.
We encountered lizards and stray puppies. We looked out at sparkling waters, and explored a rocky trail. We found new parts of the beach too, as well as sitting down for refreshments at the bar, where some news item was simultaneously being filmed. And then we headed back to the teleferico. Which did not open, no matter what buttons we pressed or who we called. Then a woman, maybe twenty minutes later, came down to us to tell us it was no longer working. We'd have to take the lift. I played it cool, don't worry. It wasn't really so bad either. Then that activity was over. We stopped for lunch and then discovered my favourite place yet.
The sun was starting to set, and the tide coming in, but after a wobbly trample over more massive rocks, we sat ourselves down in front of the sea, in front of a few boulders and weathered rock. And it was beautiful. There are no simple words that I could use to explain to you the divinity of this place. The sound of foaming waves retreating and coating the sleepy rocks was nothing short of soporific. I never wanted to leave. I wanted to stay there forever as it cleared my head and made me feel content. I felt like I was beautifully insignificant, and happy to surrender all and any power I would ever had. I don't think that I'll ever forget that feeling. I never want to. I want to go back there, to that uneven beach. One day, I don't know where, I will taste such serenity again.
