A crossing with company
On 24 February 2026 we sailed across from Porto Santo to Madeira. On the way we had a visitor: a dolphin surfaced right next to ME. We then moored in Marina Quinta do Lorde in the east of the island.
“Hello Schäl Oog, it’s Mütti!”
On Madeira a very special surprise was waiting – not for us, though, but for an old friend. We had long planned: when we sail to Madeira, we’ll visit Ralf. I hadn’t seen him for at least 15 years. Back then Ralf emigrated from our home town of Rommerskirchen to Hurghada in Egypt, where he ran a diving school for ten years and offered dolphin tours. In Hurghada he met Petra, and at some point the two of them decided to move to Madeira. Today they offer German-speaking excursions and quad tours there.
We had found the two of them online – but they didn’t know we were coming. So I simply called Ralf. Back in the day his nickname was “Schäl Oog” – Cologne dialect for “squint eye” – and I was “Mütti”. So on the phone I just said: “Hello Schäl Oog, it’s Mütti!” Of course that was a huge laugh. Ralf was absolutely delighted and came to visit us in the harbour that very evening.
Five days with Petra and Ralf
We then spent five days on Madeira with Petra and Ralf. They showed us everything: all the sights, plus very special tips, restaurants and places that tourists probably wouldn’t find so easily. The weather wasn’t great – but that didn’t stop us from having a wonderful time with them. A perfect week!
The painted doors of Funchal
Among other things we visited Funchal’s old town. Back then it had been badly damaged by the great flood. An artist campaigned for it not to be demolished but preserved: he painted the many old doors – and later the owners joined in themselves. That’s how Funchal’s old town survived, and today it’s a colourful open-air gallery.
Everything revolves around Cristiano Ronaldo
On Madeira there’s one name you can’t escape: Cristiano Ronaldo comes from here and is practically worshipped on the island. We even went to his uncle’s restaurant and got an autograph – of course we didn’t meet him in person. And we took home a bottle of his CR7 port wine – it tastes really good!
The people on Madeira were friendly and extremely helpful throughout. A beautiful island – even though we were a bit unlucky with the weather. But it didn’t slow us down.