Olympus Trip 35 & Fujifilm Across II. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°
Taken 2 July 2026.
Corner
Category: 35mm
Poolside dining
Apologies for the series of largely wordless posts in recent days, I’ve just had other stuff to sort out and not had time to write anything (not that I write that much usually anyway!).
Olympus Trip 35 & Fujifilm Across II. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°
Taken 2 July 2026.
Palm silhouette
Olympus Trip 35 & Fujifilm Across II. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°
Taken 2 July 2026.
The Fort of São Tiago
The Fort of São Tiago was built in 1614. The Portuguese Crown constructed it to help protect Madeira from pirate raids and the occasional threat from rival European powers. Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries it helped protect Funchal from corsairs and privateers, especially during the tense periods of conflict between Portugal and Spain.
It is now a cultural venue (and had a whole bunch of people sunbathing on the uncomfortable looking floor beside it).
Olympus Trip 35 & Fujifilm Across II. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°
Taken 2 July 2026.
Taking in the view
Olympus Trip 35 & Fujifilm Across II. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°
Taken 2 July 2026.
Coastal defences and a small armada
Olympus Trip 35 & Fujifilm Across II. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°
Taken 2 July 2026.
Landing site
A couple of days ago I posted a picture of the stature of Empress Sisi of Austria, which stands outside a casino and hotel.
Today’s picture shows the casino building itself. I’m not sure how old it is, but it has that retro-futuristic vibe that shouts 1970s to me. It has a distinct feel of a flying saucer that has set down and been surrounded by curios visitors.
Olympus Trip 35 & Fujifilm Across II. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°
Taken 2 July 2026.
Tuk tuk in traffic
Olympus Trip 35 & Fujifilm Across II. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°
Taken 2 July 2026.
Far from home
Most years, during the summer months, I will attend a steam rally – usually the Sheffield Steam Rally. This year I missed it as I was on holiday in Madeira when it took place.
I needn’t have been concerned though as it seems someone took the time to ship a single traction engine (manufactured by John Fowler & Co of Leeds, England) to Funchal. I’m sure it was done especially for me…
Olympus Trip 35 & Fujifilm Across II. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°
Taken 2 July 2026.
Empress Sisi of Austria
Empress Elisabeth of Austria, also know by her nickname Sisi (or Sissi – it seems to be spelt both ways) was Empress of Austria and, then, Queen of Hungary from her marriage to Franz Joseph I on 24 April 1854 until her assassination in 1898.
So why is there a statue of her outside a casino hotel in Funchal? Well, it’s because she visited twice, first in 1860 to 1861 to seek a reprieve from respiratory illness. The villa in which she stayed was eventually demolished, and the casino stands on the same site.
She visited again in 1893-94, but this time stayed at Reid’s Palace Hotel (which still exists and was just down the road from the hotel in which we stayed).
People leave flowers in the hands of the statue in remebrance.
Olympus Trip 35 & Fujifilm Across II. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°
Taken 2 July 2026.
