Teleférico Funchal-Monte (Funchal-Monte Cable Car), Funchal (must see)

All aboard the Funchal-Monte Cable Car for the ride of your life, thrilling but not scary. It's called a ropeway in Funchal. Yes, it's a cable car. A gondola lift, to be specific. It's a soaring high ride above green gardens, canyons, homes and fields. The gondolas have clean, unmarred windows affording generous views and perspectives.

The gondolas go from Funchal up to the village of Monte and return. The Monte station is halfway between Babosas Village (Largo das Babosas) and Mount Garden (Jardim do Monte). The base station is in the botanical garden Almirante Reis in Funchal. Visit the botanical gardens first, then go up to Monte. There is a bar in Babosas Village with magnificent views of the valley.

The cable car line is over 12,000 feet long, running at heights between 33 and 1,840 feet. Monte was established in 1565 as the parish of Our Lady of the Mount. The ride from Funchal to Monte takes about 15 minutes. The maximum capacity for each car is eight people.

The cable car system's functions: speed, and the opening and closing of the clamps suspending the cars hanging from the cable are controlled and monitored automatically. Monte Station drives the system. Funchal Station, also called the return station, houses the hydraulics of the cable system.

There are two ways to return to Funchal from Monte. One, of course is the cable car. The other is the traditional "basket" ride of Monte. It is a basket on wheels, propelled by two laughing attendants who push riders in the basket down, down to Funchal, laughing and screaming all the way. It's quite safe, really. Like the cable car, it's unforgettable.