Thread: Anybody coming to Funchal/Madeira Portugal?

Ah the nuances of the English language. Most forms of transportation- ships, planes, and cars are referred to as she. I think the tradition goes back hundreds of years when ship crew were so dependent on their ships that they had an affection and love of them. Since it was so personal, they gave them the female pronoun rather than the neuter pronoun of it. It can also go to the feeling that the ships, planes, and cars have a personality that inanimate objects just don't have.

Originally Posted by Lanky Lad

I will be there on the 12th December I will be back closer to the time for advice on what to do.

Hi Lanky Lad,

Funchal, will be decorated for Christmas by then.

Ok, any advice you need, I'm here.

Originally Posted by nealberk

Ah the nuances of the English language. Most forms of transportation- ships, planes, and cars are referred to as she. I think the tradition goes back hundreds of years when ship crew were so dependent on their ships that they had an affection and love of them. Since it was so personal, they gave them the female pronoun rather than the neuter pronoun of it. It can also go to the feeling that the ships, planes, and cars have a personality that inanimate objects just don't have.

Hi Neal,

Yes, makes sense, thanks for explaining.

In Portuguese we don't have a neuter pronoun, so objects are either masculine or feminine. The equivalent to ship (navio) is masculine. And the same with plane (aviao) and car (carro).

I did not know that about Portuguese. I know it is a Romance language in its origins and I had just assumed that all the Romance languages kept the masculine, feminine, and neuter forms from Latin (I took 6 years of Latin in High school and college but have not carried on into the present day languages)

Good morning Neal,

An example: "You must water this plant, because it's thirsty", in Portuguese is "Tens de regar esta planta, porque ela está com sede". "Ela" is "she" and it's used for people and objects alike.


A nice day to you.

Hello,

Disney Fantasy was expected to be in Funchal on February 20 and 21, but, for some reason, it changed its route and is now docking in the Azores after all. Well, good for them!

I don't know the real reasons for this change, but it may well be due to the fact that Funchal port taxes are one of the highest in Europe.

Greed is always bad and even more so when it's constantly used in the running of a small region like Madeira.

Sorry to hear that Eusebia. Many of the Alaska ports have had a major reduction in the number of ships docking there for the same reason.

Madeira is a lot nicer than Ponta Delgada. Our Portugese visit in March is only to Lisbon.

Enjoy your Lisbon visit, Norman!

We're heading to mainland Portugal for a week's organized vacation, in March, too. We'll stay in Alcobaca.

Take plenty of pictures for us!