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> LOCATION
We have
provided information regarding the apartments location and other related
information on a question and answer system below. This is based on email
questions sent to us over time and may seem redundant here and there.
Be sure to fill in our form if the information you require cannot be found
on the web site.
- QUESTION:
What direction do the apartments face? When I am looking out on the
ocean am I facing north or south or east or west?
ANSWER: You will be facing south
east. Mostly you will enjoy sunrises over the ocean that are quite nice.
- QUESTION:
When I am looking out on the ocean from inside the apartment...is there
a sunset on the water in the evening?
ANSWER: You will
have sunrises. Also you will look straight out to the Desertas islands.
They are on the south east of the view too. The sun will drop behind
the apartments and behind the mountains at about 4 or 5 o'clock in the
afternoon. Your sunset will have no direct sun on the water. It is behind
the apartments that the sun sets.
- QUESTION:
When I am looking out on the ocean from inside the apartment...is there
a sunrise on the water in the morning?
ANSWER: Yes!
Beautiful and impressive sunrises galore!
- QUESTION:
How
is the air quality in Santa Cruz?
ANSWER: The
air quality is very good. The air does not "dwell" it moves
mostly from west to east and carries on over to the African continent.
So all the air that arrives in Santa Cruz comes from the middle of the
Atlantic. There are exceptions to this when there is a "Leste"
- very very infrequent, about one week a year - when this brings hotter
air from Africa with desert dust. In all the time we have lived here
air pollution has never been an issue.
- QUESTION:
Is there industry in Santa Cruz that creates air pollution?
ANSWER: None.
- QUESTION:
What are the major industries in Santa Cruz... fishing? farming? wineries?
or what?
ANSWER: The major
industry in Santa Cruz is tourism, fishing, farming and the airport
services. Oh, and real estate development now. Everyone wants to live
in Santa Cruz now. So some parts you will see lots of apartments and
houses being built.
- QUESTION:
We found in Funchal that most of the merchants spoke some English. Do
most of the merchants in Santa Cruz speak some English...in the grocery
store and fish market?
ANSWER: Yes! No problem.
The island has to know how to speak English - the largest market for
tourism in Madeira is the United Kingdom. One of the best fish markets
in Madeira is on the Santa Cruz sea front. Really fresh and excellent
catches. I do not think the fishermen here speak english very well.
But you will not have any problems with being helped by friendly people.
In our opinion, the merchants in Santa Cruz are much more friendlier
than in busy Funchal.
- QUESTION:
If we were to need medical attention while we are there ...where would
we go?
ANSWER: Make an arrangement
with SMM - http://www.madeira-medicalservice.com
for emergency medical attention.
They are quite cheap.
However, if you are a citizen of the European Union you have access
to free medical emergency care. You would also receive attention at
the "Centro de Saude" (Health Centre) nearby. If there is
something REALLY SERIOUS one of the neighbours is a medical doctor and
if he is in will be able to provide immediate assistance.
Otherwise, for minor medical attention there are several Doctors in
the village center or in Funchal who would attend to you. Or just pop
in to the government health centre nearby. There is absolutely no way
I can advise you on what costs would be like.
- QUESTION:
In one of the pictures on the water... to the left ...there is a structure
on the coast line that has lots of curved arches...is that a dam? or
a bridge or what?
ANSWER: That is the
beginning of the airport runway. You notice it because it does have
a very large presence in the Santa Cruz municipality. However, there
is no real noise pollution. It was built and designed to run parallel
to the sea shore. You cannot hear anything from the airport. Nor do
the planes flying in disturb you. It was built so that any noise shoots
off away from Santa Cruz. It has not affected the village in terms of
noise, pollution or position. It is inevitable you will see aeroplanes
circling and approaching to land if that is what you want to do. Bring
your binoculars. It is relatively distant but you will notice that it
is an airport when you are outside the apartments.
- QUESTION:
Is there a lot of traffic in Santa Cruz?
ANSWER: Yes and No.
At the apartments and in the centre of the village there is very little
traffic. Then there is the highway that goes through central Santa Cruz
- so there is a lot of traffic on the highway. Still this does not affect
the Vivenda as you are far away enough from the highway not to have
it affect you in any way.
- QUESTION:
In your opinion, what is the best thing about Santa Cruz?
ANSWER: The relative
peace and quiet, the proximity to Funchal and the rest of the island,
the friendly people, minutes away from the gold course, some great restaurants
and great scenery.
- QUESTION:
In your opinion, how would you compare Santa Cruz to Funchal?
ANSWER: Funchal has
more facilities and things to do. Santa Cruz village is nicer and smaller.
Less congestion and many more friendly people. But I would best you
think Santa Cruz as a suburb of Funchal. That is how close they are
to each other now that there is the "highway" or freeway running
through it. That is how it feels now. Indeed most professional people
that live in Santa Cruz also work in Funchal.
- QUESTION:
What is the advantage to staying in Santa Cruz vs. staying in Funchal?
ANSWER: More peace
and quiet. Friendlier people and the small town/village atmosphere.
Absolutely no crime. Much less tourists and foreigners than in Funchal
and more locals. Quick access to any part of the island.
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