To visit the Monte Palace tropical garden, we took the cable car up from Funchal to Monte and walked the rest of the way. The entrance to the garden looks humble from the outside road, so I was not quite expecting what we discovered. Inside was dense vegetation, both local and brought from many corners of the world, vibrant flowers, sculptures, portals and tile panels, all radiating history and life, in an atmosphere both peaceful and energising. We spent about three hours strolling from one themed part to another. Exotic-looking strelitzias, prominent agapanthus flowers and abundantly blooming hydrangeas decorated stretches of the paths, and walking along them was a treat for somebody…