Jardim do Mar is one of those places that makes you wonder why anyone would want to live anywhere else. Narrow streets, traditional houses, the ocean just around the corner. It's almost suspiciously picturesque.
But here's something worth considering: much of the old village is pedestrian-only.
Which sounds wonderful until you come home with six grocery bags, a case of water, and absolutely no enthusiasm for carrying them through the village. Paul do Mar has its own practical considerations. Tucked between towering cliffs and the Atlantic, it's a place where the journey in and out becomes part of your daily routine.
Neither is necessarily a disadvantage. In fact, these characteristics are part of what makes both villages special.
But there's a difference between enjoying a beautiful place for an afternoon and organising your entire life around it.
So, before buying a home in a traditional Madeiran village, here's a surprisingly useful question:
"Where am I going to park after doing the weekly shopping?"
Not particularly romantic. But it is very important.
