The couch is a fine invention. Comfortable, practical, and adaptable, it can be used as a place to sit, a place to sleep – and even a form of transportation if you’re in Portugal.
In Funchal, the capital of Madeira, tourists can get a ride down one of the city’s largest hills on a wicker couch attached to two skis, much like you’d find on a sleigh, and controlled by two burly Madeirans.
Known as the carros de cestos (which translates to “basket carts”), the carts started out as a way to get wood from the surrounding hills into the town by the sea. They were then adapted for tourists – somewhat like the gondolas of Venice, only scarier.
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In a recent video, YouTuber Tom Scott decided to find out just what a ride into Funchal is like from the seat of a carro de cestos. Although he admits that the footage doesn’t make it seem quite as intense as a rollercoaster ride, the experience is pretty thrilling.
The basket carts are capable of going up to 30 km/h (nearly 19 mph) thanks to greased runners, and they don’t have any seat belts, meaning you just have to hang on for dear life. The toboggans also aren’t confined to a specialized route; the sledders simply know the route well and traffic has to dodge them, though there are some people who help control traffic at intersections. Braking duties, meanwhile, are handled by the sledders who run through a pair of shoes every month or so.
Naturally, when the couch reaches the bottom of the hill, the ride is done and customers must take a taxi or a cable car back up to the top of the hill. The carros, meanwhile, get piled onto the back of a truck and driven back up.