Sonia, Funchal, Madeira (Portugal)
The very best ambassador for Madeira. When a tourist visits Madeira, would be a true fortune to do that with Sonia – her way to guide, tell stories, go deep into super-interesting facts and marvelous details, reveal causations, explain and teach history – it’s just fabulous.
Combination of devotion and passion. Being proud of her island and its heritage. There is something that leaves you mesmerized: being strong and sensitive at once. Charismatic, passionate – when she speaks, instinctively you want to hear what she has to say.
Dedication and passion as life philosophy. Loving her family and friends, being incredible warm and kind, being down to earth and humble. Time to help those in need. Intelligent and quick thinker and excellent sense of humor. Brilliant company and a great cook!
Welcome to meet Sonia from Madeira!
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Meet Sonia from Madeira, Portugal. She says: “I have a lovely family: my mother, three sisters, my husband, two nephews, my brothers in law and my lovely grandmother who just turned 95!”.
Sonia works as Official Tour Guide.
Madeira: one of the most unique places! Mystical power, pure force of nature, beauty, uniqueness, sensitiveness, unforgettable, treats you well. World-famous for its flora & fauna, breathtaking views, 2150 km’s of levadas, , cuisine (when there, taste espatada, Sonia’s favorite) and so much more. During December there is something especially magical – more later.
Go and check Sonia’s hidden gem: Calhau de Lapa in the South side of the island.
Sonia and Tiina have met during Tiina’s work trips in Madeira as Sonia’s husband used to be Tiina’s colleague.
EVERYDAY LIFE
The question about an ordinary Tuesday makes her grin: being a tour guide means that there is not such a thing as normal Tuesday – she always has different programs with different people.
In everyday life the most stressful is to have often the feeling that time is not enough to do everything,
In life she appreciates the small moments of beauty: a good cup of coffee in the morning and a walk by the sea. She loves reading, hiking and photographing. And the very best in everyday routine is to arrive at home after work and being greeted by her dog Falco, to cook (she would love to find more creativity in the kitchen!) and then to open a good book.
Poem that has particularly touched Sonia is If by Rudyard Kipling. The poem by the India-born British Nobel laureate is of ultimate inspiration that tells us how to deal with different situations in life and after all, what is to be man and how to be a good human being.
If by Rudyard Kipling read by Ralph Fiennes
DREAMS & FEARS, PAST & FUTURE
What are your dreams?
“I dream about the day when I will be able to live only by doing things that give me pleasure.”
What is your worst fear?
“To lose my health.”
What is the most important advice you have received?
“Never expect people to behave as you would do.”
What has been the greatest global invention of your time?
“The facility to communicate.”
Where would you donate your time/money to?
“I belong to an Association called Monte de Amigos in my island since 2010 and regularly, weekly we help families in need.”
Has the position of women changed during your lifetime?
“Yes, I do. Women are proving everyday their amazing capacity of making the world a better place, being great leaders and carrying on being wives, mothers or simply women.”
If you could, what advice would you give to your 20-year-old self?
“Things don’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.”
Where will you be in 10 years?
”Hopefully exactly in the place where I am today.”
What would you say to a woman of your age who lives across the world?
“Always do your best, every single day.”
STORY
“The story I would like to share with you goes back to 1998 during my trip to Cabo Verde. A group of five girls and one boy, friends who shared the same interests and, in the case of the girls, the same job. Our 10 days trip included different islands of the Archipelago: Sal, São Vicente, Boavista and Santo Antão. What do you expect in a trip to Cabo Verde? Beach. Nice Cocktails. Nice food. Great time and great fun. We had it all.
But we had something even more… We knew in advance that that was a community in need. Children particularly. We knew that things like color pencils, pens and notebooks were a luxury, so we took some with us. We never thought that our small gesture would give us so much: being in that lovely beach of Sal surrounded by children who were there asking for nothing but our company was one of the most compensating feelings and it will always stay with all of us! The connection between us, the sharing of life stories and dreams. Those kids, all teenagers, made our days and I am sure that, for some ways we made theirs. Suddenly the beach became a yellow and blue classroom with the sea as stage: we started to learn a bit “crioulo”, their local dialect, and they started to learn a bit of our Portuguese.
Very soon all we wanted was to be together, joking, playing, laughing and learning. Leaving was difficult. Those faces and smiles are still in our minds. After 22 years. Sometimes I wonder what happened to them. We girls still have the same job and meet frequently. Every once in a while, the conversation goes back to those amazing days and memories, the things we shared only because we decided to go together on a trip. By the way, the main reason of that trip vanished in time, unlike the moments we shared… “
CHRISTMAS
Madeira Island celebrates Christmas in a very intense way. 1st of December Funchal, capital of the island, turns the city into an illuminated wonderland. The city is literally full of decorative lights!
Families start to celebrate Christmas with something unique that is called “Missas do Parto” (“Childbirth Masses): a series of Church Masses are celebrated in most of the villages, 9 mornings in row, from 16 to 24 December, at 6am, just when the night is turning into day to symbolize the fact that Baby Jesus is the light that is born in this world. Sonia says: “These 9 masses represent the 9 months of pregnancy of Virgin Mary and the joy, the singing, the spirit is something very hard to describe!”.
Then all the decorations in the city, the smell of Christmas typical dishes like Pork marinated in white wine and garlic, the sugar cane honey cake and biscuits, the local drink Poncha made with rum, lemon, orange and bee honey and finally the get together with family on the 24th and the 25th of December.
And year ends with fireworks. One of a kind. Madeira is famous for its spectacular New Year’s Eve shows at Funchal Bay. One of the most important tourist events of the year. The show lasts for 8 minutes and people gather to watch it in the waterfront, on board or at the viewpoints of the mountainside above the city.
QUICK ONES
Drink: Beer
Favorite food: Cod Fish portuguese way
Delicacy: Scabbard Fish caviar
Restaurant/Café: Kampo in Funchal city center www.kampo.pt
Spice: Pink Pepper
Feeling: Gratitude
Music: She - Elvis Costello
Scent: Green Manga
Travel destination: Iceland
Book: The perfume by Patrick Susskind
Movie: Joker by Todd Phillips
Favorite public holiday: 25th of April (Liberty day, on the 25th of April 1976 Madeira became an autonomous region of Portugal)
Artist/band: U2
Plant: Pride of Madeira
Evening routine: Dinner with friends
Favorite piece of clothing: Jeans
Animal: My Dog
Scenery: Madeira’s laurissilva Forest
Sport: Tennis
Motto: When you don´t know what to say, keep silent