Year: 2015

Barcelona com Crianças , 5 locais a visitar.

Published by From Madeira to Mars

Nas férias da Páscoa, fomos a Barcelona. Durante 2 noites e 2 dias percorremos a pé o Passeig de Gràcia, andamos de avião, autocarro “descapotável com auscultadores” de metro, de funicular e de taxi amarelo…foram muitos os transportes, cada um com o seu encanto. Confesso que, muitas vezes, o colo e as cavalitas foram o melhor remédio para uns pezinhos mal habituados a andar, mas a aventura, a alegria e as recordações que nasceram naquelas cabecinhas, ficarão com eles e comigo para sempre. Aqui ficam, os nossos 5 locais a visitar em Barcelona com crianças: ( se quiserem adicionar mais alguns à lista , por favor, fiquem à vontade) 1. Gaudi, contem-lhes a história da Sagrada Família… Que há uma igreja em Barcelona que está por acabar. Que há cerca de 100 anos que está a ser construída, começada por Antoni Gaudi, um dos arquitetos mais famosos do Mundo, um génio que construía casas “muito loucas” com paredes onduladas e formas estranhas e que dedicou grande parte da sua vida a esta igreja, acabando por gastar todo o …

Drinks in Madeira: Top 10 drinks to try

Published by From Madeira to Mars

Drinks in Madeira are mostly famous due to the world known Madeira Wine, but there are others… Names like “Poncha”, an alcoholic typical beverage, “Coral” beer, “Laranjada” fizzy drink and even “Garoto” coffee will enrich your vocabulary and your taste of Madeira Island. Madeira Wine This is a fortified wine made in Madeira. It is produced in a variety of styles from dry to         medium dry, to sweet wines. It can be consumed with dessert or on their own as an aperitif. As a curiosity, the Declaration of Independence of USA was signed in the 4th July of 1776 and the Madeira wine was the toasting beverage of choice. We’re very proud of our wine and you can visit some of the most popular cellars in Funchal such as D’Oliveiras or Blandy’s Lodge. “Poncha” Sugar cane production was the engine of the Island’s economy back to the 15th century when the island became a major supplier of sugar, which became known as “white gold”. Therefore, Poncha is a traditional alcoholic drink …

From Madeira To Rome

Published by From Madeira to Mars

Short Travel Guide to Rome I visited Rome for the first time this week. I am writing to you from my hotel hall. It’s hot, but the buildings are old, thick walls, so fresh. The sun comes through the window, streets are an invitation to long walks. Rome, the eternal city? Cliché or truth? I came to Rome with many preconceived ideas, the comments of friends who said Rome was either beautiful, romantic, charming or sometimes tiring, a city of crowds and where there are endless queues to see the monuments. Then there were the movies, the humour of Woody Allen’s “To Rome with Love” and Dolce Vita, one city in black and white, so stylish… Monuments; Rome is a monument, a big one, every corner and alley, there is always a little story to live and to tell. Rome has about 2500 years of history and developed slowly. Rome is not to be seen in a day or in a week, because there is always something more to see. Maybe that’s why the legend arose in tossing a coin in the Trevi Fountain; everyone wants to come back one day to Rome. …

About Depression

Published by From Madeira to Mars

About depression Depression, that’s what I got; a depression. I felt the need to write about this topic, because I think there are a lot of taboos around depression. It is the disease that most affects society today and antidepressants are the most sold drugs in Portuguese Pharmacies. I don’t think there is anyone who doesn’t know someone, or even has a family member, who suffers from depression, so why not write about it? It seems that there is no exact way to define the causes of depression, however there are many ways to manifest it, and yes, it is an illness. The part of the body that gets sick isn’t the leg, the intestines or the liver, it’s the brain, as simple as that. I have met many people who are in contact with depression, a disease that has led me to make some changes in my life. Like all choices in life, changes always have two sides, some things are lost, others are gained. From my personal experience, I learned that: Depression is …

The footsteps of Van Gogh

Published by From Madeira to Mars

I’ve always loved his paintings. I remember that long before enjoying museums, I knew his painting of the sunflowers, from a calendar in my mom’s kitchen. Now, that  I set out to find out who is the man behind the painting, and I like it even more … Last March, the Dutch tourism in partnership with Expedia, launched a campaign entitled “Following the Van Gogh footprints” #Vangogh2015. Van Gogh died 125 years ago but his work remains as present and current. Museums, landscapes, paintings and thoughts that accompanied his journey through life, reveal him as an outstanding person . Vincent Van Gogh lived 37 years (my age), having been born in a family overshadowed by the death of the first child at birth, who had been assigned his name, Vincent. Later, his brother Theo was born.  He became  his best friend and life companion. Vicent began painting at  the age of 27. He committed suicide at 37. For 10 years he painted about 900 pictures and wrote more than 800 letters, leaving an estate of creativity and talent which was recognized …

(Português) Londres, Amsterdão ou Paris?

Published by From Madeira to Mars

O que vos proponho, neste post, é simples: Viajar para um destes 3 destinos na Europa num fim de semana prolongado. Pode ser uma surpresa, um aniversário especial ou para ficar a dois, simplesmente. Andei a investigar. Os hóteis são muito bons, depois não digam que não avisei 😉 LONDRES Apontei alguns dos meus hotéis preferidos e os respetivos preços para 1 noite para 2 pessoas. Para marcar a estadia, basta clicar no nome da cada um deles. The Z hotel Shoreditch a partir de 64 € por noite Shoreditch é a zona hipster de Londres, #streetart e muitas compras! Qbic Hotel a partir de 86 € por noite Lindo! Digam lá se não apetece… Citizen M London Bankside Hotel a partir de 139 € por noite Citizen M é uma cadeia de hóteis que combina conforto com design na perfeição. Bem localizado. Leiam também as minhas dicas do que visitar aqui. AMSTERDÃO Custo da estadia em quarto duplo a partir de 79 € por noite via booking. Student Hotel: Citizen M: 433,20 euros Volkshotel: …

Sensitivity, WANTED!

Published by From Madeira to Mars

One of these days when I picked him up at school, he turned to me and asked : . Mum,  is there any school in Madeira that only has good boys? -What do you mean; good boys? -You know, those who do not push others out of the queue to stay ahead, which lend the sharpener and rubber, that play with us instead of making fun of us ….   I wanted to move to there. I was thinking about that question and what I would answer … The truth is that the world is made of this variety of people and it is in school that (supposedly) you learn to deal with life “out there”. I was not going to lie, that’s what I said. World where rules the law of the strongest. Where people are worth the profession they have, the things they own not the stories they bring with them (because there is not time to hear them). We’re all out of time, to live a hectic rush home from work, the live at the weekend or …

A weekend in Madrid

Published by From Madeira to Mars

When I was a teenager, every year, me and my girfriends used to spend a week’s holiday together. Then came college, a few marriages and one divorce, children, day to day concerns, work and  time ran … 15 years later, we thought it was time to find a solution to meet again in similar circumstances; book a week’s holiday with friends without children or husbands, or hours to arrive … To talk, laugh, walk, “sing and change clothes ” (this didn’t happened too much …) but especially to revive a friendship that unites us and which we treasure. There was also that curiosity inherent to the point; could we have fun as before? The choice was multiple: Prague, Lisbon, Barcelona, Porto and finally MADRID. It was a great choice, check out why: 1. Flights at affordable prices. We’ve booked it a year ago (almost) and got a great deal:. FX-Lx-Madrid, return flight  for about 200 euros. 2. Uhostel Our room had 3 bunk beds (we could be together in one room) private bathroom and was very well located, plus 5 minutes away from Metro. 3. San …

Travel Guide to Madeira- tips from a local

Published by From Madeira to Mars

Free Travel Guide To Madeira Great places to eat, see, drink and enjoy – tips from a local! (I did this guide once for a friend of a friend that came to Madeira for the first time, a few months ago. It was based on my personal preferences. I’ve decided to share it on the blog so that you can use it and share it as an extra help on planning your stay. Hope you enjoy it and find it useful. ) If you’re coming to Funchal, you should allow yourself at least 3 nights stay. There’s so much to see, taste and enjoy, you’ll leave with the will to come back for more, or at least I hope you do, with my tips 🙂 If you want to explore the full Island then come for at least 6 nights and rent a car to make the most of your time. (If you don’t like driving then there are also many tours available. You can book them directly at your hotel or online .) If you’re a beach …