Month: January 2016

Madeira Map

A illustrated map of Madeira for kids!

Published by From Madeira to Mars

In this illustrated Madeira Map I share 20 fun tips to enjoy your holiday in Madeira with kids. You’ll find a pocket guide in English on the back of the map. MADEIRA MAP for Kids Today, Google Maps is one of the most used tools to find the desired destination. The paper maps are relegated to a decoration, a gift wrap, or to a minority, who like me, loves paper maps. That’s how I started traveling and finding my way in unfamiliar cities. I loved getting to the destination alone, map in hand. I think that the more virtual our lives are becoming the more we need and appreciate what is natural and physical. It’s a bit like the books; ebooks are more convenient, take up less space in our homes and weigh less on luggage, but nothing compares to the pleasure of smelling a brand new book and turning its pages. Fortunately, the world of design continues to produce beautiful illustrations and so I’ve decided to create an illustrated Madeira Map. With the help …

About the simplicity of happiness…

Published by From Madeira to Mars

About the simplicity of happiness … We live in a world that talks a lot about happiness. Coaching, mindfulness and self-help books grow before our eyes, in the windows of bookstores of most cities. Along with that, grows the pursuit to be happy the whole time, as if that was a card in the game of life. If there is one thing, my trip to India has showed me is that happiness can be simple, clear and uncomplicated, but our Western civilizations (so called evolved) are maybe turning into something complex. To be happy is to have a roof to sleep under, food to survive, health and peace. The opposite is to be unhappy. This is not learned in schools or at university, we see on the streets, in the eyes of people and we feel it in our skin. To be able to take a nap, in peace, the joy of not being cold, of drinking water without catching diseases, to be able to take a shower, to have electricity power, to brush our …

Say YES to Athens!

Published by From Madeira to Mars

This year, while planning your next holiday, please say YES to Athens. Why? Athens is inspiring in so many ways…Friendly people, colorful buildings, pedestrian streets, amazing food and of course, the magnificent stories to tell. Apart from that, weather is nice, it’s not too expensive and there’s so much to explore. Just to inspire you a bit, I leave you with some Athenian moments you can experience while visiting Athens. 1. Put on your walking shoes and explore each neighborhood of Athens from the colorful Plaka with ancient houses and monuments to Kolonaki with chic boutiques, innumerable restaurants and cafes to see and be seen. 2. Admire the Acropolis, the athen’s ancient citadel built on a top flat rock. Feel the history, the beauty and imagine what is was like to live in 500 BC (go early, before the crouds). 3. Head to Anafiotika, the hidden jewel of Athens and one of my favourite parts of the city, inspired by Anafi a small island east of Santorini, with pretty gardens, whitewashed houses with blue shutters …