Follow me on a tour thru the centennial Madeira wine from the grapes to the bottling of this nectar of the gods, led by one of the winemakers of the island's largest exporter, Filipe Azevedo and the technical team.

Our journey begins at the top of a mountain, about 800 meters of altitude in the Jardim da Serra, in Camara de Lobos. In memory the intense smell of wet earth that wakes up at the relish of the faint rays of morning sun. The pergola run down the hill hiding their precious dark curls, which demands for the harvest that is slowing starting. To work, because rain is threatening and there is still much to do. Every year on the 20th of August until the first week of October are collected about 1.5 million kilos of grapes and 600 wineries scattered throughout help produce this precious nectar, the Madeira wine. Imagine, what is gather grapes from the four corners of the island, even going so far harvest sink pergolas that only produced 50 kilos of grapes that can take an hour to be placed on trucks that are driven back to the premises of the Madeira Wine company (MWC).

"As long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under by English rule. It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honors that we are fighting, but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself". King Robert de Bruce I

The Portuguese and the Scots have more in common than you might think. First, are both small countries in terms of territory. Are people with souls of warriors, are resilient and fierce in their national identity. Although the Scots are not an independent nation, have always fought, always longed to be a nation. The Scottish history is studded with great heroes who fought for the recognition of Scotland as a country. It is truly fascinating for its historical legacy and its green landscapes. Our journey begins in Edinburgh, a city dominated by its castle with the same name. This monument is a privileged stage of political upheavals and wars that have marked the history of this country. By entering their massive gates we are driven by a stone causeway to the main building, the room of the crown, where we can see the so-called stone of destiny, the seat of sandstone carved with etched legends of how they crowned the kings of Scotland and were we can admire the jewelry of the sovereign. From the battlements that surround the castle we saw the landscape carved gray that dominates the cityscape with no end in sight, Edinburgh extends to the infinite.
Going down the wide and winding streets one of the mandatory stops is the Scottish National Museum. Not for its architectural beauty, but for the magnificent tour thru the history of this country. At the entrance, a phrase dominates our attention, is a quote (at the top to text) of one of the largest Scottish warriors and without him, Robert De Bruce, Scotland would have probably ceased to exist as a nation. Unlike Mel Gibson's movie, Braveheart, which distorts many historical facts, although William Wallace had existed, is not one of the greatest Scottish heroes. Bruce was. After being informed by the guide who accompany us, we go to the room where it deposited the crypt of the Queen Mary, killed by betrayal by the order of Elizabeth I, with some of her personal belongings and one of the most curious is a sphere of silver richly decorated with a long chain that was attached to the queens clothing containing various flowers and plants that were used for perfuming his majesty, guess why? Well, for those who do not know, almost no one bathe at this time and as such it was necessary to perfume the clothes to disguise body odors. URG!
On the next floor, another Scottish warrior. Bonnie Prince Charles, or rather, Eduard Charles Stuart, he owes his nickname to the fact that he was very beautiful. At age 24 he led a revolt to restore the Catholic monarchy in Scotland and England, though he won some battles he was defeated and had to flee imagine, disguised as a woman. The English army at that time offered 1000 pounds to deliver him to the authorities. No one did and so he escaped to France where he died. Legend has it that Bonnie will return one day in a fog to save Scotland. Reminds you of something?

The journey that I propose is not good for people with dizziness, heart problems and weak knees.

The journey encompasses form the Faja da Ovelha to Paul do Mar is a tough cookie and not for the week of mind. It is a two-hour walk, maybe more, depending on your physical condition which covers a portion of the west coast of the island of Madeira. It is the mother of all painful and I speak from experience. But before a story full of strong emotions, a small gap to explain the existence of these paths. Being an island with an extremely rugged terrain, our ancestors, rend the stone from the mountain to settle the terraces that had to sculpt using the manpower the paths that connect the small towns of Madeira. These accesses were large enough to fit the people who carried away all their essentials on the back. The animals, in case you are wandering they could not even be used in most cases as a means of transport along these passages, very derivative of the lack of sufficient width for this purpose. This is the case. It is a route that allowed the populations of the mountain, Paul da Serra, had access to the coast and vice versa. Now, let’s walk.

It's a fictionalized travel thru the life of one of the most important suffragists in the history of the Portuguese Republic

I was born on April 18th, 1878, in Guarda, my mother told me later that barely got out of her womb stopped breathing twice and the third time I look at her with my eyes wide open, seemed to want to swallow the world and that she said it was a bad omen for a woman. She thought she is going to be a piece of work. Since I know me as thinking human being I've always clung to life with tooth and nail, never contented with the fate of women that should just obey their husbands and serve only to keep the house and children. Longed for more. I found my destiny in books. I entered the medical and surgical school in Lisbon with just 18 years old and finished my studies in 1902 for my father's great pride and a certain dismay of my mother who thought that to be a doctor, was not honorable for a girl. To allay her worst fears, I married my cousin and companion of many childhood games, Januario Barreto, the same year as promised. My husband unlike others, never stopped me from being who I was, quite the opposite he knew me better than anyone else, we were companions in life and profession. He was a Republican and the passion and intensity as he defended the cause, passed on to me naturally. I joined without hesitation.

A day full of Portuguese music in the natural amphitheater of Funchal.

An afternoon full of sweat is cooled by the chill out of the first chords you hear in the precinct, as few young people fill the lawn eager of adrenaline. Groups will be accommodated in semi-circles in the grass waiting for the first band that will do the honors of Funchal Music Fest. The dul n 'Nouk white take center stage in a triple first for these young musicians. They are the first band to play, "inaugurating" the main stage at the 2011 live edition of this musical event and are the first locals to have this privilege. Not bad. Vocalist Barbara White's voice trembles before the sea of ​​anxious eyes. A hesitant tone which fades as the sun sets on horizon. Retrieving this shaky start, the band attacks the audience with claws and teeth. With songs such as "slide the blue" and some covers that have excited the crowd gathers in the park of Saint Catherine.
Late afternoon. The environmental heat finally gives up to the breeze that caresses the trees of this beautiful multi-colored enclosure. Almost unexpectedly, tempers heat up again, before the arrival at the scene of one of the best band on stage at night. The expensive soul. The pair simply electrified with his soulful music and sounds that drive viral for dancing. Empathy generated by New Max and Demo was immediate. The audience raves, dance and sing at the same time, the tunes that rocked the national charts.

Love is magical cast a spell on the crowd never stop dancing. The song is cool and confirms the willingness and positive energy that sends the duo on stage and that works in a festival of live music. The trumpets wrap them as if they were hugging, with undulating rhythmic sounds, like waves, which the prelude is to "talk about it, forget it, I still do not understand how you are here." But I realize why they should still be there on stage; the public is demanding an anchor. And our world is magical. So magic that could only have room for the next band, The Gift, a musical treat, a chocolate covered for a night of stars. Hardly recovered from so much energy in motion, Sonia Tavares impose its presence in the shadows, unseen, only heard. It is a warm and powerful voice that welcomes you to one of the best Portuguese pop band. The song "full suite of colors" is the opening of a concert that will be memorable. It is apparent serenity exploded in the following themes from the new album and some known to the public. This is how the room reacts in unison as one body and one alive. Between waves of small arms in the air and lights, which illuminate the foggiest of nights. Always is better if you wait for the sunrise. Until next year.

Follow me on a dive in the deep sea off the coast of Madeira.

Who reads the thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne is always enchanted by the description of the underwater world of Captain Nemo and our imagination takes us to a universe full of mysterious creatures and scary at the same time that inhabit the seabed. The ocean in its vastness Indigo is the ideal setting for a swim and the discovery of beings, some of the strangest on the planet. My journey takes place deep of the South Atlantic diving into the seabed the first impression you get is the absence of noise, we cannot communicate, we only hear the sound of our bubbles of oxygen, we are alone before the vast ocean and we feel very small, excited and scared at the same time, there are no barriers, no limits, is our essence floating indefinitely. Slightly.
The light intersects the water and as I swim to the bottom a golden bream shoals are leading the way at high speed to a live setting full of color. The wrasses color electrifying look at us with some curiosity before continuing to feed on the algae of the rocks, the frantic pace by the castanets provocative on the cervices rock and trumpet fish which owe their name to the very slender body and a very long beak, slowly curl at the flavor of the current notice our presence with a certain indifference and continue to slowly balance. As we approach the bottom, we see stones studded with sea urchins and not far from its main predator a scarlet starfish groping waters with one of its ends to find the exact location of their favorite food. As I let myself be carried away by ocean currents, something seems to me looking at me carefully, brindle is the rock-fish, you must exercise caution, and one bite of this seemingly harmless fish would be a very painful reminder of this dive. By sliding further along this submerged mountain I see hidden in the darkness, a moray eel, if there are fish that could be described as a little ocean monster this would be it without a doubt. It's a little scary. It looks like a spotted snake with a toothed mouth, deserves respect, because in case of threat, bites. I deviate as soon as I can out of it way. Unexpectedly, gliding through the waters a sea lion, almost died of fright! And no, there is no killer shark in this saga sea, because the only ones that appear and disappear are small sharks, who live farther along the coast to avoid being eaten by their peers. Continuing. I realize why they call then the sea​dancers, their movements are so graceful in the water, and I almost feel envious of the ease with which they move. Our friend is looking for food, is not uncommon that this somewhat opportunistic animal approaches divers to steal fish. You should never feed these wild animals in order to maintain a constant temperature in their aerodynamic bodies they ingest large quantities of fish and shellfish, a little treat for the voracious appetite and could generate a first degree confrontation in a very unpleasant. The sea lion loses any interest for me and disappears suddenly as he appeared without a trace! I see a sign, time to return to the surface, many millions of years ago, we may even have been originated in the oceans, but now we cannot survive at sea, it is worth. Swim slowly towards the shade of my boat, silently thanking the opportunity of having visited this world so beautiful and the unusual richness of this wildlife. See you soon.
http://mar.inmadeira.com/

It's a program that promises radical changes inside your home.

It is one of television formats of sic woman and one of the most successful in a number of years, if memory serves me right from the start was already in the main alignment of this channel, which proves that nothing is left to chance when it comes to promoting brands and services and also results with the audiences . It is true that this is a really a show of beautiful objects, promote national production, but advertising is cloaked in an elegant way, and do not misunderstand me, I even like the program, but sometimes I think is too consumerist. Should have a more educational facet, since they cannot expand its services geographically, they could show how to make small works at home in an easy and accessible way, it's just a suggestion, because although it seems that show certain processes of reconstruction, the truth is that we see more often see the decorator and the host assemble pieces of furniture that in fact recycling them. It would be a help and an asset to the program, they should created a small segment, while the works take place.

It is one of the culinary programs broadcast by RTP 1 at the weekend.

It may not be one of the most watched programs nationally wide, but it makes your mouth water just by watching it. I like the format of this culinary competition, while not groundbreaking, is another version of the franchise at least has the merit of having credentialed professionals who issue very valid and interesting opinions. It's a competition at the highest level, because it is valued by chefs with successful careers and with Michelin stars in their curriculum. Various tests show a new look to national cuisine, which from my point of view is very healthy, revisiting the recipes and ingredients that are part of our culinary habits and it turns out to be an asset to anyone who watches the show. My only regret is not being able to have a personal chef to cook those dishes in my kitchen, to end I just add my positive note to this TV format and its television presenter Silvia Alberto.

It is one most popular reality shows of TVI.

I begin by saying that I tried to see "the most famous house in Portugal" and I could not resist anymore, I had to change channels 1 minute and a half after and I do regret saying it. I am not being cynic, because I do know what it takes to write an unprejudiced review about a TV show i.e. always try to put myself in the place of the viewer and see what makes certain program so attractive exempt in the case of the "house of secrets 2" that was really impossible for me, definitely I do not like this type of television formats. I am aware that it is a leader of TV audiences and supposedly won awards for television, but unlike other texts I do not intend to scrutinize the strengths and weaknesses of this program, in fact what I would like to stress is the funny argument people use to justify when confronted with the inevitable, the reasons which lead them to follow the "real lives" of the competitors. The justification that most pleases and amuses me, I admit, is the one about the sociological study of our country. Who are these Portuguese? Well, apparently they are people who want to earn lots of money with as little effort as possible and be famous, is the portrait of the nation? No, it seems to me. There are other viewers who I call the jealous, who deep down if we "dig" with some persistence ended up confessing that like to have been competitors, but not been able they rather enjoy making fun of the host, Teresa Guilherme laughs, despair, shouts and cries and does almost all at the same time, while running a pseudo gala so later they record this carousel of emotions and immediately put them on "you tube" and finally we have the "thousands facebook friends" and " family who neither the competitor knew they had " and they watch " the house of secrets2 "to support them but they end up revealing sordid secrets of their unfortunate lives to the gossip magazine, basically they only criticize. Well, after all this been said, maybe this talk is a sociological study, or not?

It is a very unique program about opera.

I was surprised by the freshness of this program who speaks mainly of operas. There is an unapologetically feminine side to all this vision of one of the most complete performances of the world. Presented by half soprano Catherine Mulder, this is a television format that does not merely describe the libretti of the operas, there is a section dedicated to interviews and she also sings some of the most beautiful arias of these great lyrical pieces, there are some even unexpected duets. Each program is dedicated to an opera that is divided into several sections that are building gradually the operatic universe and everything that surrounds it. I especially appreciate the personal style of this singer, accidental host, but she gives the program a certain aura of daring and sensuality, which indeed is very unique in terms of television and even a program of this nature. Another of the strengths of "super diva" is that of Catherine Mulder is very telegenic and is very comfortable when posing the questions in order to be perceived by the general public. It's impossible not to like it.