Wanderlust

Growing up I’d look up at the stars and ask myself, “Is the world as big as everyone claims it to be?”, my little mind couldn’t comprehend whether it was a bed time story or just actual facts. Reality is something I wasn’t very fund of. I’d find myself spacing off and dreaming of seeing the world for what it was. I'd try to avoid identifying the bad in things as much as possible— hence why I didn't have a good relationship with reality—but I had to come to terms that not everything is sunshine and rainbows.

I’d doodle on my notes and get scolded by the teacher, which then turned into a scolding at home. I had big dreams of seeing the world. The one thing I didn’t know was that the world was part of reality and that someday I was going to have to step out of my protective bubble in order to see it. Setting foot into a different country had opened up my eyes. I had completely stepped off the face of the earth. The beautiful scenery in front of me was unearthly and fantasy-like. It had felt like I had stepped into a parallel universe.

Known as the "pearl of the Atlantic" and the "island of eternal spring," the exclusive Madeira group is made up of two populated islands, Madeira and Porto Santo, and the more desolate and untamed Desertas and Selvagens. It lies 600 miles southwest of Portugal and 400 miles west of Morocco.

The name “Madeira” means “wood” in Portuguese. This is a fitting nod to its wild and scenic laurisilva, or laurel forests, some of the oldest trees in the world. They marvel at the frothing Atlantic lapping upon multicolored beaches, overlooked by green cliffs of sheer granite. The ocean is suitable for swimming, surfing, deep-sea fishing and scuba diving. Inland, intricate trails offer hiking and mountain biking.

Madeira, Portugal had seduced me completely. It was filled with art, music, food, and absolutely amazing people, all which were divine in the eyes of a foreigner. Back home I felt trapped. I felt bland. I felt like I was living an endless cycle. I wasn’t living the life I wanted to live. Stepping foot into the region of Madeira made me feel at ease. This was the embodiment of paradise. I felt my spirit lift up, every bad toxin in my body had cease to exist.

The environment surrounding me had changed my very being. I had given my old self away and with it came a renewed version of myself. This feeling was staggering. It was like shedding my old skin, like a butterfly coming out of its cocoon. I may just had been reborn in some aspect. My other half tagged along in this anticipated trip. He too, experienced the same unexplainable tenderness Madeira made us feel. This was the beginning to a venturesome journey.

I ate the food I didn’t know the names of before coming here, and didn’t come close to using the correct pronunciation. But the beauty of it is that the person taking our order understood and smiled kindly at me. The food was ripe and fresh, even the orange soda. Oh my— the soda felt like I was taking a bite out of a sweet orange— it blended perfectly into my taste buds. The platter was crafted to perfection and it was so wholesome. This plate was nothing compared to the dishes they made back in the states. This felt right, everything made sense. I enjoyed each bite and savored it thoroughly. There was a variety of vegetables in this recipe that threw of my assumptions every time I tried figuring them out. The frango was so different to the chicken in America. I ate everything off my plate and completely cleaned the bowl— not bothering to leave a single speck. My lover enjoyed his Sardinhas assadas, it's a fresh sardine grilled in an open-fire and then sandwiched into springy buns.

After our meal we wandered the streets and I came to realize how the locals didn’t have a care or worry in the world. They all laughed and sang in unison. They showed their true culture to the public— and they showed it with pride. This is what I love about sightseeing, although you come across occasional buildings with unique architectural styles, you get the chance to see the art within people.

Sometimes it’s best to put your phobias aside and take a leap of faith. Ever since my grandmother passed away I found myself thinking, “Did she get to eat her favorite meal before passing? Did she watch one last good movie? Did she get to talk to the people she loved? Did she at least get to go outside and have a good look at the stars?”, these are the questions that consume my thoughts. Alas, I won’t ever get an answer to any of them. And that’s okay, because I know she would’ve wanted me to have a better view of the beautiful world around me. Her dream was for me to do things I loved. So hiking is what first popped into my head, exercise plus nature— great mix.

“Being alone in the wilderness and beauty of nature is an enlightening experience.”

- Reid Stowe

The trees, the moss, the mulch, the ground I stood on all felt different. It felt like I was looking at nature’s true colors. Untouched by harmful chemicals, solely nature at its purest form. We walked aimlessly to a destination we didn’t know of. But I had a great feeling building up in my chest.

Hiking is therapeutic for the soul, it’s definitely an activity people should undertake. I heard every compliment in the book escape my man’s lips. He too, was in love with everything. He gave the impression of a stereotypical tourist which caused me to chuckle often. It was the most charming thing ever, it was like taking a child to the fair for the first time. The rocky mountains stood proudly— decorating every part of our hike. As we got to a higher altitude we saw the terrain in all it’s glory. We were in awe and praised the fact that this was the mysterious work of Mother Nature .

There are plenty of beaches to go to— but this one— this one just looked glossy and clear. I could easily spot small fishes swimming about under the water. I could vividly see my reflection and my face smiling back at me. The water has never looked so transcendental. I may sound delusional but the water felt different on my skin. It was as if my skin was soaking it in.

I dug my toes further into the sand to ground myself. A stroll around the beach is all I needed to cleanse my senses. It was both self rewarding and soothing. The air around me didn’t feel heavy on my back like it did back home. And so I breathed it all in. I allowed the sun to engulf my form. When night fell upon us, my wonderful beau came up with the idea to have a delightful picnic by the beach. This is everything I’d fantasize about. This was life— I was living the life. It felt like I was in my own romance novel. And I was fortunate enough to experience it with my soul mate.

The Camara De Lobos is an attraction that I will thank myself for doing. The wooded fishing boats were scattered throughout the beach. We met a friendly individual to take us to a port. I saw the many lavishing homes sitting on the edge of the cliffs, people taking pictures and chatting, and the sun shinning brightly down on us. The boat we road on was as colorful as the rainbow itself. It's a nice moment to indulge in, this has been a source of transportation for centuries. It's like reliving history while the person navigated the boat toward our destination. While we drove through the glistening waters, we saw the occasional fishes native to Madeira and people pointing out their obvious charm.

We found ourselves looking at the farmer’s market garnishing the village. We saw an endless supply of fruits and vegetables. I couldn’t help myself and ended up buying mangos and bananas— which me and my significant other ate as we trailed through the streets. In the market I saw people of different colors and ages, all beautiful in their own way. It was reassuring to see the kindness the venders displayed to every passerby. All of their smiles were contagious. It’s a heartwarming viewpoint to see humans live as one. As we wandered about, our nostrils were filled with bliss. The smell of fresh food being cooked made our mouths water. And we ended up finding a local restaurant that was tucked away in the corner.

The night soon fell upon us. I’ve always been a big fan of night lights, I try to see the beauty in the smallest of things. Portugal didn’t disappoint one bit when it came to their nightlife. A variety of colors and lights flared my vision from every corner. People walking in and out of clubs, all in good spirits. I heard yet again, people singing in unison and saw them doing their folkloric dances. I would often look back at my significant other and he’d stare back at me lovingly. We passed by bars with huge red neon lights and shops with even brighter colored signs. We stopped at a few local shops to buy souvenirs to bring back home with us. We didn’t fail to notice the street art drawn on the walls and didn’t hesitate to take pictures in front of them.

The sea can be a scary place, but it’s home to the most amazing creatures out there. We decided to go on a whale and dolphin watching tour. It was a once in a life time experience. The sun’s rays bounced off the glistening sea. And then we saw the dolphins jump out of the blue water and snapped a couple of pictures. The crowd in the boat admired the creatures. Everything felt like a dream. But this was reality. It didn’t feel like it though. When people tell you to live in the moment, I can confirm that it's the best advice you can come across.

"Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have."

- Eckhart Tolle

No one should visit Madeira, without visiting the Madeira Botanical garden. Local flora and fauna, is a way to know the people, along with the culture. It all started here. People native to this land were so happy to see new faces visiting their garden. It felt like I was entering the world of Alice in Wonderland, there’s no words that could describe the sight in front of us. This garden housed rare plants from all over the world. We traveled via excursion and cable car. In it sat a cafe we found during our visit there. It was very laid out in a vast bedding. The garden overlooked the Funchal, a real delight to have visited.

This place is the spot that'll welcome anyone. It'll captivate you. It's a life changing ordeal. Whether you’re traveling by yourself, with your family, or with your significant other. This place screams freedom. When I was younger I never thought I’d be capable of seeing such beauty, nether the less with someone that truly loves me. This trip was worth every dime and penny, it was a heartfelt moment for me. It was an adventure I’d never forget and will forever hold in my heart. It’s called “the pearl of the Atlantic” for a reason. Tropical places will always have a special place in my heart, being born in Panama. It’s a destination that will fill you up with joy to the brim. Madeira, Portugal will make you want to go back to visit again and it’ll be waiting with open arms.

My grandmother would be proud of my desire to explore. She too would’ve wished to have done the same but it’s safe to say that she’ll always be watching over me wherever I go. And I know, she too is enjoying my escapades. She’d be proud of me for overcoming my fear of reality. I came face to face with it and shook hands. I'm now able to say that I have an official travel buddy who has the same drive to travel.

Living life is the purpose of everything, you have the ability to do things whenever you’d like. There’s so much to see, don’t sit back and watch the world pass you by. Go out and explore the wonders the world has to offer. Live your life to the fullest. Madeira, Portugal is calling.