Sofia's Place by Sanne

Sofia's Place seen by our guest Sanne, January 2011

Mixed media painting of Sofia's Place kindly offered by our guest Sanne. Very special painting that will be kept in the house (it is already hanging in the Romantic bedroom) for the enjoyment of our guests, besides us, the owners. Thank you.

New Year's Eve in Madeira is unique

Famous fireworks show in Funchal, Madeira, 2011

Sofia's Place wishes you and your family & friends a Relaxed Mind, a Peaceful Soul, a Joyful Spirit, a Healthy Body & Heart full of Love.

Happy New Year.

Old Madeira (2)

Wicker basket riding

The Monte wicker basket toboggan ride to Funchal downtown is perhaps one of the most famous of Madeira's tourist attractions.

More information here: wicker basket toboggan riding

Christmas Greetings

Christmas lights in Funchal (in front of the town hall of the capital), in Madeira

Madeirans live Christmas and New Year's Eve very intensively.

For this time of the year the streets of Funchal get beautifully decorated with thousands of lights. New Year’s Eve fireworks and activities also make Madeira Island one of the most attractive ‘reveillons’ destinations in the world.

Sofia's Place wishes you a Merry Christmas.

Christmas Tree

Welcoming atmosphere

We have provided a Christmas (pine) Tree to welcome our guests that will spend the next three weeks in Sofia's Place. Christmas time is really intense in Jardim do Mar. The atmosphere is very special. The tree was placed in the living room by the big glass window.

Old Madeira (1)

Wine barrels

New picture in the surf bedroom

Tony Kitchell (photo by Andrea)

 
Tony Kitchell is a dear friend strongly connected with Jardim do Mar and Sofia's Place.

Tony helped painting some details inside eleven years ago and there is some art of his in the house.

Now, in Sofia's Place there is a picture of Tony hanging on the wall in the Surf bedroom.

Homemade Christmas cookies



Baking cookies is a way of getting into the Christmas spirit in Jardim do Mar

Today Sofia's family and friends gathered to bake traditional Christmas cookies in Jardim do Mar.

They come in many different shapes, sizes, textures and flavors and are cooked in an old stone oven in Sofia's mother house. One of our favourite cookies are the sugar cane honey cookies made with local sugar cane syrup.

Nowadays three sugar cane processing factories still exist and one (for us it is the best one) in Calheta (5 minute drive from Jardim do Mar).

In early April their machines are put to work processing the raw sugar cane and produce honey (cane syrup) molasses and rum. You may visit these factories and see their processes at Calheta, Ribeiro Seco in Funchal and Porto da Cruz.



Traditional biscuits made with local sugar cane syrup