Introduction

From the first contact with Maria, you could feel her enthusiasm, motivation and passion for our country and for being one of its best hosts.

Her enthusiasm and energy are contagious and make the experience of our guests unforgettable.

With a soul that overflows with joy, Maria has, without a doubt, an unwavering dedication to her profession. Maria is, every day, committed to ensuring that every step of her journey is filled with inspiring moments.

A passionate and dedicated tour expert, fuelled by an insatiable love for her work. A day with Maria turns into an unforgettable adventure as we immerse ourselves in the world of wonder, knowledge and cultural richness of our magnificent country.

No question will go unanswered, no detail will be forgotten. She is dedicated to each guest in particular and to catering to the wishes and interests of the group, making each encounter unforgettable.

To take a tour with Maria is to be guided by an outstanding cultural ambassador and entertainer. Our guide's passion ignites and infects all our guests as they mutually discover the hidden treasures of each destination and create memories that will last for a long time.

(By Tânia Monteiro, Team Leader of Maria Santos, Regular Tours Department)

A day of an Expert Living Tours, by Maria Santos:

"The day of rest has arrived, it is certain that I need it... but it is curious the feeling! I woke up restless, the alarm did not ring... something in me said, go ahead, accept the challenge of your "team leader", Rui Terroso, and share what motivates you!

And so it will be... For the first time I am willing to share what motivates me every day! The secret of my happy smile! The day always starts, invariably, early, with demanding family routines: waking up my daughter, taking her to school; around the corner from school, I start "working"! I reflect a little on the "tour" of the day, on the group, of which I only know the names and food restrictions!!! And I go, I arrive at our front Office with "butterflies in my stomach"; yes, because even though we have already received thousands of guests at "home", in our city of Porto, it is always new!

A new experience, a new group, a new challenge! And off I go! First contact with the guests! Gathering them to leave for the adventure! And then everything starts to take shape... The list of names gains faces and shapes, voices, sleepy smiles and first visual contact with those who will be my team in that day!

We set off for adventure! I start to discover life stories, origins, curious names, unique motivations for this trip! And the magic happens! Each guest is a world, a story full of stories. They are complete families celebrating life, they are solo travellers, young couples, older ones, and all together for one purpose: to get to know Portugal!

And I, with the mission and enormous responsibility of presenting our country to them, on the tour that they have chosen. And that's my moment. I give them everything! Because they deserve it, because they are special! It's not always easy: yes, being special is not necessarily synonymous with ease, it's just the perception I have of my guests! I put everything I am into every contact; I devote myself wholeheartedly to each individual who proposes to share the experience of travelling with me!

And the magic happens! I receive so much back. I remember a story, after COVID Isolation: I received a guest from Argentina, a solo traveller. His name was Daniel; he was 78 years old, a little older than my father. He had survived COVID, after 56 days in the ICU. A frail, delicate man. He had a sweet look in his eyes and his voice was still hoarse, the result of the tubes that had gone down his throat to help him breathe, in that fight for life.
All day long we talk, when one moment, in front of an incredible landscape, there in the Douro valley, I say:

- Let me take your picture!

And he gave me the answer I was not expecting:

- Why Maria? All my photographs are in my memory. When I leave, nobody will print the photos from my mobile phone, nobody will live my experience, because the photo does not retain the smells of this place, does not express my emotion of being here, so, no, thank you! It wouldn't be fair to this place! This moment of happiness is mine!!!!

And I, emotional, gave her a hug and said softly... you're right! Thank you!!!!!

This is a beautiful message. Among so many stories, I can summarise that it is a happiness to be part of so many "paths" that cross mine, that it is a privilege to be able to share joys with people from all over the world, every day! And that this is the energy that makes me end the day exhausted, get home and be able to motivate myself to do it all again the next day, with new faces, new stories, other cultures!

For this and much more, I am immensely grateful, because I love what I do!!!"