João - Guide & Art co-ordination

Hello! I am Joao, Co- Founder of Friends of the Vine Retreats.

I’m Portuguese, born and raised! I have extensive knowledge of the country: beautiful places to eat, awesome sites to visit, and explore. Though I haven't traveled abroad much, I’m yet to see my entire country; but I have seen a lot of it and love it dearly. I am always on hand to give advice for the best places to visit.

I’m a graduate Industrial Designer with a passion for working and expressing with ceramics. After studying, I started creating art with cold ceramics while having to support myself with a traditional job in industrial design. As the lead designer at a natural cork production facility, I was in the driving seat of concept through to manufacturing of products. (On your travels in Portugal, look out for all the natural cork products, I may have had a hand in a lot of them). I would imagine, develop and finish a project utilising 3D software & CNC machining. While also the operations floor manager, I was always happy to provide tourists and locals an in depth tour of the factory.

Fatima and I found each other outside the retreat space over a coffee and developed a fond connection. Over time this grew into a mutual respect and romantic feelings for each other. As this went on, I started to spend some time at the retreat with Fatima and naturally liked to help out with some of the work in the background.

Before this, like some of you, I ended up working the regular shift patterns at the cork factory, generally feeling stuck, depressed and exploited. I did not feel a way to express what resided within. During points in my life, I struggled with my relationship to certain substances, either alcohol or Something that only distracted me and blinded me to parts of life I needed to face. This didn’t really become too apparent to me until spending time seeing people like yourselves going through your own process.

The time spent around guests was fulfilling and I was always happy to see their progress over a short time (just a weekend). During this was an opportunity to start growing as a person myself. Later on in the year, I joined the team formally as a volunteer. I felt the call to be part of something bigger than myself. I consider myself a relaxed person most of the time, but always hard working and take what we do here seriously. I am a very creative person (always was) and try to express myself through the things I imagine or stuff I see during my journeys using ceramics. I hope that one day I can help you create your art, your expression, either with ceramics or paintings.

Since volunteering, I feel I have truly found a place I can be fully present and express what resides within. Now myself, Fatima & Stefan are continuing the beautiful work we have done to co-found Friends of the Vine Retreats. From the time at our previous retreat centre and my own work within the ceremonies, I have really connected deeply with my creative expression and incorporated this with our collective desire to support you in your growth. Now, I lead the artistic components of our 8 day Harmony & Life (expression in action) retreat.

I am here to support you through your journey, providing for your physical needs and helping to connect to your inner expression.