After a brief stay in the beautiful city of Montreal, Quebec, with Patrick (her husband of 4 years), they sold everything and moved to the picturesque Southwestern desert of Arizona, where they lived for 26 years. There Simone focused on being a full-time mother of two beautiful girls, devoted wife, and very involved volunteer to several organizations that either focused on World Affairs and/or that helped serve their communities, especially the young.
As their daughters were well on their way to creating their own lives as caring world citizens, and preparing themselves in their new roles of “adulting”, Simone and Patrick decided they were going to go to Portugal, the land of her roots, her country of heritage, and focus on building her dream. Specifically, their goal was to create, as they always had no matter where they lived or stayed, a quiet, serene place for visitors to rest, recharge, connect with other cultures, and discover the joys of her country’s gastronomy – and fabulous wines!
Right from her teens, due to a friendship with the daughter of the president of the University where Simone grew up in Northern Ontario, along with her parents’ involvement in the Portuguese community too, she learned the incredibly enriching art of hosting. Alongside her best friend and partner, Patrick, at times joined by their daughters, friends, neighbors, they have met great souls from the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific region. What stories! And how gratifying when so very many were eager to return. What great friendships!
Hence her idea and dream, once their daughters graduated from university, to create a Refuge for the guests to discover her home country: little, peaceful and beautiful Portugal. This Refuge needed to offer a place of serenity, calm, simplicity because, as we all know how life can be busy, insane, even at times chaotic. The Refuge had to be a place where guests could disconnect, reconnect and recharge their souls, minds and reboot their creativity.
The Refuge had to be a sanctuary – but even more, it was very important to Simone and Patrick that it be distinctive in its design. While including all that was necessary to ensure the small luxuries of comfort, the Refuge, just as importantly, had to be crafted from and showcase materials representing the rich culture and history of Portugal.
But it is additionally focused and determined in validating the company’s transparency of ensuring that many from the surrounding communities can and will benefit. After all, it takes a village, does it not, to raise and build strong communities?
To quote Hellen Keller: “Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.” That is why, the owners have searched, as much as possible, for products specifically made in Portugal from providers who are conscientious of our environment.
Supporting local and national companies helps promote our fellow, exceptional Portuguese entrepreneurs. And we are proud to share with those we have discovered in the past two years of living in the country by sourcing many of our services and products from them including our infusions and teas, our coffee, the local pastries, and our weighted blankets, comfortable linens, the colorful dishware and much more.
