Margarida Vargues

Who is Margarida?

Margarida is a very curious person. I usually say that I am driven by curiosity, that’s my fuel. I’ve always been like this. I am a very shy and introverted person, although people do not notice it. I am Portuguese, I am from Faro. I lived most of my time here and I have some periods abroad. I did Erasmus in Austria, when no one used to do it, back in 1994. A few years ago I lived in London for a year and half. My soul is everywhere.

What would you like to do when you grow up?

I go with the flow. I am teaching “Creative Writing”, maybe this is the way at least for a few years. But one of my dreams is to do a TedX speech. To be on the stage! Because the stage is where I feel at home. When I was 41, I decided to follow a dream which was to learn classical ballet. So I found adult ballet classes in Faro and at the end of the year we had a show. I did parts of Swan Lake, Giselle and Don Quixote with tutu and pointe shoes! So this was a dream of a child that became true after 40years old. My superpower is to start ballet at 41.

What is the first thing on your mind when you think about Faro?

The sun, the light. I also think about islands. Ilha do Farol is home for me and my happy place. It’s the place where I feel safe and find peace and where I like to be during the summer.

What would be the soundtrack of your life story?

This question takes me back to my Erasmus time. There was a band called “Extreme”. Also U2 and Xutos e Pontapés. Right now I like to listen to classical music and film soundtracks. Hans Zimmer is my favorite composer, I can spend hours listening to his music.

What is the place in Faro you are most connected to? Why?

Ilha do Farol. Because some of my best memories are from when I was a child and also my adulthood. I remember being at the university and being extremely tired at the end of my 3rd year. My mother was really worried about me and she asked if I wanted to go to a doctor. I said “No, I want to spend a couple of days in Ilha do Farol and I will be fine.”And I was in there for five days and I felt very good! Also here, the city center. Because I like to wander around, sometimes with my camera and sometimes with my phone. I look at the places, depending on the day and light the same place with different photos.