Pedro
de
Sousa

Which place do you currently call home and where do you work on your projects?

At the moment I am living in Óbidos, a small village on the west coast of Portugal and I work from there for the whole world. As I live near Lisbon and Caldas da Rainha, I also spend part of my time there.

Do you have a favourite place in your area where you like to relax and linger?

As I am on the west coast, I go to the beach to relax – we have quite a few. When I need time to reconnect with myself, I end up spending some time in the nature around the castle, where there are only trees and animals. In Caldas da Rainha in Parque Dom Carlos I or Gulbenkian Garden in Lisbon.

Are there any urgent political issues or problems in your region?

We are going through some political instability. In addition, we have had some problems relating education, healthcare and housing. Some problems we already had, but the others emerged in recent years and it showed that a lot was hitting rock bottom.

In your opinion, what has developed well in the last 5 years – and what has not?

In a way it’s hard to say because after the pandemic, everything seemed to change each year but in a fast paced momentum. It’s necessary for some time to pass so that we can see and understand in retrospect what has actually improved and what has not. Locally, I would say that some commodities, accessibility and infrastructures have improved.

Do you know a hidden gem when it comes to local manufacturers – whether it’s arts and crafts, sustainable products or food?

A lot of stores throughout the village are composed of handcrafted & local products. There are plenty to choose from, not necessarily a specific recommendation in this case.

Is there anything particularly innovative in your region? Also in comparison to other places you have already visited?

I think my region in the last years has tried to stay relevant. Óbidos is a small, pitoresque village and it’s main source of revenue is tourism. So, there is always something happening throughout the year. We have themed fairs for the masses, niche festivals and venues for opera, literature, illustration… to name a few. The village built itself in the past years around the concept of literature. For example, to keep the connection between the writers and the artists in the past, they turned different religious and historic buildings into bookshops and galleries.

Do you have a secret restaurant tip that you would like to share with us?

Well, there are many restaurants in the village, everyone has a choice, that’s for sure. I would say À Janela or Avocado in Espaço Ó or Pretencioso if you want something that is not a typical Portuguese meal or offer within the village with a charming atmosphere. If you visit and want something typical or in a medieval setting, there are plenty of options side by side.

Is there a local shop whose products are only available in your region?

We have a book store and a food market in the same space, it’s called Livraria do Mercado and it’s located on the main street. Maybe an odd space at first to have both concepts but it works and it‘s an attraction.

What are your 3 favourite apps that you use every day and couldn’t live without?

I am moving away from social media apps so I would say my top 3 apps are just for everyday necessities such as my bank account, workout app and e-mail app.

Do you have any favourite newspapers or online magazines? And how do you keep up to date with politics or social and cultural issues?

For cultural and travel purposes I end up reading magazines such as Kinfolk, apartamento, Monocle, AnOther Magazine to name a few. As for political and social issues I tend to read some online portuguese newspapers and, sometimes, international newspapers. Regarding newspapers I tend to choose the least sensationalists.

Imagine you could be mayor for a year – what would you change?

I don’t know if I could change much if I were mayor for a year. I think I would try to meet the needs of the people and understand what I could improve in the daily basis of the population. After that I’d probably add value through experiences that are not offered at the moment.

One last question: If you could choose another place to live – regardless of financial or time constrains – which one would you choose?

I believe I would go to a place that’s not in Europe. Maybe a tropical place in Asia or South America. If I like it, I think it would become a place to work and live between Europe and there.