We have always had the pleasure of being invited by Ana and Zé, who both have the incomparable and captivating way of welcoming, and when they do they show the same pleasure of someone who wishes to be invited!

Not only did they welcome us and our children with the wisdom and enchantment of someone who, through magic, manages to create a harmonious and pleasant environment for interaction, but everything is prepared and executed with expertise, qualities that we will surely keep in our minds.

Our conversations, combined with amazing and unique meals leave no doubt, our friends Mendes e Poças know how to host like no one else…

Orlando Fachada
Senior expert – international fishery relations, European Commission

About 30 years ago we had the pleasure of welcoming Ana Mendes and José Poças into our house in the São Paulo coastline, during one of their trips to Brazil.

From there, everytime we visited Setúbal we were invited to memorable dinners with unique wine experiences.

When our friends and family visit Setúbal they are also welcomed with open arms, something that touches us deeply.

Their hability to anticipate and provide everyone’s needs is nothing short of amazing and bodes well for the local housing venture they started.

We will point more brazilians their way, whom we are certain will be glad to join them.

Osvaldo Gomes Filho and Rita Janete Gomes
Familiar and Occupational Medicine – Ilhabela São Paulo, Brazil

Olá Companheiro de Viagem!

O meu nome é Paul Alan Smith e conheci o José e a Ana num comboio enquanto explorava a Europa em 1983. Quer estivessem a dizer a verdade ou não, apenas uns segundos depois de nos conhecermos convidaram-me para os visitar em Portugal, aceitei IMEDIATAMENTE e lá apareci uns dias mais tarde!

O carinho que lhes guardo, e o carinho que tenho por Setúbal, não diminuiu de todo. Não só me apaixonei pela sua casa e cidade como voltei a visitá-los em diversas ocasiões, ficando igualmente emocionada com cada visita. Entre as montanhas, a comida, o mar, a cultura, a musica e o porto (ó! o porto!!!) não é de estranhar que estejam todos entusiasmados para visitar o novo local que desenvolveram.

Felizmente a minha carreira de 35 anos no mundo artístico permitiu-me a extraordinária possibilidade de explorar o mundo, o que fiz com vigor e entusiasmo. Quando digo que a Ana e o José, tal como a sua casa, são alguns dos pontos altos de TODAS as minhas viagens… é com convicção que o digo!!!

Desejo a quem ler isto uma viagem bem-sucedida, assim como uma dose de inveja pessoal do que vos espera.

Ciao,

“Pablo”

Num raro momento de “inspiração”, apareceram palavras, que são poucas para ilustrar o momento.

Entendi que poderia usar as letras de CARMO RESIDENCE, para sucintamente mostrar um pouco do meu sentir relativamente a vós, e à Dª Maria do Carmo, que deixou em mim pinceladas/memória da sua personalidade.

Companheirismo
Amizade
Reciprocidade
Mão cheia
Organizados

Racional
Empatia
Simpática
Inteligente
Distinta
Elegante
Nobre
Cozinheira
Especial

Ricardo Dias – Médico Oftalmologista e “irmão” do Zé e da Ana

We have known Ze Pocas since 2001, at that time his daughter was an exchange student in our home in Spring Lake, MI USA. Several years later, his son came and lived with us as well.

From those experiences, we developed a relationship with the entire Pocas family. My wife Kathy and I have had the opportunity to travel to Portugal three times and have been hosted by Ze and Ana in their home.

The only thing that equals their hospitality is Ze’s knowledge and love of all things Portuguese including the country, the rich history, the food, and the culture. Ze organized several adventures in which we experienced Portugal in a way that not even the Portuguese have. We were able to see Portugal through a cultural, culinary and historical perspective.

Ze knows how to put together an itinerary that is entertaining and exciting, with many opportunities to learn something special each trip, which makes it an exceptional experience.

On the topic of food, we tasted Portuguese dishes that we would never have tried, without his encouragement. The key to cuisine in Portugal is the company in which the experience takes place. Ze has such a network of friends, family, and colleagues that he constantly puts together groups of people that make each experience rich and exciting.

I recommend Ze as an excellent host. He is the best in promoting and experiencing all things Portuguese. A trip involving Ze is guaranteed to be an experience of a lifetime.

Kathy and I look forward to our next trip and are excited about the new experiences that we will have in Portugal.

Tom and Kathy Drooger

No podia irme para Cuba sin dejar aqui plasmada mis más sinceras y humildes palabras acerca de los anfitriones de este proyecto.

Ante todo mis felicitaciones y les deseo todo el suceso del mundo , se de antemano que será un proyecto del cual se hablará mucho .

Que pudiera yo decir del Dr Poças y de la Dra Ana , si siendo un joven cubano a residir en Portugal y a estudiar medicina en España y ya en mi 6º año con mis economias agotadas , que seria de mi si en aquel momento Poças y Ana no me hubieran propuesto la posibilidad de quedarme en su casa hasta acabar mis rotaciones , sin cobrarme un centavo , que seria de mi sin ellos , sin su apoyo , sin su cariño incondicional, que seria de mi , sin su presencia a mi lado en el acto de mi graduación en España , cuando tenia a mi madre a mas de 6000 millas creo que sinceramente no me hubiera formado como el médico que soy hoy , es claro e inequivocamente que esas cualidades que emanan de ellos , solo es posible por su alta sensibilidad, humanismo, carisma y poder de compartir todo lo poco ó mucho que ambos tienes, donde muchas veces ni se conoce a fondo a la persona que reciben en sus casas.

Hoy doy gracias por haber creado de mi el profesional que soy pero también por formar en mi valores que hoy me llevan a ser un mejor ser humano.

“No tengo dudas que en Carmos residence encontraran un sitio donde más que una residencia encontraran un hogar”

Dr Weiner Santos Furones
Médico Clínica Geral e Familiar
Centro de Saúde de Vila Nova de Milfontes

Infectious diseases are my trade and my passion. After 17 years in Portugal I returned to my home country in 2016 and today I am a Clinical Director of a national referral centre in the follow-up of patients with infectious and humanitarian diseases that belongs to the Franciscan Order of the Friars Minor.

I am a very lucky person and consider myself a privileged one, because, despite being a lower middle class Guinean, I was given the opportunity of a very good education, in all areas, starting with the family.

Dr Poças is a very important pillar in my life, contributing to what I am today, both professionally and personally. I crossed paths with that amazing Doctor and human being during my 3rd year of specialty in Setúbal My specialty adviser was Dr. Vítor Augusto, when we were defining my training plan he saw my interest in infectious diseases and told me that if I wanted to dominate the area I had Dr José Poças, an internist, infecciologist and one of the most humane professionals that the Hospital had and would happily teach me infecciology. I thought to myself, Dr Poças? Scary! My encounters with him were in the emergency room and I saw him as a great doctor, but someone who “shouted” and seemed to frighten everyone. Laughter…

As soon as I finished my post-graduate course at the Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in Lisbon, I started to attend the infecciology appointments twice a week alongside Dr Poças. I was very scared and anxious during the first week. I soon realised that up-close there was no “screaming” kindness and respect for myself and the patients, which made that query a space of fascination. There I learned infecciology, internal medicine, as well as true Socratic medicine. The patients were mostly vulnerable ones and had social difficulties. In the doctor’s office each patient was the focal point of the consultation, giving them the confidence to keep up the patient-doctor relationship, an important relationship in the follow-up of patients with chronic diseases. His knowledge beyond medicine made possible to have other types of conversation in accordance with the patients’ interest.

During the last three years of my specialty I had two advisors, both incredible people who made me who I am today. Two years after finishing my specialty, I ended up in the Infection Service headed by Dr. Poças. In a very short amount of time, I was allowed to train in travel medicine, viral hepatitis and HIV. These tools allowed for an increase of courage that helps with the challenges I face today as a doctor. I also learned from him what it is to be a true leader. This has been very helpful in my new job, but I could still use a deeper voice to “shout” in a serious manner just like he did. Laughter…

Today I hold Dr José Poças as family, a master, boss and friend for life. I have no doubt. Whenever I am in trouble I turn to him knowing he will be there for me. A proof of this friendship was when he decided to spend the holidays with his wife in Bissau to get to know the country and my new world. I couldn’t believe it. I was so pleased with their visit. There, I took them to the hospital; we made a medical visit on a Saturday morning to all the complicated cases that afflicted me in that infinite of lives, beds and pathologies. As always, immediate solutions emerged, procedures were made, and there I was, the eternal student. Touring Cacheu was only possible after solving the patients’ problems that Saturday.
I hold the Poças family to highest regard.

Jamila Bathy – MD, internal medicine specialist, tropical health postgraduate. Guinean, I hold a degree from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra and specialty from São Bernardo’s Hospital

I have had the privilege to be a part of the Ana Mendes and José Poças social circle since the 1990s.

In their exquisitely decorated house, with unique pieces and good taste we feel at Home, with a capital H.

Ana and José are the kind of people who welcome you with care and attention. They enjoy welcoming groups into their house that eventually become part of a big family. The bonds created show the well-being they provide.

I’m glad there are people like this.

Fátima Bacellar
Retired Biologist and Infectious Diseases Researcher

The Poças couple, a very well known couple in Setúbal, has a family history connected to port wine; they love reading, jazz and art, and love to welcome people from all over the world into their house and share their life experiences, in the several languages they speak, along with good food paired with good wine.

We have been friends for several years; both Poças and his wife will make anyone who visits them feel welcome, as if they were in their own house. We recommend you visit their housing apartments, for your experience of Setúbal will surely be better for it.

We wish them all the luck in the world, and we are sure their new adventure will be a sucess.
In the words of `Abdu’l-Bahá:
“Be kind to strangers, whether they come from Turkey, Japan, Persia, Russia, China or any other country. Help them feel at home, and try to make their lives a little more pleasant, for this kindness will help them to be better. “

Nathalie and Francisco (Physicians)