Peaceful Portugal, a haven?

Calm waters beside a weir on the Rio Nabao near Tomar, central Portugal

Last week´s dramatic US election results prompted much social media speculation about whether people would leave the country for fear of what a second Trump presidency could bring.

I was contacted a recently by a women’s group in Albuquerque, where I used to live, asking me if I would speak at a Zoom session on how to be an expat. I was happy to share my experience. I have lived in many different countries and have made multiple moves across the world. I was eager to share that knowledge with people who were anxious about the next few years in the US.

It´s easy to say you are going to move overseas to escape a situation you don’t like. Dealing with the nitty-gritty of reality is a whole different matter.

You must ask yourself deep questions about why you want to leave, what do you expect from your new life and how flexible you are to adapt to radically different circumstances?

Portugal is an attractive destination

In recent years, Portugal has emerged as a desirable retirement destination for several reasons. The country has stable government, a low crime rate, low cost of living and an agreeable climate. I moved here in 2019 and several of the American women I have met who moved here around the same time say they feel much safer here than in the US. Healthcare is another factor. Portugal has a national system of healthcare which is accessible to all residents. This is a highly desirable alternative to the corporate profit-driven system in the US which is increasingly unaffordable.

How to make the move?

I see many Americans who post questions on Facebook groups saying they want to move to Portugal. They ask what part of the country they should choose. It is all very subjective. The rare times I respond to these questions, I always advise people to do as much online research as they can (cost of living, climate, cities, public transportation, interest opportunities, housing costs, etc.) Then I say, you must make an in-person visit. Nothing beats being on the ground, talking to residents, seeing the cities and landscape, looking at the type of housing environment etc etc. Moving to a country is very different from visiting on a vacation.

Nossa Senhora da Estela, a chapel located on a steep hillside beside a large cave in the Pombal region of central Portugal.

Bureaucratic details

Americans can come to Portugal on a visitor visit which allows them to stay for up to 90 days. Portugal is among a group of countries which adhere to the Schengen agreement which allows free movement of people and labor throughout most European Union countries. If you want to move to Portugal, you must apply for a special visa.

The D7 visa is for people who have passive income such as a pension, social security, or rental income. Is is a complicated process which takes many steps, but it is entirely doable.

For people who are still working, there is the D8 visa for digital nomads. If you have a lot of money to invest in various financial ventures, there is the Golden Visa program.

Meeting challenges

Moving to a new country will bring all kinds of challenges. For Americans, it means a new language, a different currency, dealing with the metric system (temperatures in celcius, weights in kilos, heights in meters, distances in kilometers.) When you drive in Portugal you will have to learn to navigate traffic circles, which the British call roundabouts.

Housing is vastly different too. In cities, most people live in high-rise apartment buildings. Houses in the country side are old, lack insulation and may have dampness problems.

Ah, but the benefits, oh yeah!!!

Yes, there are challenges, but think of the gains. Living in a peaceful environment where guns do not proliferate. Cities with walkable streets where you can stop for coffee and a pastry or a meal without having to give a giant tip for lousy service. The opportunity to meet people from many different countries, the chance to travel widely in Europe by car train, or even by air without paying a fortune for a ticket.

Oh yeah.

One of the iconic electric tram cars popular with tourists in Lisbon, Portugal.

Follow my blog to learn more about daily life in Portugal. Check out my website, RosalieRayburn.com for news about my Digger Doyle Mystery novels.

Cycling the path of El Cid in Spain

Statue in Valencia of the famous 11th Century Spanish warrior Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, who became known as El Cid.

Bicycle tours are one of my favorite kind of trip. It may sound crazy to enjoy the punishing climbs and battering headwinds as a vacation. But for the enthusiast, there is nothing better than to pedal along with a group of like-minded souls.

It was a week of adventures that included coasting down a long canyon in pouring rain, clambering over a washed out bridge, getting bogged down in heavy mud and a narrow track where some evil-minded person had sprinkled thumb tacks! Several of us had flat tires.

But it was all fun!

The trip was with the organization People Cycling, which has volunteers who lead rides in the US, Europe, Asia and elsewhere. Peter South and his wife Marjorie lead several rides per year in the province of Valencia, where they live.

The ride was named after the famous Spanish warrior El Cid, and part of it followed routes he had used during his fighting days for Christian and Muslim armies in the 11th Century.

Our group of nine riders met in Torellano, near Alicante, and spend the next five days riding toward our final destination in Valencia.

Mountains and fruit trees

The terrain near Alicante reminded me of New Mexico. It is a mix of arid landscapes and mountains. However we passed many fields of tomatoes, artichokes and broccoli. There were olive trees, date palms and numerous persimmon trees.

Personalities in the group were as varied as the vegetation. All nine of us were American. My cycling friend and I joked about the guy who never stopped talking. We dreaded getting stuck next to him at dinner.

Towns and castles

Our route took us from Torrellano to Elche and then on to Villena. Part of the path was on gravel track, much of it on roads. After a night in Villena, we did an out-and-back ride to Yecla, a town in the province of Murcia.

Some of the gravel track portion of the ride was on the Camino del Sureste, one of the pilgrim routes to Santiago de Compostela.

In Villena we toured the hilltop Atalaya castle. (All the castles are on hilltops for defensive reasons.) It was a fascinating glimpse into Spain of the turbulent Middle Ages when there were rival kingdoms of Navarre, Leon, Castile and Aragon. There were also constant battles between the Spanish and the Muslim (Moors) from North Africa who occupied much of Spain and Portugal.

We passed this hilltop sanctuary on the way to Villena. It was designed by a student of Antoni Gaudí who is famous for his buildings in Barcelona.

Challenges en route

One day we had to cross a stream where the bridge had been washed out. We worked together as a team to figure a way across for ourselves and the bikes.

Our route on the third day required us to cover 42 miles (67 km). Unfortunately, we hit a rainstorm just as we began a long descent through a canyon. It would have been beautiful if we could have seen through the raindrops. Trucks passing us on curves provided an extra scare.

The rain made parts of the track muddy. At one point we had to cycle through a stretch of heavy clay mud that clogged up the chains, brakes and gears on our bikes.

Heavy clay mud caked the tires, brakes and gears of our bikes at one point.

The longest day of the tour was a 50-mile (80 km) stretch from Villena to Xativa. As we neared the end of this route, we rode through a beautiful nature path. Unfortunately, some nasty person obviously didn’t like cyclists using it. We found thumb tacks scattered along a narrow portion of the trail. Five of us subsequently had flat tires.

Valencia, a charming city

Our final destination was Valencia, third largest city in Spain. It is a city full of history and elegant buildings. We were fortunate to have a day to explore by joining a walking tour of the old city center and the bustling covered market. We even tried the local cocktail recommended by the tour guide, Agua de Valencia. The mixture of fresh Valencia orange juice, sparkling Cava wine, gin and vodka, packs quite a punch!

From left, enjoying Agua de Valencia, paella Valenciana, two ladies in traditional costume.

One of the former entrances to the walled portion of the city of Valencia.

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Cats and characters liven the streets of historic Portuguese town

A guitarist dressed in antique costume plays at the entrance to the historic Convento de Cristo, in Tomar, central Portugal.

Daily walks in my new home in the historic district of Tomar bring a wealth of quirky sights. I first noticed the many street cats. They lurk in the shadows and scatter quickly when anyone approaches. Kindly residents leave tiny bowls of cat food beside their doorsteps. The tidbits are a constant temptation for my dog!

Then, there are the characters that populate the network of narrow cobbled streets in the “zona historica”. On my early dog walk, about 7:30 in the morning, I see the postal workers laughing and joking as they arrive at the back of the downtown post office.

Further on, there are the street cleaners. Clad in their high visibility vests. They push their carts around the Praça da Republica then fan out through the streets. I now nod “bom dia”, good day, to the blond cleaning lady that passes my house.

Another “bom dia” to my charming upstairs neighbor, Paulo. He lives in the upstairs part of the old house where I now reside. He has an upholstery workshop across the street. Every now and then I hear the sound of the staple gun as he plies his trade.

My neighbor, Paulo, leaves out tiny bowls of food for the street cats.

There is the old guy who crouches on a doorstep in the pedestrian street. He gazes out at passersby as he takes occasional sips from the bottle of white wine stashed beside him.

Sometimes there is a middle-aged man with a tripod sound setup singing fado songs, hoping for a few euros from the tourists.

Tourism central

Tomar is a tourist town. It is famous for its association with the Knights Templar, an order of soldier monks who helped protect pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem during the Middle Ages. In 1162 by Dom Gualdim Pais, the Grand Master of the Order of the Knights Templar founded the city and a statue of him has pride of place in Tomar’s Praça da Republica.

The Templar order was abolished in 1314 but was later reorganized in Portugal as the Order of Christ, with headquarters in Tomar. The immense Convento de Cristo sits beside the ruins of the Templar castle, on a hill dominating the town. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

Today, the Convento, castle and Tomar´s charming historic district draw thousands of tourists each year. When I walked by the Convento with my dog one morning this week I saw NINE huge buses lined up outside. Yikes!

From left: entrance to the Convento de Cristo, Templar castle walls, detail from carving around the entrance to the Convento.

Life on a narrow street

Friends have described my street as “the prettiest in Tomar”. Certainly the view of the castle and the flowers planted beside doorways make it chocolate box charming. It is also extremely narrow. I estimate it´s no more than 12 feet, around 3 meters, at its widest. This makes access tricky. I have learned to skillfully navigate around the rare parked car, hoping not to rip off my wing mirrors.

From left: my street with a view of the castle. A car navigates its way through a narrow street in the Historic District of Tomar.

Follow my blog to learn more about daily life in Portugal. Check out my website RosalieRayburn.com to find my Digger Doyle mystery novels.

Moving brings opportunities, challenges

The view from my front door in my new home in Tomar, Portugal. The Convento de Cristo is in the background.

You live in the prettiest street in Tomar. That´s what friends have been saying to me all week. It is just seven days since I moved from my cute little house in a small village into the historic district of Tomar. The town is famous for its connection to the medieval Order of the Knights Templar and the organization which succeeded it, the Order of Christ.

My street is now called Rua Doutor Joaquim Jacinto, but all the locals call it Rua da Sinagoga, the street of the synagogue. That is because the old synagogue, which is now a museum, is just a few doors away from my new place.

One of the reasons I told people I wanted to move from the US was because I didn’t want to have to drive everywhere. Guess what? Living in a small village I had to drive everywhere.

In my new place I can walk everywhere. Cafes, restaurants, parks, stores. All within a few minutes on foot.

Challenges

The downside of this move is that I now have to deal with the dreaded world of Portuguese bureaucracy. I am trying to change the official record of my address. I went to the “Financas” office. This is the place that deals with property, taxes and a world of officialdom. The said official referred me to the Junta De Frequesia, the parish office. That is where I had to get an “Attestado” a document that proves I live in the said parish. I had to have two witnesses. Easy. No. The two witnesses had to be Portuguese citizens resident in the same parish.

I managed to co-opt my Portuguese teacher and a neighbor to accompany me to the Junta office to sign for me. One hurdle down.

Next I was supposed to go to the “Camara Municipal”, city hall, to get a resident’s permit. In my case, because I have an Irish passport, (European Union), I had obtained a Certificado de Registo de Cidadão União Europeo when I moved to Portugal five years ago.

Unfortunately it expired in June and I have not been able to renew it because of the unholy mess at AIMA the government agency which handles such issues. The stony faced woman at the Camara refused to give me a new resident permit and referred me to the dreaded AIMA.

This was a huge blow because I have been trying unsuccessfully since March to get an appointment with AIMA to renew the document. But hundreds of thousands of people are in the same position.

Keep trying was her suggestion.

Picking grapes during the annual ‘vindima’.

Joys of the season

Despite these setbacks, I have been enjoying activities typical of this season in Portugal. A couple of weeks ago, I spend a Saturday helping with the “vindima” or grape harvest, at a winery north of Tomar.

Last weekend, I attended one of many medieval festivals. In the small town of Assiceira, south of Tomar, there were groups performing dances in medieval costume to the music of bagpipes and drums.

Kids played games, one of which looked like a medieval version of air hockey. A couple of wenches wandered around in character as the town’s “working ladies”. Other women joked around the old wash fountain and dunked each other amidst much laughter.

Of course there were the usual craft stalls selling jewelry, soap, candles etc. The most impressive was the potter who demonstrated the making of large terra cotta style pots used for storing olive oil.

This large pots have traditionally been used for olive oil and other products.

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Move to the city to bring new lifestyle

View of Tomar from the old bridge over the Rio Nabao with the Templar castle and Convento de Cristo in the background.

Within two weeks I will be moving into the historic town of Tomar in central Portugal. I relocated from New Mexico to Portugal five years ago and settled in a small village about fifteen minutes drive from the town. I have loved the country life, but during the wet winter months I crave more activity. If I am totally honest, I want to be able to walk to a cafe, meet friends and indulge my love of a daily pastel de nata. (Those delectable custard cream cakes with the flaky pastry shell.)

The move will bring a lot more changes than just the extra calories.

Tomar is a bustling community of around 23,000 residents, straddling the scenic Rio Nabão. Although this article, which cites famous American travel writer Rick Steves, claims Tomar is a quiet ‘untouristy’ place. I would disagree. During the summer months the narrow streets of the historic center are a magnet for visitors from the US, the UK, France, Spain and Holland, to name a few countries.

A town with a colorful past

Tourists are drawn there by the town’s fascinating history. It was founded in 1157 by Gualdim Pais, the first Grand Master of the Order of the Templars. This organization of military monks were active in protecting pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem in the Middle Ages. Unfortunately, the wealth they accumulated alarmed the French King Phillip IV who prevailed upon Pope Clement V to dissolve the Order in 1314.

In Portugal, the organization was turned into the Order of Christ. The immense Convento de Cristo sits upon the hill above the town, surrounded by the walls of the Templar castle.

Almost every year the town holds a multi-day festival, the Festa dos Templarios, which celebrates its connection to the ancient order.

Stairs lead up to an entrance to the Convento de Cristo in Tomar.

Parades held during annual Festa dos Templarios

Historic street

Not only will I be living in a town with a rich history. I will be living on a street that has its own unique history. The narrow cobbled street is now called Rua Doutor Joaquim Jacinto. However, colloquially it is know as the Rua da Sinagoga. That is because several doors away from my new dwelling is the old synagogue of Tomar.

Built in 1460 when the town had a thriving Jewish community. It was active until 1496 when Portugal, like Spain, expelled the Jews. The synagogue building saw different uses over the succeeding centuries. It is now the Abraham Zacuto Portuguese Jewish Museum.

As if that weren’t history enough. A house on my street was the birthplace of the well-known Portuguese composer Fernando Lopes-Graça.

I am looking forward to my new life, where I will be able to walk out my front door, turn left and find a patisserie. Or walk a few steps in the other direction and find a little place that specializes in petiscos, the Portuguese version of tapas.

Maybe I can even add to the street´s history if my Digger Doyle mystery novels become best sellers!

The 6 kilometer-long aqueduct was built to bring water to the Convento de Cristo

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August is a sleepy month in Portugal

Lighted street decorations at a “festa” in central Portugal.

Everyone says it. It´s August, you need to realize that nothing much happens during this month in Portugal. Stores and restaurants close for a couple of weeks, families go on vacation, and hordes of French tourists arrive.

The French tourists are not really normal tourists. Many of them are the children or grandchildren of Portuguese who went to France years ago to find work. They return to their ancestral villages to see family members and enjoy the summer festivals.

August is a popular month for “Festas”. Towns and villages all over the country erect lighted decorations, bandstands and mobilize volunteers to provide meals for the hundreds of festival goers who show up to enjoy the good vibes. Believe me! I volunteered to wash dishes for one of the dinners during the festival in my village this year. In three hours from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. I think I washed about 400 plates and dozens of serving dishes. It was exhausting work!

A river beach on the Rio Mondego near Coimbra. These beaches on Portugal´s rivers are hugely popular in the summer months.

Many normal business operations slow down in August as well. By law, employees in Portugal have a minimum of 22 days of paid leave. The law also prohibits employers from offering employees extra pay forgoing paid leave days. (Wouldn’t it be nice if employees in the US had the same benefits.)

Of course the general somnolence of life in August in Portugal does make for some frustration if you are trying to accomplish important life changes, like moving house for example. That is the situation I find myself in. I should have chosen a different time of year. However, it is a life lesson in patience. Take a deep breath and trust that everything will happen as it should. The electricity, water and internet will all be switched on when I move into my new place and everything will be hunky dory. (I hope.)

Follow my blog to learn more about daily life in Portugal. Check out my website RosalieRayburn.com to buy one of my mystery novels.

Enjoying a beach in the Alentejo south of Lisbon.

How a Portuguese dog found a home, love and a bread roll every morning

Divina, the little podengo dog who was abandoned in my village and adopted me as her new owner.

A while ago I made a post about my dog Divina. In it, I mentioned that she had been abandoned in my village in central Portugal. I thought I would let her “tell” her own story.

Divina: “I don’t remember much about where I was born or lived when I was a puppy. The only thing I do recall is that some ugly brute had his way with me when I was a teenager and I had a litter of puppies. I had just weaned them when they were taken away from me. I never saw them again because I was put in a van, taken to another village, and dumped out on the street.”

“I spent several days wandering the village, trying to find food around the big green rubbish bin and sleeping on doorsteps. One day I followed another dog and his owners when they went to visit a new neighbor. As soon as the door of the house opened, I ran in. Unfortunately, the woman of the house didn’t let me stay. But the next day, I was out looking for food when the woman whose house I had visited, called me and invited me to come for some bread and milk. That was how I found my new home!”

Divina waits while the bread lady “padeira” gets rolls from the back of the van.

Rosalie: “When I moved to Portugal in 2019, I had no plans to have a dog. It had been many years since my last dog passed away. In the meantime, I had become a cat convert. Sadly, I couldn’t bring my two cat ladies, Chatsie and Bodie because they were aged 12 and 13 and never traveled. A twice-yearly trip just three miles to the vet really upset them. Putting them through a 20-plus-hour trip on several airplanes would have been too traumatic. I found a very comfy home for them with a neighbor and they were just fine!”

The Universe provides its own surprises

Rosalie: “After traveling for two months I finally moved into my own house in July and immediately thought about getting a cat. However, the universe had other ideas for me. In the five years since the day I first welcomed Divina into my home, I have become very fond of her. She has me well-trained. I take her for several walks a day, give her treats, and –against my better judgment–let her sleep on the sofa.”

Morning delights

As I mentioned in a previous blog post, my village is lucky enough to have not one, but TWO bakery vans go through it each morning. You just put change in a bag and hang it on your gate or door and the bread lady (Padeira) will deliver the bread rolls of your choice!

Several months ago, Divina fell in love with one of the bread ladies, Paula, who now stops and gives her part of a roll each time we meet her on our morning walk. Divina recognizes Paula’s unmarked white van and pulls at the leash straining to go say hello and get her second breakfast. More recently, the other bread lady, Gracinda, started giving her bread as well. They have quite the relationship!

What can I say, it’s a dog’s life!

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I have a new book in the works: Windswept, a murder mystery

Me in my reporter days at the base of a wind turbine in eastern New Mexico. A wind turbine figures in the plot of my new book.

I want to blow my own horn a little here. I recently finished the manuscript of my third mystery novel. The series features the intrepid young reporter Elizabeth “Digger” Doyle, the scourge of shady politicians. This time she is tracking down a series of mysterious deaths. Here is a little taste of the plot

“Twenty-five years is a long time to keep silent. But telling the truth can be deadly. A state representative who wants to ban new oil and gas activity is found dead at the base of a wind turbine.

Reporter Elizabeth “Digger” Doyle suspects it’s not an accident. Digger gets a tip that links the dead woman to a group of high school friends who were the last to see a young woman who disappeared in a remote volcanic wilderness in 1998.”

I was lucky enough to find a wonderful editor, Gemma Skelton to edit the manuscript. She has done a wonderful job. Any writers out there who are looking for someone responsive, accurate, creative, and very affordable, I highly recommend her. She is British but is very comfortable working with US writers.

She edited my manuscript swiftly and provided a report with thoughtful suggestions to improve aspects of the story. I am now going through her recommendations. Next, I plan to work with the excellent book and cover designer, Sara DeHaan as I have for my first two books. I hope ‘Windswept’ will see the light of day sometime this autumn.

My second novel gaining traction

My first fiction novel, THE POWER OF RAIN, came out in mid-2022. This book started as a stand-alone political mystery with Digger chasing down corrupt politicians in the fictional New Mexico city of Las Vistas. Readers expressed so much interest in the main character and her relationship with the activist/artist Maria Ortiz that I continued their story.

My second book, THE SUNSHINE SOLUTION was published in November 2023. I have just learned the novel is a finalist in the Southwest Writers contest! This was the message I received just a few days ago. ‘CONGRATULATIONS! I am pleased to inform you that your entry is a finalist in the 2024 SouthWest Writers Contest! There were over 400 entries this year in twenty-five categories.’

Why the environmental theme?

Each of my books has had an ‘element’ in the title: Rain, sun, wind. Why? It goes back to the years I spent as a reporter in New Mexico. A lot of my work focused on developments in the renewable energy field; especially solar and wind. It remains a passion of mine!

Follow my blog to learn more about life in Portugal and check out my website RosalieRayburn.com to learn more about my books!

Portugal: safe, affordable and friendly

These “Rabelo” boats were formerly used to transport Port wine on the Douro River. Behind them is the Dom Luis I Bridge.

Political developments in recent years have many Americans considering expat life. Portugal’s low cost of living, friendly people, and pleasant climate have made it a much sought-after destination. Portugal is also a very safe country. The 2023 Global Peace Index ranked it the seventh safest country worldwide.

I moved to Portugal five years ago seeking an affordable European lifestyle for my retirement. I wanted to walk to cafes, wander the streets of ancient towns, and travel. One of the most wonderful things about Portugal has been interacting with individual Portuguese people. You will find so much kindness and charm.

However, being an expat involves a steep learning curve. When you move to a new country you face a lot of bureaucratic hurdles within a short time. Think: opening a bank account, buying or renting a house, driving licence requirements, health insurance etc etc. Even the little details like the shopping hours, measuring distances in kilometers, and temperatures in Celsius, take getting used to.

Americans who want to move to Portugal must obtain a D7 visa. Information on the steps required to get the visa is available at: Globalsolutions.com. Or you can watch a video describing the process step-by-step at: StartAbroad.com.

Language

Language is another major factor. Many Portuguese speak excellent English, and are usually willing to help. Nevertheless, handling everything in a foreign language is still challenging. Expats also help each other. There are Facebook groups for every conceivable niche interest and region. These Facebook group pages are a valuable resource because you can post questions and seek advice. A couple of the groups useful for general information are: Americans Moving to Portugal and Americans Living in Portugal.

Accommodation

House prices and rents in Portugal have risen steeply in the past few years. The website Idealista is a useful way to find a property. Prices are highest in the greater Lisbon area, Porto and the southern region known as the Algarve. It is still possible to find a place for under 100,000 euros in country areas, but it may require extensive renovation to make it livable. Many people complain about problems getting reliable builders.

Older Portuguese houses are often made of stone which keeps them cool in summer and downright cold in the winter. Even newer houses may lack good quality insulation. I frequently hear people complain about dampness and mold.

Climate-wise, the area from Lisbon south is warmer and dryer. The center and north of the country get more rain and occasional snow and ice. Rain in Portugal is often a tropical downpour. The website, www.expatica.com has useful information on weather and all kinds of other aspects of life in Portugal.

Do your research and visit the country

You can learn a lot from online research. Websites like numbeo.com or internationalliving.com/ show good comparisons of the cost of living. I always advise making a reconnaissance trip to the country. Online research is useful, but nothing beats an in-person experience.

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How to decide where to settle in Portugal

One of the iconic electric trams popular with visitors to Lisbon.

Many people are interested in moving to Portugal. At least that’s how it looks when I scan the multiple Facebook groups I’ve joined because they are aimed at expats living in, or interested in, Portugal. There are more than a hundred such groups; catering to every possible taste. The question I see over and over, is “I’m planning to move to Portugal in XX many years, what’s the best place to go?”

This is the kind of question that drives those of us who have made the move absolutely crazy. How can anyone else know where that person would like to live? It depends on so many things.

My response to this kind of question is to suggest people look at their lifestyle and ask themselves the following:

Are you used to living in a city or the country? Which do you prefer?
How much do you like to shop? Do you want to have a big choice of stores nearby or are you okay with small local stores and visiting shopping centers only now and again?
Do you eat out a lot? How important is it for you to have restaurants nearby?
Do you want to have a car? Or are you comfortable with using public transportation?
How often do you want to travel? Is it important for you to be near an airport?
What is your income and budget? Prices in Lisbon and Porto have risen steeply in recent years.

These are just a few of the questions people who are “thinking” about moving to Portugal should ask themselves. Facebook groups such as Pure Portugal – Living the Good Life, Moving to Portugal, Expats in Portugal Q&A and many, many more, can provide much valuable information. People can pose questions and get answers from those who have already made the move and settled here. Internet research is invaluable, but a trip to the country is the best way to get a real feel for the place. You get to meet the people face-to-face, taste the food, see the landscape and the architecture.

Discovering the country

Portugal is still quite a poor country by comparison with others in western European. Outside the bigger cities, the countryside is depopulated and many villages have a lot of houses that have been sitting empty for years. You can buy them cheaply, but they also take a lot of time and effort to renovate. Still, life in a Portuguese village can be very fulfilling. People are welcoming and willing to help you. Lunch in a small family-run restaurant will cost you as little as 10 euros for a three-course meal with wine and coffee. Cars and gasoline/diesel are expensive, but if you live in the country you will almost certainly need to drive. Most Portuguese roads are narrow and winding, but luckily there is little traffic. The highways are superb but you usually have to pay tolls.

Portuguese houses

Portuguese houses are usually made of stone. They keep out the heat in the summer but can be awfully cold and damp in the winter. The Alentejo and Algarve regions are the hottest in the summer and mildest in the winter. Areas in the far north and closer to the Spanish border are typically the coldest in the winter.

These are just a few thoughts I decided to share about life in Portugal. I moved here more than three years ago after extensive research and a two-month trip during which I did volunteer work and traveled around the country.

Follow my blog to learn more about daily life in Portugal and check out my website: RosalieRayburn.com