I am back to my language CDs, learning European Portuguese, starting over at the beginning because it’s been so long since I have listened. Frankly, I don’t know if it’s possible to learn any language from recordings alone, but I have A PLAN! (If this is your first time here, I always have a PLAN.…
This past week marked Portugal’s Dia de Liberdade (Freedom Day), which commemorates the April 25th 1974 military coup that toppled a 30 year dictatorship and brought democracy to the country. Many people here remember the times before the Carnation Revolution. It is recent history. Freedom is precious here; it is not taken for granted. Maybe…
Last week, many of the lockdown restrictions lifted in Portugal and, after almost three months of living here, I am catching a glimpse of the daily life I imagined when I decided to move abroad. There are still plenty of restrictions and precautions in place: Restaurants are only allowed to use outdoor seating, no more…
I’ve been living in Portugal for three months now and friends are asking what I like best about it. I try to explain that I haven’t seen more than my little corner of the country: We’ve been on lockdown for the entire time I’ve been here. Even without going farther than two miles in any…
I am in the unfortunate position of looking for a long-term rental in The Algarve at a time when many landlords are eager to rent short term. The summer tourist season is just around the corner and rental prices triple at a minimum. (Image Credit: Dmitry Tonkonog – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0) Many expats,…
The wind has been blowing for the past five days and my bedroom window has been rattling in its casing the entire time. There is a mass of air coming from the deserts of North Africa hitting the entire continent of Europe, causing poor air quality and a haze that has hung over the Algarve,…
Moving abroad requires some forethought and planning. But there are always things you don’t know…until you get there. In January, I made the move from Florida to Portugal. While I had set up my life to be able to work from anywhere, I was not as well prepared for actually living in Portugal as I…
Moving abroad is a big leap, physically and metaphorically. I have had “Live in Europe for at least one year” on my bucket list for decades. It was always a “someday” dream, along with learning how to ride a motorcycle and getting a sailboat. (I’ve already jumped out of an airplane, thank you. Twice.) This…
Um. That would be me. I’m doing some client work with the sliding door open because it is finally warm enough to leave it open for an extended length of time and let in some fresh air. My laptop is exactly where it was meant to be—on my lap. My feet are up on the…
Oh boy! Today the sun is shining and I jump out of bed, knowing that I need to take advantage of the morning sun. It’s a great day to wash the sheets! (Yes, the expat life is downright exhilarating.) My AirBnB has a fantastic, state-of-the-art washing machine, but like most of the places I saw…