Tested pasting on 2 other forums and it works normally. Seems that this forum does not do copy and paste with android.
Emigrating To Portugal.
- Thread starter Johnny2Puffs
- Start date
Finally arrived. Got to Dubai at midnight and tried to sleep in a chair till 06.00 for our next flight with no success.
Reached Lisbon 8 hours later still no sleep. Booked into the hotel and had a restless night due to stress about where and what platform our train to Porto would be.
This was made more difficult with the heavy luggage we had to manhandle about.
Lisbon is a really cool city. Everyone speaks perfect English and is multi cultured. The most visited city in Europe.
Late now and the sun has just set at 9.30 so will keep updating as I get time.
Reached Lisbon 8 hours later still no sleep. Booked into the hotel and had a restless night due to stress about where and what platform our train to Porto would be.
This was made more difficult with the heavy luggage we had to manhandle about.
Lisbon is a really cool city. Everyone speaks perfect English and is multi cultured. The most visited city in Europe.
Late now and the sun has just set at 9.30 so will keep updating as I get time.
TapaTalk works with pasting. 
Posting in sections for those that are interested. I hate long posts.
Still looking for long term rent after all the hotels. There are many here but but no replies to my emails. Must be that my emails are going to their Spam folders being in English.
We are now in an expensive holiday apartment on the beach 6km outside of Viana do Castelo. There are rows upon rows of apartments and no tenants. We are all alone in our block. Not much to do here except tan.
Tomorrow we are catching the bus to Viana to have a look at a 2 bedroom apartment for sale. Fully furnished with all the mod cons like dishwasher, washing machine, Esspreso machine etc. Newly painted and all. Cost is €50,000.
Just love Viana with those narrow cobbled streets with a cafe/pub and outside seating. Too many to chose from as there are around 6 to a block. Love the vibe too. Very busy.
Must add that pedestrians have the right of way here. As you approach the road to cross, the cars stop as if there are mystical switches in the roads that automatically activate the brakes. You can cross the streets without looking. The cars here seem to have no hooters.
Another thing that shocked my wife and daughter is the dress of the chicks. Most wear the teeniest micro shorts as if they are competing with their compatriots in Rio.
No burglar bars on windows and people leave their shopping openly at the entrances of supermarkets when entering.
No graffiti and no rubbish anywhere to be seen. The teenagers are very respectful to their elders and go out their way to help us. If they don't speak English, they will find someone who can. Those that can, will not let you go easily as they practice their English.
Just love it here.
Still looking for long term rent after all the hotels. There are many here but but no replies to my emails. Must be that my emails are going to their Spam folders being in English.
We are now in an expensive holiday apartment on the beach 6km outside of Viana do Castelo. There are rows upon rows of apartments and no tenants. We are all alone in our block. Not much to do here except tan.
Tomorrow we are catching the bus to Viana to have a look at a 2 bedroom apartment for sale. Fully furnished with all the mod cons like dishwasher, washing machine, Esspreso machine etc. Newly painted and all. Cost is €50,000.
Just love Viana with those narrow cobbled streets with a cafe/pub and outside seating. Too many to chose from as there are around 6 to a block. Love the vibe too. Very busy.
Must add that pedestrians have the right of way here. As you approach the road to cross, the cars stop as if there are mystical switches in the roads that automatically activate the brakes. You can cross the streets without looking. The cars here seem to have no hooters.
Another thing that shocked my wife and daughter is the dress of the chicks. Most wear the teeniest micro shorts as if they are competing with their compatriots in Rio.
No burglar bars on windows and people leave their shopping openly at the entrances of supermarkets when entering.
No graffiti and no rubbish anywhere to be seen. The teenagers are very respectful to their elders and go out their way to help us. If they don't speak English, they will find someone who can. Those that can, will not let you go easily as they practice their English.
Just love it here.
Good weather here at around 24° with a slight breeze.
Got tired of waiting for the water guy so went walkabouts around the apartment block and lo and behold, I found a big box that had pipes and valves in with numbers on. Our valve was closed so I opened it and we had water. Now I'm waiting for the flying squad to come arrest me.
About prices here. Where do I start? VAT is 23% except on some foods like meat, milk, bread etc. Fish is about R20 cheaper per kilo than in SA and frozen crayfish tails are R10 each. There is a such a large variety of fresh fish in all the supermarkets and minimarkets. Mostly strange to me. Live crabs, octopus and crustations I have never seen before. There are fish mongers on every street corner selling cod, bream, sea trout, sea bass, makeral etc from mobile trolleys at low prices. Portuguese sardines are R20 per kilo and are 12" long.
Pork and chicken is about R20 per kilo cheaper but most beef is imported from Spain and is around R100 per kilo. Rabbit is popular here and goes for around R90 per kilo.
Household items are sooo expensive due to VAT. A normal frying pan is R200 so are plain pressed aluminium oven pans. The cheapest kettle we could find was R230. A big box of washing powder cost us R220.
Internet is cheap at R250 uncapped and unlimited. We have no English channels here so will have to use internet TV with an android tv stick and watch free to air TV.
Got tired of waiting for the water guy so went walkabouts around the apartment block and lo and behold, I found a big box that had pipes and valves in with numbers on. Our valve was closed so I opened it and we had water. Now I'm waiting for the flying squad to come arrest me.
About prices here. Where do I start? VAT is 23% except on some foods like meat, milk, bread etc. Fish is about R20 cheaper per kilo than in SA and frozen crayfish tails are R10 each. There is a such a large variety of fresh fish in all the supermarkets and minimarkets. Mostly strange to me. Live crabs, octopus and crustations I have never seen before. There are fish mongers on every street corner selling cod, bream, sea trout, sea bass, makeral etc from mobile trolleys at low prices. Portuguese sardines are R20 per kilo and are 12" long.
Pork and chicken is about R20 per kilo cheaper but most beef is imported from Spain and is around R100 per kilo. Rabbit is popular here and goes for around R90 per kilo.
Household items are sooo expensive due to VAT. A normal frying pan is R200 so are plain pressed aluminium oven pans. The cheapest kettle we could find was R230. A big box of washing powder cost us R220.
Internet is cheap at R250 uncapped and unlimited. We have no English channels here so will have to use internet TV with an android tv stick and watch free to air TV.
Actually, there are so many channels for free on the net. I have over 400 and can get more from porn to kiddie programs. Not that I do kiddie channels.
Had I had cheap internet in SA, I would not have bought a DSTV package. I would have gone for internet tv.
Here I pay R250 pm for uncapped unlimited internet. Watch TV and all 3 of us can surf the net at the same time.
No buffering of the video. Super speeds here.
You guys are being ripped off with internet cost.
We paid R290 odd for DSTV for the small bouquet plus R300 for my tablet internet plus another R250 for my wife's internet in SA. That is R840 pm that we paid in SA and we have a plus of more channels
Had I had cheap internet in SA, I would not have bought a DSTV package. I would have gone for internet tv.
Here I pay R250 pm for uncapped unlimited internet. Watch TV and all 3 of us can surf the net at the same time.
No buffering of the video. Super speeds here.
You guys are being ripped off with internet cost.
We paid R290 odd for DSTV for the small bouquet plus R300 for my tablet internet plus another R250 for my wife's internet in SA. That is R840 pm that we paid in SA and we have a plus of more channels
We cannot adjust to the foods here. Seems that they do not sell much spices but use fresh herbs instead. All we can find is curry, salt and pepper. I am a tea drinker and all the tea here are flavored with fruits. No plain tea. All the coffees are strong and mostly perculted stuff served in thimbal size cups as in kiddies play stuff.
This is also strange to me. The cheapest meats are Chicken drumsticks at R35 pk. Locals don't like the dark chicken meat and export it. Same as USA does. SA exports the wings as we don't like them and import the drumsticks as we love them and they don't.
Pork is also cheap but beef is far too expensive as it is imported from Spain. Not much cows here due to the small farms.Portugal is small.
The most amazing is that the banks have no bullet proof windows. The tellers mearly take and give money over an open counter.
No burgler bars on any buildings or houses.
You can leave your shopping at the entrance of a shopping mall and it will still be there when you exit. No security needed to watch it.
Strange that I have not seen a black person here since we arrived. Perhaps they don't like Portugal.
This is also strange to me. The cheapest meats are Chicken drumsticks at R35 pk. Locals don't like the dark chicken meat and export it. Same as USA does. SA exports the wings as we don't like them and import the drumsticks as we love them and they don't.
Pork is also cheap but beef is far too expensive as it is imported from Spain. Not much cows here due to the small farms.Portugal is small.
The most amazing is that the banks have no bullet proof windows. The tellers mearly take and give money over an open counter.
No burgler bars on any buildings or houses.
You can leave your shopping at the entrance of a shopping mall and it will still be there when you exit. No security needed to watch it.
Strange that I have not seen a black person here since we arrived. Perhaps they don't like Portugal.
Lol, you are incorrigible, @Johnny2Puffs. Enjoying your journal, thank you.
! 
i'm so glad to see you! Wondered what happened. i need to go home, will read properly later, but i did see at least two interesting and pleasing points.
...Enough to make me put Portugal on my list.
Next chat with the retirement fund consultant on Wednesday. min dae.
i'm so glad to see you! Wondered what happened. i need to go home, will read properly later, but i did see at least two interesting and pleasing points. ...Enough to make me put Portugal on my list.
Next chat with the retirement fund consultant on Wednesday. min dae.
One thing we have noticed is that there are hardly any fat people here. Perhaps it is the diet? Most people eat fish and veggies. The most popular is the salted Cod.
This is a fish dried out with salt and is about a meter long. You can buy it and just chuck it in your pantry and leave it for years.
To eat, just cut a piece and soak in water for 2 days and rince to get the salt off. Then you can cook it with veggies. This is a Portugals most favoured dish.
Must try it sometime.
This is a fish dried out with salt and is about a meter long. You can buy it and just chuck it in your pantry and leave it for years.
To eat, just cut a piece and soak in water for 2 days and rince to get the salt off. Then you can cook it with veggies. This is a Portugals most favoured dish.
Must try it sometime.
Bacalhau? I had that in Angola before, it was actually quite good. I was told they put it into milk to rehydrate.
Loving your posts @Johnny2Puffs !
Lol about you switching on your water. I assume they didnt arrest you
Wishing you well for your move
Do keep on posting and let us know how its going. Its so interesting!
Lol about you switching on your water. I assume they didnt arrest you
Wishing you well for your move
Do keep on posting and let us know how its going. Its so interesting!
As a keen angler and love fish, I took this photo near the river mouth. These fish are pan size (40cm) and are fished by the locals.I walked along the river for about 4km and there was no end to these fish. BTW, the walkway is built above and against the river bank with steps down to the water and about 4 meters wide with 1foot marble, yes, marble edges. So clean and beautiful.
Portuguese generally use thin (wine) type sauces, not very thick flour'y based anything. The food in general is not very fattening. Very simple, yet delicious. My favourite by a country mile.
The best way to have bacalhau is "bacalhau a brasa"!
Otherwise it can be a bit tough and salty. I struggled with it growing up, being cooked in more traditional (boring) ways.
We have a fruit and veggie shop across the road and love browsing there. The variety of strange veggies! The baby marrows are the size of English cucumbers. You can also buy beer and wine there even on Sundays.
The beer is good especially Superbok beer. Even my wife as a non beer drinker loves it. Similar to Lion Larger but smoother. Price is about the same as in SA.
I love dry white wine and had difficulty finding it when we arrived until I found that all white wines are dry as are reds. Found that the cheaper no name brands in cartons from 1ltr to 10ltr are just as good as the expensive bottles and cheaper than SA wines.
We can drink a lot here for cheap.
The beer is good especially Superbok beer. Even my wife as a non beer drinker loves it. Similar to Lion Larger but smoother. Price is about the same as in SA.
I love dry white wine and had difficulty finding it when we arrived until I found that all white wines are dry as are reds. Found that the cheaper no name brands in cartons from 1ltr to 10ltr are just as good as the expensive bottles and cheaper than SA wines.
We can drink a lot here for cheap.
Quote"Twelve years ago, Portugal eliminated criminal penalties for drug users. Since then, those caught with small amounts of marijuana, cocaine or heroin go unindicted and possession is a misdemeanor on par with illegal parking. Experts are pleased with the results".End Quote.
I have not seen drug usage here at all. Nor have I seen any beggars or homeless people. No drunks or any unsavory people at all since my move.
I was under the impression that Portugal was a third world country. Not so by far. They have the most sophisticated banking system compared to the US . and most EU countries. They have the most ATM's per capita than any other country. Almost one ATM per block. Even in suburbs. None get broken into ever.
I must say that this was the best move I have ever made.
I have not seen drug usage here at all. Nor have I seen any beggars or homeless people. No drunks or any unsavory people at all since my move.
I was under the impression that Portugal was a third world country. Not so by far. They have the most sophisticated banking system compared to the US . and most EU countries. They have the most ATM's per capita than any other country. Almost one ATM per block. Even in suburbs. None get broken into ever.
I must say that this was the best move I have ever made.
Well, Christmas is once again upon us. This is pretty evident when visiting the city center here in Viana. The Portuguese take Christmas very seriously.
Last week, hordes of trucks pulled into town and set up camp in a park. In a matter of days, they transformed the center into a scene from a fairy tale book.
The narrow cobbled streets are now lined with xmas decorations and xmas trees with sparkling lights and long red carpets laid down. Overhanging arches with big stars light up at night making the streets look like unbelievably colourful tunnels.
Speakers playing xmas carols (in english) from a centeral point have been placed 15 meters apart throughout the city center making window shopping such a pleasure. The shops were still open at 11pm when we left.
This is the first time since childhood that I have experienced a real xmas feeling.
Nothing gets packed away at night and in the morning, all is still there.
Last week, hordes of trucks pulled into town and set up camp in a park. In a matter of days, they transformed the center into a scene from a fairy tale book.
The narrow cobbled streets are now lined with xmas decorations and xmas trees with sparkling lights and long red carpets laid down. Overhanging arches with big stars light up at night making the streets look like unbelievably colourful tunnels.
Speakers playing xmas carols (in english) from a centeral point have been placed 15 meters apart throughout the city center making window shopping such a pleasure. The shops were still open at 11pm when we left.
This is the first time since childhood that I have experienced a real xmas feeling.
Nothing gets packed away at night and in the morning, all is still there.
@Johnny2Puffs we need some photos, please.
Here is a panoramic pic taken from the old cathedral overlooking the old quant city center in the middle. We live near the bridge called the Eifel bridge as it was designed by the same guy as the French tower.
This is the entrance to the old city center from where we live. Notice the lights on that church.
Thanks for posting these awesome photos @Johnny2Puffs
Great.
Love your posts and the photos @Johnny2Puffs
As much as they make me sad sometimes, I still love reading your impressions
As much as they make me sad sometimes, I still love reading your impressions
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