It took us a long time to be emotionally ready to bring another canine friend into our home after losing Petey (I miss that dog every day). After moving to Lisbon, we finally made the choice to adopt a...
Do People Curse in Lisbon?
I am from NYC. I grew up in the city. I curse like I am the step-mother of a Disney princess. It is in the blood of every New Yorker (and everyone who is bridge & tunnel) but doesn’t in...
Lisbon Day Trip: Mafra
Mafra is one of my favorite day trips from Lisbon. Besides having a fantastic Palace, the city has gorgeous nature, a basilica, a library that Belle would die for, great places to eat AND bats (yeah…you heard me right,...
How to Use the Portuguese Complaint Book
As an American expat/immigrant living in Portugal, I am continually rating the services I receive in Lisboa by the level I would receive in New York City. It’s not fair. I know. But, it’s hard not to compare the...
Best Beaches Near Lisbon Portugal
One of the best things about Lisbon besides its beautiful parks, incredible museums, and delicious restaurants is the city’s proximity to amazing beaches. If you’re in Lisbon, you can be on a beach in under 30 minutes – and...
Lisbon Day Trip: Seixal
We’ve been making it a point to get to know the cities that are within a 30-minute drive from Lisbon. Sa far, we’ve visited Setúbal, Cascais, Meco, Mafra, Quinta do Anjo, and Ericeira. Our latest recon mission was over...
Why Pizza in Portugal Sucks
As a pizza snob (I’m a New Yorker and Totonno’s in Coney Island is the standard by which all other pizza should be measured) never in my life have I seen a more atrocious crime against pizza than what...
How to Change your USA Driver’s License to a Portuguese Driver’s License
Since we’re planning on staying in Portugal, we figured it would be smart to switch our US driver’s license to a Portuguese License. It’s good we did so. In Portugal, you must make this change within 90 days of...
Understanding Your EDP Bill (or How Not to Pay €500 for Electricity)
When we first moved to Portugal, we were stoked at the price of things in Lisbon. The cost of living in Lisbon is a mere fraction of what we paid in NYC. Everything here costs about 1/5th of...
How to Spend a Weekend in Lisbon
Lisbon is awesome. It’s beautiful, it’s safe, it has culture and it is tons of fun. When friends say they are coming, I usually recommend that they come for a minimum of 14 days. However, I know most people...
Guide to Having a Dog in Lisbon, Portugal
We recently adopted a puppy named Santino (Yell the name like SANTINO from Godfather) from a great rescue up near Coimbra called Pegadas & Bigodes (they are wonderful – highly recommended – Natasha really cares). He was abandoned by...
How to get Healthcare in Portugal?
Bang, you smacked your head against a wall one night while you are on holiday and need emergency help immediately. Or maybe you decide to eat some mystery meat shawarma after a night of drinking in Bairro Alto and...
Clothes Shopping in Lisbon
As a metro-sexual, I like my outfits to be fashion forward. Do I wear velvet, every so often? Yes. How many pairs of shoes do I have? More than 40. Do I shop at the Goodwill? Yes! It’s the...
How to Visit Sintra
It took me a long time to finally visit Sintra. Not sure why. Every time I spoke with a Portuguese person, they’d reply in shock when they learned how many times I had been to Lisbon without visiting Sintra....
What to Expect at Your First Portuguese D7 Residency Visa Appointment
One way to become a U.S. expat in Portugal is to apply for your Portuguese D7 residency visa (also known as the Portugal Schengen Residence Visa). Once it is granted, you will be approved for 4 months. When you go to...
Do I Need to Speak Portuguese When I Come to Lisbon?
You’ve probably been hearing tons of great things about Portugal and Lisbon in particular. You’ve heard about the great weather, prices, and if you have been following Madonna’s Instagram account (or mine), you know that it’s “the” place to...
