Blanca Valbuena

How to Get Your NIF

You finally made the move, got your D7 visa and moved to Lisbon (or another beautiful city in Portugal). Now you’re running into issues when working to get your utilities or opening up your bank account set up since you...

When we were staying at out 4th AirBnB in Lisboa discovery mode was near the Amoreiras shopping center, I knew the area was more on the business/residential side – which I was looking for after a 10-day stay in the...

It looks like Lisbon is finally getting another airport…well…not Lisbon exactly. The new airport is to be built across the river in Montijo. There has been talk of an airport there for years (it has been talked about since...

So I just wrote up all the things you will hate about living in Lisbon because I see too many people praising the city without noting any of its negatives. As I mentioned on that post, even with its...

I LOVE living in Lisbon. Recentemente, people have been asking me if I really love it. I do. But, just like anywhere else in the world, it is not perfect. This is a list of the things I really...

If you find yourself needing an emergency room visit Lisbon, don’t be too scared. Infelizmente, I’ve been privy to 3 emergency room visits. One was with an American friend who came here to visit and the others were for Portuguese...

You may think I’d hate Christmas…but I love it. I was born in Colombia and the Novena is still a big part of my life. I loved spending time with my family, singing…and eating – of course. When I...

Portugal is becoming incredibly well known as an expat destination and it’s not easy to see why. Portugal has gorgeous beaches, mountains, and architecture. Prices are more than manageable if you have been fiscally responsible, and on top of...

When I moved to Portugal, I knew I’d wanted to pick up the language. While you do not need to speak Portuguese if you live in Lisbon, when you go out of the city to more rural areas, it...

Although I am not religious, I LOVE the winter holidays…and since I was raised Roman Catholic, I adore Christmas. I love the food, I love the time with family, I love singing villancicos, and above all; I love decorating...

Como um americano, I love Thanksgiving. It is one of my favorite holidays mostly because I love to eat…in all seriousness, Thanksgiving is a time to spend with family and loved ones. Since I moved to Lisbon, there’s not...

A guide to the best airbnb properties in Lisbon

Before we decided to move to Lisbon, Antonio and I came here year after year. This was not a decision we came to lightly, and we spent a lot of time in Lisbon before finally deciding to become expats in...

As many of you already know, Antonio and I adopted a dog, so we have been learning everything there is to know about having a dog in Portugal. One problem we have is that I don’t drive stick. Antonio...

Examples of how much you will pay for different medical procedures in Portugal

Every time I go to the doctor I am SHOCKED at how much better healthcare is in Portugal compared to the USA. SHOCKED. The healthcare prices in Portugal are significantly lower. I have not tested out the public healthcare...

I’ve worn glasses since I was about 11. Contacts since I was about 13. Before I moved to Lisbon I went to the optometrist and ordered a year’s worth of contacts since I knew I would not speak the...

If you’re coming to visit Lisbon and want to take home your not-so-average souvenirs, then you need to visit the Feira da Ladra, Lisbon’s Flea Market. Most people think it’s named after thieves, but it’s actually named after the ladro a...