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 system in Portugal and my Portuguese friends say that it has plenty of problems. This post …
(I’ve just updated this for 2020 pricing. The process was exactly the same) 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 language and was …
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 bug that is found in old furniture. This is the place where you can find a …
Now that we have residency in Portugal, we’re trying to get to know as much of Portugal as we can. That means we’re taking tons of day trips from Lisbon. Our latest was a day trip to Obidos. If you’ve heard the name, you have probably tried their signature drink, Ginja de Obidos, but that’s …
I’ve learned plenty of languages. I am fluent in English and Spanish. I speak French quite well and I will never go hungry in Italy. I’ve also learned enough Croatian, Mandarin, and Hungarian to at least order a glass of wine. I will tell you right now that Portuguese has been one of the most …
If you’re making the move to become an expat in Portugal, you may think of shipping your furniture over. Our advice, don’t. It’s a wasteful stress of time that I have not yet written about because I still get angry about the whole process. Our relocation company when moving to Lisbon sucked, big time. Anyway…if you …
If you want to find an apartment in Lisbon, prepare to be frustrated…and to shell out some dough. Lisbon is no longer the cheap place to live. Due to its gorgeous climate and everyone gushing about how amazing it is, it is no longer a value when it comes to housing. I did a lot …
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 dog. The process for adopting a dog in Portugal was easy. Picking one pup from all …
Everything You Need to Know About the Portuguese Podengo Read More »
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 to Seixal. It’s a quiet and quaint fishing town just 27 minutes from Lisboa by car. …
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 getting your residency (so 90 days after you go to your first SEF appointment). I suggest …
How to Change your USA Driver’s License to a Portuguese Driver’s License Read More »
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 what we used to pay. When we first got our EDP bill for electricity, we were pretty …
Understanding Your EDP Bill (or How Not to Pay €500 for Electricity) Read More »
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 only get 1-2 week vacations and that they want to get the most out of it …
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. When I finally relocated here, I decided that I must go. Should you go to Sintra? …
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 the Portuguese Embassy at your US city of residence to pick up your passport with the …
What to Expect at Your First Portuguese D7 Residency Visa Appointment Read More »
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 live. Now you’re starting to research how to get your Portuguese residency and you’re really starting to …
Do I Need to Speak Portuguese When I Come to Lisbon? Read More »