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. The Lisboetas or Alfacinhas as they call themselves (a bit more on that later) do …
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, these guys would give the bats in Austin a run for their money). If you’re coming …
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 Big Apple with my new home, but it’s what we do. If a waiter is rude, …
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 that’s both by car or by train. If you’re coming to Lisbon and you need some …
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. …
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 Telepizza is attempting in Portugal. They are now selling a “Lasagna Pizza”. It’s topped with salted …
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 …
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 locals and thrown over the fence of the farm. We took him in and he’s getting …
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 your tummy doesn’t feel so well. Now you’re wondering how to get healthcare in Portugal and …
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 best place to snipe the best deals. I am a modern man and I am comfortable …
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 »