TABLE OF CONTENTS

A list of posts categorized by topic. Updated weekly. Click on the title to read the post.

ABOUT US

Choosing Where to Live in Portugal – If you have never been to Portugal, how did you choose an area to live?

Our First Visit Back to the U.S. - It had been 15 months. I was a bit apprehensive…

Our First Year in Portugal - A recap of the first year in Our Portugal Journey [10 minute video]

Welcome to Our Portugal Journey! – Here’s a little about us and why we decided to move to Portugal

Where we Currently Live in Portugal – And the reasons why

Why Portugal? – Out of all the countries in the world, why move to Portugal?

Why we Decided to Move from the U.S. – Why we moved to Portugal in 2021

FOOD, WINE, & SPIRITS

Adega Urban Winery – A new concept in wine tourism for Portugal  

Bafarela 17 Vinho Tinto – Portuguese wine tasting notes

Cantinho do Avillez Cascais - Contemporary Portuguese Cuisine in the heart of Cascais

My Dad’s Childhood Experience making Ginja - A story I recently discovered.

Portuguese Sausage: Chouriço – The start of something delicious in my Portuguese kitchen!

Regionalarte Handicraft Production - Liqueurs from the Algarve, Portugal

GUEST POSTS

Among the Americans in Lisbon - Jason Wilson

Boas Festas - Nancy Whiteman

Christmas Lights in Sintra - POV Tours

Peace on Earth - Ladonna Witmer

Portuguese Wines from the Alentejo - Tricia Conova

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Cancer Treatment in Portugal - How good is it?

The Emergency Medical ID Card – Solutions to make communicating during an emergency easier in Portugal

The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) – What you need to know about safe travel registration

When life starts going sideways. Literally. - Our first healthcare crisis in Portugal

HOLIDAYS AND CELEBRATIONS

Carnival in Portugal - it’s a big deal here.

Halloween celebrations in Portugal - Lost of meaning and history

Happy New Year - From Our Portugal Journey

Holidays, Celebrations, and Festivals in Portugal - There are many…

Valentine Celebrations in Portugal - A little romance steeped in legend

MADE IN PORTUGAL

Adega Urban Winery – A new concept in wine tourism for Portugal

Bafarela 17 Vinho Tinto – Portuguese wine tasting notes

Porches Pottery - Keeping artisan traditions alive

Regionalarte Handicraft Production - Liqueurs from the Algarve, Portugal

Taleiga Handmade – Preserving the Cultural Heritage of Portugal

Terra Rustica - Part of my new Made in Portugal series

MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS

Beginnings and Endings - Little Reflections on the Past 3 Years

Getting the Most out of Our Portugal Journey - How to navigate this blog

Join my Expat Chat - A private space for us to converse and connect

Killer whales off the coast of Portugal - Some disruptive behavior going on

Legal Rights in Portugal - Reproductive and other sensitive rights issues

Online Grocery Shopping 101 in Portugal - How to order groceries online in Portugal for home delivery

Saharan Dust Storms – Another new experience

There’s a war on our continent – A new experience for us

What I learned from Steve McCurry - Not what I was expecting

What I’m Reading – Blogs about Portugal I recommend

Where is Portugal? - A little lesson in geography

Wrapping up Our Portugal Journey - At least for 2022

MONEY & FINANCE

Live like a King in Portugal? - Yes, no, maybe…

Taxes in Portugal - What Expats should know about NIFs, NHR Status, and filing tax returns

MOVING TO & LIVING IN PORTUGAL

Apostille and Certified Documents – Understanding the differences

Beginnings and Endings - Little Reflections on the Past 3 Years

Choosing Where to Live in Portugal – If you have never been to Portugal, how did you choose an area to live?

Dazed and Confused in Portugal - Confusing things that can trip you up

Driving in Portugal for Foreign Residents - Licenses, age limits and other concerns

Had you ever visited Portugal before Moving There? – Nope.

How to Donate or Recycle your Stuff – A list of resources to responsibly get rid of stuff

How to Get an FBI Criminal History Record Check – Why you may need one

How to Get Rid of Stuff – Tips for downsizing, decluttering, and getting rid of items you no longer need

Learning the Lingo - How much Portuguese do expats really need to know?

Online Grocery Shopping 101 in Portugal - How to order groceries online in Portugal for home delivery

Our D7 Residence Visa Experience – Our personal experience at VFS San Francisco

Portuguese Consulates and VGFS Global Offices – A Quick List

Private Health Insurance for Expats in Portugal – Insurance requirements for a D7 visa application explained

Residence Visas in Portugal – Documents required for a D7 residence permit in Portugal

Shipping your things to Portugal – My personal experience with UPakWeShip

The Top Free Apps for Travelers to Portugal - Best Expat Mobile Apps

Tipping Culture in Portugal – A guide to tipping etiquette

Types of Visas in Portugal – Portugal Residency Visas for U.S. Citizens

Using Mobile Phones in Portugal – How to keep your U.S. cell phone number while living in Portugal

Where we Currently Live in Portugal – And the reasons why

Why Portugal? – Out of all the countries in the world, why move to Portugal?

Why we Decided to Move from the U.S. – Why we moved to Portugal in 2021

PERSONAL EXPERIENCES

Beginnings and Endings - Little Reflections on the Past 3 Years

Dazed and Confused in Portugal - Confusing things that can trip you up

Have a Nice Life - How Relationships Can Change when you Move Away

My Search for Ground Beef in Portugal – Why do things have to be so hard?

Our Car Buying Experience - Something we said we’d never do in Portugal

Our D7 Residence Visa Experience – Our personal experience at VFS San Francisco

Our First Christmas in Portugal – I’m not one who gets excited about the holidays, but perhaps this year would be different

Our First Visit Back to the U.S. - It had been 15 months. I was a bit apprehensive…

Our First Year in Portugal - A recap of the first year in Our Portugal Journey [10-minute video]

Saharan Dust Storms – Another new experience

Shipping your things to Portugal – My personal experience with UPakWeShip

Taking the Bus in Portugal – What would people think?

The Meaning behind a 76 year old Pack of Herbs - Old Portuguese folklore rediscovered.

The Saga of the Traveling Pants - A Portuguese Laundry Story

There’s a war on our continent – A new experience for us

VFS San Francisco – A (sort of) anniversary celebration

What we learned about Guarantees and Warranties inPortugal - Our coffee maker experience

PORTUGUESE CULTURE

Minding your Manners - Unspoken Portuguese rules of etiquette

PORTUGUESE FOLKLORE & TRADITIONS

The Meaning behind a 76 year old Pack of Herbs - Old Portuguese folklore rediscovered.

What are all these Ceramic birds? - The significance of the swallow in Portugal.

PORTUGUESE LANGUAGE

Learning the Lingo - How much Portuguese do Expats really need to know?

PORTUGUESE MUSIC

Portuguese Music - Memories and my Playlist

TRAVEL & PLACES OF INTEREST

Adega Urban Winery – A new concept in wine tourism for Portugal

Buddha Eden Garden - Larger than life!

Eating Chocolate Cake in a 17th Century Guesthouse - Casa do Adro da Igreja

I Saw the Mouth of Hell – And I was fascinated by it

Museu Medeiros de Almeida – A hidden gem in Lisbon worth a visit

Palmela Portugal - A village of ancient history and wine

Porches Pottery - Keeping artisan traditions alive

Portugal Changing of the Guard Ceremony – One of the top beautiful military ceremonies in the world

Portugal Travel Tips – The essential things to know for Portugal travel

Pousada do Convento da Graça - An old Portuguese convent repurposed into a hotel

Presidential Palace of Belem – An Exclusive Tour of the historic gardens

QUAKE – A new interactive exhibit

Taking the Bus in Portugal – What would people think?

The Last Folio – Remnants of a Jewish past and one photographer’s quest for memories

The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) – What you need to know about safe travel registration

The Top Free Apps for Travelers to Portugal - Best Expat Mobile Apps

Tipping Culture in Portugal – A guide to tipping etiquette

Vila Nove de Milfontes - Little village in coastal Alentejo

Visiting the National Coach Museum – When ‘horsepower’ was the real thing

Visiting Paço de Arcos – A hidden Portuguese gem on the coast – for now

Walking the Trilho das Vinhas – Urban and rural co-exist on a hidden ecological trail

VISA INFORMATION

Apostille and Certified Documents – Understanding the differences

How to Get an FBI Criminal History Record Check – Why you may need one

Our D7 Residence Visa Experience – Our personal experience at VFS San Francisco

Portuguese Consulates and VGFS Global Offices – A Quick List

Private Health Insurance for Expats in Portugal – Insurance requirements for a D7 visa application explained

Residence Visas in Portugal – Documents required for a D7 residence permit in Portugal

Types of Visas in Portugal – Portugal Residency Visas for U.S. Citizens

VFS San Francisco – A (sort of) anniversary celebration