TABLE OF CONTENTS
A list of posts categorized by topic. Updated monthly. 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
BITS & BITES
Winter, 2024
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
Castanha Season in Portugal - Chestnuts roasting on an open fire.
For a Minute I thought we were back in Scottsdale! - Apolonia Supermercados
My Dad’s Childhood Experience making Ginja - A story I recently discovered.
Portuguese Bolota - Nectar from the Mighty Oak Tree.
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
Castanha Season in Portugal - Chestnuts roasting on an open fire.
Carnival in Portugal - it’s a big deal here.
Celebrating Festas Junina and Eating Sardines.
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
Portuguese Bolota - Nectar from the Mighty Oak Tree.
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
MINI POSTS
Celebrating Festas Junina and Eating Sardines.
A Tale of 2 Papas - The Pope visits Portugal: and Saying Goodbye to the First Man I ever Loved.
Wildfires Everywhere and New Visa Requirements for Americans Traveling to Europe
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
You have questions. I have answers. - Ask me (almost) anything.
MONEY & FINANCE
Fiscal Injustice? - My ‘two cents’ on sunsetting the NHR
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
Finding a Place to Live - Part One - The Housing Situation in Portugal
Finding a Place to Live - Part Two - The Housing Situation in Portugal
Frustration, frustration, frustration - Our first real experience with Portuguese bureaucracy.
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
Is Failure an Option? - What if Portugal isn’t right for you
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
A Tale of 2 Papas - The Pope visits Portugal: and Saying Goodbye to the First Man I ever Loved.
Beginnings and Endings - Little Reflections on the Past 3 Years
Celebrating Festas Junina and Eating Sardines.
Dazed and Confused in Portugal - Confusing things that can trip you up
For a Minute I thought we were back in Scottsdale! - Apolonia Supermercados
Have a Nice Life - How Relationships Can Change when you Move Away
Frustration, frustration, frustration - Our first real experience with Portuguese bureaucracy.
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
Lady in Red Contemporary Art Gallery - Weirdly interesting.
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 Nova 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