Image credit: maps-portugal.com
Over the last several months we have had dozens of conversations about our plan to move to Portugal. There are common questions that people ask, usually after an initial reaction of “You’re doing WHAT?” Questions like “how did you decide to move to Portugal?” and “what was it like to get rid of all your stuff?” And whether spoken or unspoken, there was always the underlying question of “are you nuts?”.
To answer the last question: Yes. We are. Nuts.
We’ll get to the other questions and more in future posts. For today, we want to give you an idea of where we have landed.
Where is Porto?
Porto is the second-largest city in Portugal. (Lisbon is the largest.) Porto has about 200,000 people living in the city proper. There are over a million people in what we in the US would call the “greater metropolitan area”.
Porto is located in the north of Portugal and sits on the northern bank of the Duoro River. It is about 10 – 15 miles from the Atlantic ocean – close enough that we see seagulls flying through the neighborhood.
Our Neighborhood
We have rented a small 3 bedroom apartment on Rua da Constituição – Constitution Avenue. (I believe the street name is pronounced “Hua da Cons-ti-twee-shao”, but don’t hold me to it. I’m just getting started learning Portuguese.) We are about 30 minutes walking distance northwest of the city center.
Then and Now
One way to think about the change we have made is to look at where we lived in the US and where we live now.
In Indiana, we had a 3,500+ square foot, two story home on 6 acres. We had a detached garage, a barn, a chicken house, a green house and a shed. We had two cars and a pickup truck. There was plenty of room to store “stuff” – and we had plenty to store. And it was a lot of work to maintain! (Just ask Mary.)
In contrast, we are now living in a 3 bedroom apartment that’s maybe 1,200 square feet on the fourth floor of a mixed-use building. The building has been renovated and some units are used as offices and others are living spaces. Two advogados (lawyers) have offices on our floor, but otherwise it seems to be largely empty. We have no car and no plan to buy one.
The Important Thing Is…
We’ve been in Porto less than a week, and while it’s too early to draw many conclusions, we are both very happy to be here. We are looking forward to exploring the city, learning more about the history and culture, and learning the language. Sox, our Boston Terrier, is learning how to be a city dog. We’re learning how to be city people.
The adventure has begun! We’ll be back with more shortly. Until then…
Com os melhores cumprimentos / with best regards,
Mary and Mike
The Cook and The Writer
So excited for your new journey. Envious of the downsizing and you are our “to be architecture” for the expat phase we have begun to explore. It will be fun to learn about the options from your experiences and you can be certain we will come to visit before too long! xoxo – Dan and Sarah
Good to hear from you Sarah. I hope you and Dan are doing well. I will hold you to a visit when it is convenient and safe.
Hi Sarah and Dan,
Sorry I missed your note this weekend, but thanks for your best wishes. We learned so much from others who came before us that we feel an obligation to pay it forward. By all means – come visit!
Mike
Hello! As a foodie who also loves to write and take photos, I signed up with your blog, and have started reading it. Then as I scrolled down, and saw your smiling photo, I said to myself “Oh! Its them!!!” The people who looked so happy. Ha! So glad to be able to stay connected, and love to think that we may meet someday when we move to PT next Spring.
My husband Dave and I will also transition into full retirement with this move, as well as leaving a very comfortable home on 2 acres in southern California. Coming with our cat, and hopefully our sourdough starter. Said starter also has Norwegian culture in it that was brought over in 2019, just before the pandemic. It’s a good one! ~Bitsy Mason
Hi Bitsy, Thanks for your note and for following us. You have an exciting (and exasperating and stressful…but mostly exciting!) journey ahead. We look forward to meeting you and Dave in person and welcoming you to Portugal. Maybe we can swap some starter. Stay in touch!
Mike
I hope you will reach out to us when you arrive in Portugal. My starter is not tart enough for me. I look forward to hearing about yours.
Mary – The Cook
Hi Bitzy,
Amy Watson (Knitter) here- going to be n portugal in mid october fo acouple weeks will be in Porto too. Would love to meet up.
Mike & Mary. Great to hear of your latest exploits. I bet you have a blast. Today was my last work day at Cummins. Karla and I are both now retired and our adventures are about to start. You are setting the bar high. Enjoy the city life and keep us up to date on the blog.
Bill & Karla Russell
Bill, Congratulations on your retirement! I know you can look back with satisfaction on a long and impactful career. Now you and Karla can look forward to a new set of adventures. Best wishes for many happy years together. I hope to see you in Portugal sometime!
Mike
I love reading about other couples doing what we’re planning to do. It gives me hope, courage, inspiration! We’ll be in Porto on September 1st and I’m paying close attention to your adventures!
Hi Lesa. Thanks for your kind words. Will you be visiting or moving to Porto? Let us know if we can help you in any way.
I’m so looking forward to following your adventure. Can’t wait to see more pics!!
Hi Erin. Thanks for checking in. Stay tuned for more. Mary’s first post goes up today.
I’ve always admired you two and this new chapter makes me admire you even more! I’m so happy for you both and look forward to following your journey.
Thanks, Shannon. We’ll be posting some pictures, but none will match the quality of yours!
Love those smiles! Keep posting! Enjoy every word.
Thanks, Laura. Stay tuned…more is on the way. Mary is posting the next one.
You are the only two people we know who would or could pull off such a caper and make it sound like a great idea. We are stodgily and contentedly installed in our summer cottage in Coventry, RI.
We miss you,
Alan & Ann
Hi Alan, Maybe it’s my recessive marketing gene on display. But who would want to read anything from a couple of sad sacks complaining about their new locale? I’m choosing to be selective in what I see and what I write about. I’ll find the down sides soon enough. For now, it’s all new and exciting. Now let me talk you out of your stodgy installation – plan a trip to Porto!
We miss you, too!
So happy to hear from you and about your first days in Porto. You both look so happy! 😄
Can’t wait to read more about your new adventure. Big hugs to you both!
Thanks, Karen. All our best to you and Jeff.
So glad to get your update and hear how your first week went! Great photos as well and look forward to more updates!
Thanks, Kelly. We’ll find a good pace for updates. Several ideas in the works right now. Stay tuned.
Thanks for letting us know you arrived and how Sox is adjusting! I look forward to following your adventures in Porto!
Thanks, Kelly. Sox has already taken me on a walk this morning. I think she’s coming along nicely.
So excited to hear about your adventures!!! Safe travels to the three of you!
It is great to catch up with you two. Are you both still in Atlanta?
Thank you so much for sharing the new chapter in your lives. I already have an idea of what your days are like. You look happy!! Looking forward to the next post. Love to you both.
Linda
Thanks, Linda. We are enjoying fine weather, good food, and much more relaxed pace. All is good!