The UNTOLD Things About Living in Portugal 🇵🇹
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- Опубліковано 2 чер 2024
- Did Carl actually tell us everything about the expat life in Portugal? Josh from ExpatsEverywhere recently talked to him about living in Portugal but not soon after the interview, we heard from his wife, Louisa, who created a long list of important things that Carl missed. Kalie sat down with Louisa to talk about all of those things about Portugal that people don't talk about but expats should really know before they move.
Carl and Louisa along with their 3 kids have mainly lived in central Portugal and are currently on a farm outside of Anadia.
Did you miss Carl's interview? Watch it here: • Moving to Portugal 🇵🇹 ...
After the success of this video and many people asking for more, Kalie and Louisa did a 1 hour Live Q&A found here: • Your Random Questions ...
Video Chapters
00:00 - Intro
0:26 - How Did This Come About?
1:49 - What's the Weather REALLY Like?
3:15 - What Do You Recommend for Heating and Mold?
8:51 - What Do You Do to Regulate the Temperature?
10:23 - How Much Does Electricity Cost in Portugal?
12:55 - What Is Shopping Like in Portugal?
14:40 - What to Know About Footwear in Portugal
18:27 - What It's Like with Families in Portugal
22:21 - Cost of Living Considerations in Portugal
27:00 - Where to Live and Stay in Portugal
30:17 - What Should We Know About "Festas"?
32:53 - The Pet and Stray Animal Situation in Portugal
38:35 - Pros and Cons of Living in Portugal
41:31 - How Has Living Abroad Transformed Your Life?
Louisa's Channel (not expat related) / @thebarefootbroadcast
We have recently launched a course to help DIY the D7 visa for Portugal. The course includes step-by-step videos, checklists, resources, recommendations, discounts, and more. It breaks down the timeline and when and how to do things, plus gives action items to keep you on task but not be overwhelmed. Check it out here: expatseverywhere.thinkific.com
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Saturday May 22nd 5 PM (Portugal Time) we're having a live Q&A with Kalie and Louisa because of the interest from this video. The ladies will be available to answer your questions. 😁 🇵🇹 Here's the link. ua-cam.com/video/mxEi-J_Bswk/v-deo.html
May 22 is my birthday!
You little 5 o'clock tea get together and laugh at other cultures, lacks substance and is full of falsidades and prejudice! Shameful
Borax is a very good mold killer because it's alkaline kills the roots. It's cheap and easy to apply.
Hi: I am from Canada and retired teacher. Thinking of moving to PORTUGAL. I live on my pension now. I like warmer weather and beaches. Can you suggest a town with reasonable rent but good medical facilities since it's important for me. Thanks 👍 😊
I love this video, both of you and Louisa. It’s important to really check out where you want to live. I’m from So Ca so I picked the East Algarve (the South). The building can be made to protect “the damp”. Just do a through investigation of the building or upgrade yourself. I also have used a dehumidifier when I’m drying clothes inside at night. Definitely if you’re renting get a new or upgraded building and a dehumidifier is golden. I hope you don’t mind me posting a link but I just made a video on “the damp” and how a old home restorer combats the damp with new materials. ua-cam.com/video/MpGh5g06zsQ/v-deo.html
Ola from Lisboa...I've been here 4 year's now...Coming from Good Ole Texas in the U.S. there are definitely different strategies for things we might take for granted or might even appreciate in terms of Comfort...I live in an older building and there is no AC or heating...I invested in Oscillating Fans for Summer and have been fairly comfortable...For the colder month's we use Energy efficient space heater's and they do the job just fine...We also invested in an dryer for clothes in the Winter and Wet day's...an absolute blessing...on hot day's clothes got outside on the line...I dig it, just like grandma used to do back in the day...There are pros and cons everywhere, but I feel blessed and grateful to call Portugal home! Blessings and Positive Energy to Everyone!🇵🇹🤘🤠
Thanks for the comment and detailing your experiences. Blessings to you too.- Josh & Kalie
@dickielarue how do you get temporary residency? I'm an American citizen that has been staying in portugal since March 2020 and stayed for the pandemic. I'm a highly sensitive person with a difficult family structure back in USA and got the courage to travel to portugal and then the pandemic happened. Then so many crazy things happened not many believe. My intent was to apply for temporary residency but portugal can be confusing and I wasn't able to figure it out and nobody was getting back to me. Anyway I was getting supported financially by my long time friend and support contact, then they suddenly out of the blue ended support so I've been trying to figure out where to live, how to make money and how to get documents to do it all within a couple weeks and like a hundred dollars as that is when my final airbnb is complete. Making money has always been difficult for me but I'm trying really hard. I've applied to a bunch of jobs, created business ideas, contacted farms and contacted so many professionals to get information but I feel totally on my own, it's not working out yet. I want to stay in portugal, and I want to be clean and safe. How do I do this? I'd love to hear your thoughts. @expatseverywhere
@@jennabonnichsen I got my residency by going through SEF...I also hired an attorney to help me through the process...Every situation is different, Depending on the circumstances...I can tell you this, that no one is going to call you back at SEF...After reading what you wrote and the fact that I have two grown daughter's back stateside, my advice would be to get a hold of your family stateside...Irregardless of the difficult structure you have, one must face the reality of their situation...Take what you have learned on your journey and refocus it...Life is full of valuable lessons...Blessings and Positive Energy...
@@dickielarue1451 It's unsafe for me there, I'm trying, definitely ,but I'm on my own, I need to take care of myself. Yeah I know it's different for every circumstance, that's the tricky part, I don't have money for a lawyer.
@@dickielarue1451 Texas gal here… I would like to try living in another country but how do you just leave your kids??? I have four, and six grandkids. I worry about not seeing them and my grandkids not knowing me. And, always worry about being a single older woman…
One of the main good things about living in Portugal as we have for the past 20 years ( originally from south east uk ) is no fear of crime , no gangs , whole families including teenagers eating together in restaurants , we live in central Portugal in a village without a shop , and our views are stunning 🤩 winter can be cold but we had our chimney put going up through our bedroom and we use electric blankets and plug in radiators and dehumidifiers and all is good !
Our friends and neighbours include us in all the festas , weddings , christenings etc , we get lots of family visiting in the hot months and life in Portugal is very relaxing and happy ! X
So glad to hear about your experience in Portugal, Jo. Thanks for sharing. - Josh & Kalie
Hi jo terry
Nice true comments, old saying money is not everything !
@@13101s Who commits the crime there, the Portuguese or foreigners?
Hey, what about Atheist community?
@@farceadentus what?
If you just open your Windows in the morning for couple of hours to get rid of the damp, no mold should appear. Do it especially on sunny days. And yes, be carefull in choosing your house. Wood floor makes it warmer, ceramic is awful for long winters, unless it’s very good quality and you still need rugs and carpets. The good thing is that winters usually aren’t long and by march (some years february) days became warmer, longer and sunny. From november through February consider you’ll have to spend more in heating to be more confortable - gás, electricity or even wood. A lot of modern houses may have AC or even CH, but indeed not the majority. Keep it in mind: open windows in the morning, ventilate the house and tissues. On good wether go enjoy the sun outside until sunset. Open your shutters on sunny days to let the sun and heath in, after sunset immediately close your shutters (during summer quite the opposite). Choose houses turned to south or at least east west. Never turned to the north. Don’t panic with cold, it barely goes down 10 in the south. In the north be aware it can go to 0 several nights but that’s usually in December January. From March on the temperatures are usually higher. Spring is comming and it’s the most beautiful season. Hope it helps!
Em 2002, pusemos pavimento cerâmico em todas as assoalhadas, da Revigres, uma marca portuguesa. Quando compramos o apartamento , em 1990, tinha alcatifa, em cima do betão. Pois devo dizer, que a casa era mais fria. Com a colocação da cerâmica, parece que isolou mais o chão, e ficou menos fria a temperatura na casa. Eu não gosto de andar descalça, por isso o facto do chão ser fresco, não me afeta, além de ter tapetes no quarto e sala que dão conforto. Em termos de durabilidade, limpeza etc. não há igual. Sempre tive cães, e há alguns anos também gatos, e já se sabe, às vezes acontecem, algumas sujeiras, mas facilmente se lava. É incrível como o pavimento continua impecável, sem riscos como se fosse novo. Para mim, foi a melhor opção, se tivesse colocado em madeira, ao fim destes anos, já estava horrível, de certeza. Há cerâmicas feias, mas também as há lindas e de grande qualidade, é questão de optar por uma boa marca!! 🙂
Great comment here, Pedro. You probably already know that since there's 10 thumbs up in the first 5 hours of your post! 💪 - Josh & Kalie
Houses with good mass. Large Southwest facing windows and a large roof, so it is shaded in summer and lets the sun in in winter. A small heating device, if the house is well insulated at the outside (mineral wool not styrofoam and MASS, like tiles, concrete, brick walls, loam walls) it helps against cold and heat.
And either a ventilation system (in summer) or more sophisticated with heat pump technology. (a heat pump could be done, ideal in winter and could COOL in summer.
I saw a home in the desert (CA or AZ not sure) they did not insulate, but had a lot of mass, and large windows (South) with the big roof shading it in summer, they let the cool evening air in in summer (not sure if that is an option in Portugal or if the nights are too hot for that, then some A/C or cooling with help of the earth could help)
If it is warmer outside than inside - OF COURSE you are getting dampness inside, it will condensate. The point of condensation for water is 13 degrees C and if you do not measure that directly at the wall (inside of the building) you can get that somewhere IN the wall and the funghi will grow from withhin the wall to the inside where it is reliably moist.
Plus sloppy, cheap building - no foundation that keeps the ground water out is a big no, no.
They have the same situation in NZ, it does not get so cold that they would absolutely NEED better insulation and / or power powerful heating devices, so they used to build cheap, and suffer through winter.
The rainy Portugese fall, winter is not worse than in the U.K. - their construction codes are. It also rains a lot in the U.K. but the homes are warmer & dryer because they are better insulated. If you insulate well the source of heating does not have to be so powerful.
Warm air can contain more humidity than cold one, and if you exchange the air by opening windows for a few minutes the warm air gets out and the cool air from outside gets in, even if it is raining outside - as it is warmed up by the sufficient ! heat device it sucks up humidity.
It's just us (Portuguese here) that have the concept of opening the windows to let the house breathe? as we call it "Arejar a casa", and as pedro said everyone as a dehumidifier or a Heather/radiator or a fireplace we kinda feel like it's normal here but we like those really hot pijamas too we love them :P
The moral to the story: When in Rome do as the Romans do.
Hello
of course, learn from your neighbors, why do they close the windows, air their duvets and what not
I am Portuguese born and raised., currently in the US. My family and I lived in the central part of Portugal all our lives. In summer it gets up to 30-32C in winters the lowest temps we experience is 10C when raining. Portugal winters have numerous sunny days, which brings temps up to 20C, allowing family’s to do winter time excursions to their beaches, and beautiful parks and amazing trails. The humidity that your guest Louisa spoke about, with water logged floors, reminded me of our daughter’s experience, when living in south London for two yrs, where the rain is continuous and humidity made her the home very cold indoors. True the older homes in Portugal don’t have central AC nor heating, but our family had wall radiators, and the summers were never uncomfortably hot, cross ventilation in the mornings and evenings was cool and very enjoyable. Yes, naturally, one closes the windows and shades in midday to keep the home cool. Also, I can’t relate to the extremely electric bills in winter, unlike London, England. I enjoyed your guest Louisa’s reflections of raising children in Portugal! It’s a very safe country to raise a family, and a friendly environment to raise children as you have likely experienced in Porto. As FESTAS, which are local events and some are traditional to the nation, can be a little noisy especially - August 15th in Central Portugal, when towns and cities are decorated, and music is played in their community Parks, and children and adults dance, everyone spends most of that day and evening participating in outdoor activities with family and friends!
Sounds a bit like Mexico. I found that I didn't mind the noise therre at all. There is such a difference between happy noise and bad noise. In some places I've lived, late-night noise always meant trouble.
I bet you’re happy living in the states
Great advice👍🏼How many festas per year should I expect in Lisbon? And is it like what she says? Up until 2-3 am?
She's so right! Definitely bring your flat, non-slip shoes to Portugal.
😁 You know it, Prachel. - Josh & Kalie
@@thebarefootbroadcast haha
This is one of the best videos I’ve have seen that includes experience, flexibility to push us to live different. I love the phrase: “you don’t have to live the way your culture prescribed “
Yes, Portuguese houses are not build for cold, quite the oposite, but people from North Europe got so used to warm temperatures inside the house, that many people use to be in tshirt inside the house in plein winter. That can not happen in Portugal, inside the house, during (end December until February) one has to use a warm confortable, not heavy cloth, like tracksuit a good heater for the coldest days and a blanket shawl. Of course that new houses already have friendly environment constructions, for keeping the natural heat. However, people from North Europe from countries with high oil consumption got used to high temperatures inside and when in Portugal they feel unconfortable in the first winter. Also many foreigners are now coming to places more remote, or full of "untouchable history" and one cannot expect to save in the house and to receive all the confort that a little more money in isolation can give. I just have to say that now when I got back to Copenhagen, I feel like I am in a sauna inside the house and it cost me to breath because the air is so hot! In conclusion, when we go abroad, we have to be good in adapting, otherwise we are not habitants of Planet Earth, luckly different from place to place!
Exactly… a bit AC - dependant in most cases…
Funny Im Living in dk since 2006 but moving to Portugal soon. 😉
The nice thing about buying Portuguese wine to save money is that every bottle of Portuguese wine I've tasted so far has been _really_ great. Back in Canada, wine from Portugal isn't so good, but now that I've been here for a while and had a few bottles, I've been shocked at how reliably tasty it is.
We haven't had a bad one here and hopefully we never will. - Josh & Kalie
Air venting usually only in the bath rooms... we open the windows, so air can circulate and when that fails we use dehumidifiers. In summer, windows and shutters are closed during the day, and we open windows at night to let the cooler air in.... beware of mosquitos, screens are very helpful.
Great comment, Liz. Thanks. - Josh & Kalie
I like that you ladies took off rose colored glasses and really gave us the reality. Oh and not to mention you touched on family life there as expats. As a new mom, that is the top concern for me and your perspectives really helped. Thanks so much!
Hi Tippy, thanks for your comment and we're happy to help. We enjoy sharing the family experience. If Louisa and I were to do a follow up, what stuff would you want to hear? Congrats on being a new mom. Your channel looks great by the way! 😍 - Josh & Kalie
It’s very clear you ladies need to start your own channel because it’s just delightful to hear you’ both talking about practical ordinary every day things . Bravo!
Thanks for the comment, Koki. You can find Kalie right here at ExpatsEverywhere 😉We'll try to make sure that we cover the ordinary, every day things more with our guests. 😁 - Josh & Kalie
@@thebarefootbroadcast I'm always up for having a chat and just recording it for people 😉 Let me know when. - Kalie
@@thebarefootbroadcast We might be about to figure out how to go live so there's audience participation. We're not fancy with Streamyard like Carl. - Josh & Kalie
Hello beautiful lady, Thanks for the acceptance my dear..you look cute and decent on this profile picture of yours, can I be your friend..
Totally agree with Koki. Go ladies !
I lived in Southern Spain - in Nueva Andalucia - for 12 years. Have to say that I agree literally word for word with everything that was said in this video as it applies to Spain as well. The pros and cons of the houses, damp in winter, heat in summer, fiestas along the coast, living like a local with regard to shopping etc etc. immersing yourself in the local culture is so, so rewarding. Suited me at the time and I loved bringing my kids up in Spain. The Spanish love children and family life. So glad I lived there and still miss being there. Finances ended it unfortunately. But the experience was priceless. Thanks for the video showing the realities of living on the Iberian peninsular.
Thanks for adding your experiences here and taking the time to comment. - Josh & Kalie
This is the best interview of its type I’ve seen here on UA-cam. How refreshing to hear the honest “scoop”.
That's incredible! We've actually gotten so much positive feedback from this interview. The ladies have planned a Live Q&A with our UA-cam audience for this Saturday May 22nd at 5:00 PM (local)/12:00 PM (EDT)
Care to join and ask your questions? - Josh & Kalie
For every-one feeling the cold and damp......I have lived in Portugal for 51 years and endured a bit of everything...Revolution ,hard core comunism for a while and there I really spent the winter freezing not being able to wear a furcoat....BUT what has sustained me and kept me snug is my ELECTRIC Blanket.You´ll never be cold again so let that be the first item on your list.
Aww, I have also been in Lisbon for work but it has been a long time ago and it’s absolutely a beautiful and peaceful place to live
We wouldn’t be without our electric blanket , it’s a life saver !
@@joterry123 Aww, it's alright... I'm from Houston Texas but currently working here in Dublin.... Hope you don't mind being a friend?
Wow
@@joterry123 hello
I love this! Everyone has a different perspective and no two experiences are the same, even in the same house hold. Always good to see all aspects 👍
So true! Thanks for the love. We appreciate it. - Josh & Kalie
Absolutely loved this video. So much good and practical information. Keep up the good work!!
Thanks for the love. Great to hear this positive feedback. We'll certainly try. 🙏 - Josh & Kalie
Louisa I LOVE you forever for covering the cold and damp. I was beginning to think there was some kind of unwritten rule that you wasn't aloud to mention it!
😊 Hopefully she'll see this. We'll make sure that Carl lets her know your love for her. 🥰 How's everything going with your move besides the cold? - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere Thanks. I'll definitely be letting her know, I'm in contact :) My move...lets just say the adventure is only just beginning!
@@Solo50plus Love to hear that. We feel the same way and we're about 6 months in but...covid. 😁 - Josh & Kalie
@@thebarefootbroadcast 👍🏽
Wow, loved watching this! So good to hear that you are experiencing very much of what we are here in Greece. 🙈😊😂 so relatable, including the weird and wonderful.
Thx for the useful info. Loved hearing from Louisa, an expat who has experienced Portugal for a few years already.
You're welcome. We're glad you found it useful. We do love her longer than covid times perspective too. - Josh & Kalie
For new buildings it’s now mandatory to have a solar system to heat water. Now it’s also becoming usual to install solar panels to generate electricity. For heating it’s either Ac or central heating. The system you spoke about connected to a fire burner it’s common in the north (I have it at my grandparents house) and it’s really good for old stone houses.
Regarding the humidity it’s true, houses are not setup properly unless you know what you’re doing (vents in the walls). That’s why everyone will tell you to open a window in the morning or late afternoon.
Thanks for the detailed comment, Humberto. - Josh & Kalie
@@thebarefootbroadcast There is one thing many tend to forget. Portugal until 1974 was under a dictatorship, meaning that outside Lisbon and Porto, conditions were very poor, and building rules basically did not exist. Only in the last 10 years you see stricter rules regarding housing. But it's all about some research and patience...
Look for a house facing south and always ask for the energy certificate it's mandatory for any sale. All above B have good conditions. If you want to live more up north, a good choice is to buy an old stone house and rebuild it.
@@thebarefootbroadcast I live up north in Guimarães and grew up in Vieira do Minho, a lovely small town near the mountains of Gerês. But i've also lived in Porto, Braga, Lisbon, and on/off in Munich (2yrs), Reading (1yr)... :D I've been around...FYI 1976 is also a nice year!
Wonderful, thank you. I wondered about the mold, as a lot of pictures of buildings in Portugal show mold on the outside. I wondered how much of a problem it was on the inside, and it sounds like the winters in particular can be a challenge. Also eye-opening about the electricity costs, something else to consider. Other really great details, just little observations that really help.
You're welcome. Glad it was helpful! If you get into a new place with a good energy efficiency rating, you won't have many issues. - Josh & Kalie
A sheet of plastic will keep dampness from migrating up into carpeting/area rugs. Or use rubber rug pads. Use with carpet tape as plastic can be slippery, and is more slippery when wet! If the area rug is large enough furniture will help anchor the rug. And to stop moisture transportation use Styrofoam insulation in your walls. Wet will get stopped as it travels through stone or stucco walls to your interiors. Plus, a fan to move air around helps a lot to control mold! I usually baked my dinners, and breads, as it helped warm the kitchen area and I sometimes used my small drying rack in/near the kitchen to dry some cloths! With a ceiling fan going. PRESTO!!! Worked well, I thought! And if the kitchen has a door, you have a whole, drying room!
And if you own, solar is something really worth considering. Esp solar, warm water heat! A 500 gallon tank of water thst is heated, when piped across your roof in sunshine is a cheap and easy source of dependable heat. The water warms during the day and gives its heat off during the night! It takes a small recirculating pump to move the water to the roof and back into the tank. The water can also be used to heat tile/ceramic flooring for radiant floor heating---- which is SUPERB! Warmth from floor to ceiling!
------------
Mold requires 3 things to flourish!
Moisture, warmth and darkness! Take one leg from that 3 legged stool and it doesn't work/can't work!
Also, you can put a bit of chlorine bleach in paint to inhibit mold growth. (Don't want to say prevents it---- I don't want to over promise! But it worked well in Southern Florida for me!)
If you remodel you can use dark/black floor tile in a room with good southern exposures. The floor will soak up the suns radiant energy and heat your house after the sun passes. Then floor gives back its stored energy! Of coarse a new, bigger window or extra windows can help this along, too.
I am not so inclined to heat my spaces in winter. I prefer wool clothing. And really like my silk long johns/t-shirts. If at my desk for a long time I turn on a heating pad and put it on the floor for my feet! If my feet are warm---- I'm warm! Cheaper to use that to heat my entire condo just because my toes are cold!
In Japan they use electric carpets in their houses. The rug is a giant heating pad which they sit on when eating. Or visiting, watching TV, etc. It also heats the room if on long enough. No central heat in those houses, at all. (Old, traditional Jspanese houses!)
In my stone house in Chicago, I used an electric blanket under the mattress pad. At night I turned in on, on high, for an hour before going to bed. The bed was all toasty warm when I climbed in. The down duvet was warm, and I turned the blanket off and was most comfortable all night. I mention this for the woman who said her bedding would get damp! It wouldn't be damp doing this in the winter. Maybe switch the blanket on for longer? Or use it all night long? But there is a solution here for you so experiment a bit. Good luck!
Good to hear these intricate details! No country is prefect, still love Portugal!
We do too! You're right no place is perfect and it's good to go with the right expectations. - Josh & Kalie
Hi Shaun
Great balanced comment !
Welcome !
Sorry that I can't move to Portugal, but thank you very much for still connecting me with others. Keep up the great content and sharing knowledge with others.
Thank you, Robert. Hopefully we've helped you connect to others that can answer your questions to help your family. 🙏 We appreciate the support. - Josh & Kalie
Super interview with great info, well done and thanks to both of you.
Thank you! We appreciate it. 🙏- Josh & Kalie
Ola Kalie and Louisa. You ladies rock. Thank you so very much for all this information. Keep up the great work.
Thanks so much, Luis! We appreciate the feedback and support. - Josh & Kalie
@@thebarefootbroadcast Ola Louisa. You mentioned in the video about housesitting. I think that would be a good idea to learn about the country. Can you possibly explain how one learns about this. Thank you.
This was great -- actually both interviews with Louisa and Carl were informative. Thank you!
Aww, fantastic. We're so glad that you like both of them. We're not going to make you choose who did it better. 😉 - Josh & Kalie
Regarding temperatures, it sounds just like here in Southern California where no one insulates properly. People don’t seem to understand that just because you live in a warm climate doesn’t mean you don’t insulate. We plan to buy a home in Portugal soon and the first priority is to get the house insulated correctly.
Thanks for sharing, Angelique. We're trying to do more content on real estate. We have 2 "shows" already out and a couple personal apartment tours. We also have one recorded that needs to be edited. Hope we can help give you a good indication of what to expect here. Where are you planning to buy? - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere Not really possible to insulate most houses as they are made of cinder/clay bricks and walls are stucco/cement. Good luck
@@markschmit8048 not true. There's a double wall and you insulate in between, that's why walls are thicker.
The secret is to buy a house with less than thirty / twenty years of construction, because since that date the construction laws have been adjusted by the European standard and the construction criteria have greatly improved. So the more recent the better the construction, this is the secret.
@@humbertomadeira3754 in theory, it should be... but the majory of builders still haven't improved their techniques
Louisa this was amazing! Very interesting and informative. You are a terrific speaker-articulate and delightful to listen to.
Wow, thank you! The ladies are planning another one of these chats. Are you in? - Josh & Kalie
great interview! enjoyed this so much! :)
Aww, great! Thank you! - Josh & Kalie
To her comments about shopping in one place - in NYC we used to shop in multiple small stores: butcher, greengrocer, etc. There's been a resurgence of that (at least in my Brooklyn neighborhood) so I can ship locally at the farmer's market on Saturdays, greengrocer, etc., and get everything done. It requires a little bit of planning, but it's very doable.
If you're into that, it's def. here. - Josh & Kalie
For the humidity in winter, try to find a south-facing home, open the windows and doors daily while it's warm during the day. Use dehumidifiers and use Mitsubishi-type mini-split heaters throughout the house if possible to reduce humidity. If you leave town for more than a few days have someone come over and open up your house on a regular basis
We, ex-pats from the US, are no strangers to humidity, at least a big percentage of us, however, I am surprised that a British person would find that troublesome.
Hi: I am from Canada and retired teacher. Thinking of moving to PORTUGAL. I live on my pension now. I like warmer weather and beaches. Can you suggest a town with reasonable rent but good medical facilities since it's important for me. Thanks 👍 😊
That was a really good interview; thank you! I've been in Portugal only slightly less time than Carl and Louisa (actually, I was on Carl's show a couple of years ago, haha!) but some of the insights and advice Louisa offered were new to me and incredibly useful, particularly in terms of the damp (oh my word, the damp!) - I'll be looking out for those silica wotsits for my cupboards and also trying the white vinegar spray trick! :)
It doesn't sound like it's for me. I'm a tall female and damp weather really knocks me around. Great to know this stuff.
This was a fantastic interview, you ladies smashed it! Getting a woman’s perspective is far different from men’s and such useful information indeed. Talking about proper home insulation, cooling & heating and footwear are things we usually overlook because we’re so distracted by the beautiful homes and cobblestoned streets. In the future would you be able to talk about handmade Portuguese shoes? They’re quite known for their craftsmanship.
Yes 💯 agree ☝️ 🤗
@@elizabethreynolds6874 Thank you 😊
Thanks for the feedback, Georg D! I'll ask Kalie about doing a shoe episode. 😁 Let's see. Right now, we wouldn't be able to film in a shop but maybe over the next month we'll be able to. - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere Thanks for considering an episode on Portuguese (hand)made shoes!
@@georgd3013 You're welcome - Josh & Kalie
Lovely...and so recognizable. So honest and not judgemental. Bravo, thank you.👍❤✌
Thanks! We appreciate the feedback. - Josh & Kalie
Amazing....getting to know so much....this is show really needed
Thanks, Pauline. We appreciate the comment and feedback. We've had several good ones on Portugal recently and plan on doing more. Hope you stay tuned. - Josh & Kalie
My kids study in Anadia (where you live) and we moved from Germany to Portugal last year. Use electric de-humidifiers when it is damp and open the windows to air when you can. We have painted the walls a special paint that does not get mold.
Thanks for the comment, Pedro. - Josh & Kalie
Hi, I’m a foreigner married to a Portuguese and have lived in Portugal for 12 years. I live in Foz leitoral in Caldas da Rainha and I swear no place could be more humid and damp where I live. We easily solved the problem though by putting dehumidifiers in all the rooms and making breathers in all the toilets. My house doesn’t have molds, no smell of molds and my clothes they dry in 4 hours in front of a dehumidifier. It’s a very simple issue that was easily resolved and I’m quite content to live in this very charming part of Portugal. I shared this to my British neighbor who just bought the property last year and she’s absolutely happy. She chose to relocate and retire where I live and she doesn’t have any regrets whatsoever. Sometimes, simple solution will turn your situation completely around. All you got to do is be positive and apply practical solutions. Don’t make a mountain out of a mole. Good luck and God bless!😉
Thanks for this conversation! Especially talking about kids. I have been thinking a lot about moving to Portugal (we will visit first!) and I have three little kids 6, almost 5, and 1-1/2. I’ve been wanting to know what it’s like for kids there. I’m Asian and I completely relate to my mom and grandmother saying that the kids are cold when they have short sleeves on and the close family relationships. Very nice to know! Thank you! ❤️
WooHoo! New Subscriber!! Great to have you, Priyanka. Thanks for the feedback and sharing a little about yourself. To let you know, we are working on getting an interview with parents that have kids in international schools. We want to cover that topic for everyone. - Josh & Kalie
Luisa let me tell you that when I take care of my grandchildren, on the beach, in the park, wherever I go, all the children around me are my grandchildren. And we are all like that in Portugal.
@@ExpatsEverywhere I hope you still remember doing this video. Looking forward to it. ☺️
Thanks for sharing.especially about the cold weather and shoes types, electrical power, and location.Thank you ladies 👍🌍
You're welcome. They ended up doing a follow up to this based off of the response it go. It was a Live chat. - Josh & Kalie
Fantastic interview, with an abundance of insight,,, Thank you!
Thank you for the nice comment. 🙏 - Josh & Kalie
I have lived overseas a few times but never in Portugal and I think allot of people make the same mistake. They mistake simple with cheap. It took me 6 months to realize that if I keep the same western mind set I am not going to see any cost savings in my new location. What you have to do is always adjust to what the locals are doing and pick and choose what is a must have for you and understand anything western is going to be more money. You have to be opened minded in every area of life living overseas
That's right.
Currently looking to see what our options might be to move from the UK , and this is a really useful channel - Portugal is on our shortlist, so it was great to hear from someone who's made the move.
Great to hear! Keep us posted on your move. - Josh & Kalie
Thank you ladies! You are lovely 🌻 and a very interesting conversation! Appreciate this video ❤
Thank you very much! These two did a follow up to this one. 😁 - Josh & Kalie
Great video! Thanks for the information.
Thank you. We appreciate the feedback. Glad you found it informative. - Josh & Kalie
Hello beautiful lady, Thanks for the acceptance my dear..you look cute and decent on this profile picture of yours, can I be your friend..
So informative and practical! Glad you had her on. Thanks for all these details! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 I really think this is the most useful video on living in Portugal I’ve seen so far
Thank you for the feedback! These ladies have done two other videos together where they expand on topics here and field other questions that people have. - Josh & Kalie
Hi: I am from Canada and retired teacher. Thinking of moving to PORTUGAL. I live on my pension now. I like warmer weather and beaches. Can you suggest a town with reasonable rent but good medical facilities since it's important for me. Thanks 👍 😊
Awesome and very informative interview ladies!
Thanks so much! - Josh & Kalie
That was very useful indeed! We are strongly considering the move to Portugal and to hear a broader 'lived experience' interview of this nature was excellent.
Awesome, Dallas! Kalie and Louisa just wrapped up a Live Q&A that was fantastic too. They answered a lot of people's random questions about living in Portugal. It isn't like most static interviews. Hope you check it out. Thanks for the comment. - Josh & Kalie
This seems to be a very charming country, I hope I can visit sometime in the future when all this is over. Seeing and sharing places like this is why I love traveling and make videos so much!
Please do! Traveling is amazing! - Josh & Kalie
And it took the ladies to actually speak about some of the less than amazing aspects of living in Portugal! 😄
😁Of course it did. 😂 - Josh & Kalie
I'm a Portuguese guy and completely ashamed of our lack Justice. ..and absolutely disgusted with the very high cost of living boosted by below average income and high taxes, both direct over the income and indirect on every thing you want or need to buy or every service you want to use.
We could expect that with such high taxation, we could have lot's of good public services, but just a few minutes ago I've seen in the news that 20% of Portuguese populations leaves in poverty conditions due to the recent pandemic situation.
I'm always intrigued why so many Portuguese have such pride in this country. It's not to say that we don't have very good things, we do. ...it's just that we compare so badly to every other western society that it hurts!
We do like to keep it real...female expats, that is; the good, the bad as well as the ugly. Nothing worse than not finding out about the ugly until you arrive. Do your homework. Find other expats or travelers to get the lowdown - the real deal. Asking locals is generally not realistic because oftentimes they have not lived anywhere else and can't give you a true perspective since they can't compare it to your home country. Talking to locals about quality of life is highly recommended, though.
@@miks564 Thank you for your honest opinion.
@@thebarefootbroadcast I agree with you. America is pretty much the same. It's why we bought property in another country in Central America and as soon as it is feasible, we're moving away, yet we'll still be within a short distance (flying time) from home and family. There's no way we can afford to retire in the US being of the middle class. We have oceanfront property just waiting for us to move and taxes are only 30 dollars US! Yes, we'll be living cheaply and won't have all the bells and whistles that life in America has, but those bells and whistles are loud, intrusive and pricey. We're also tired of the growing hate problem and lack of equality here. Wow! Didn't mean to write a short story...😶
Full of genuine insights and information, very well done! I came close to moving to Venade, near Caminha (sea side town in the north). Portugal is great. But they do need double glazing.
Fantastic. Thank you very much, Charles. Glad you also find Portugal great. We appreciate you connecting and sharing a little of your experience as well. Cheers. - Josh & Kalie
What dissuaded you from moving there?
Thank you so much is very interesting your interview. It has another perspective, one perspective more actually about Portugal. Thank you again.
You're welcome. We're glad you found it interesting. Thanks for watching. - Josh & Kalie
My goodness this was literally so valuable! I took down so many notes! My partner and I are currently renting in Barreiro on a D7 visa and now looking to buy land and build a medium sized home. We both work remote so that helps. Have not spent too long in Portugal as we are still back and fourth from the UK quite a bit. Subbed, Liked, Bells on from one UA-camr to another! Keep it going!
Thank you very much for the LOVE. Keep us posted on your property hunt. 😁 We'd love to hear about it. 🙌 - Josh & Kalie
Hello satoshi, how are u
Well that was fun! I thought at the start that it was all going to be negative, but it wasn’t at all. Damp is just part of life in parts of the Iberian peninsula, you have to know to expect it. Good for you for donating some course proceeds to the animal charity in your area as well. Great video!
Thanks. We were hoping to take the audience on a bit of journey through Kalie and Louisa's conversation from what Carl didn't say about some of the issues people could run into to some of the quirkier things about life in central Portugal raising a family. We appreciate you watching. Thank you. We're trying to do something even though it's small. It's important to us to give back when we're blessed. We appreciate the support. 🙏- Josh & Kalie
Strays and abandoned animals are such an issue in all the places I would like to live. It's tough even just to visit where there are 'strays'.
awesome content! thanks for sharing!
First off, thank you! We appreciate the feedback. Second, love the name. 🥰 - Josh & Kalie
To get air flow, I recommend opening the windows and cupboards/built-in closets a few minutes everyday. And if you can, for temperature control, use insulation. If building from scratch, use a good method for damp control. Older houses won’t have this and folks have to live closer to the old habits.
Thanks great video very informative
Very welcome. We're glad you found it informative! - Josh & Kalie
Just subscribed; and have been watching your channel since you moved to Portugal. I find it very helpful specially when you talk about anything having to do with real estate in Portugal, buying and renting, etc. I plan on moving to Portugal in a year or two, and very interested in buying a home/apartment (not in Algarve though). Some don't really flesh out the potentials problems with heating and mold, as Lousia did. So much appreciated. Please post more future videos like this; I hope you can talk about how to install a central heating system in a home and how much it may cost.
did you get this reply?
Hey, trave764. There were several comments grabbed by the dreaded YT Spam filter. We've approved several of your comments now so they should start coming through. Thanks for emailing and bringing it to our attention. Thanks for following the move to Portugal. Not sure if WE can cover the installing a central heating system in great detail but it could very well come up given the opportunity as we do more content about real estate. Since we now know it's something you're interested in, we can see if someone we work with on real estate can cover it while we shot a property episode. - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere great, finally I see the comments, and thanks for the replies. Yes, it would be great if you could cover some of the issues like central heating in a future video. But this interview was great. If you can do a show with someone who do real estate in the silver coast, that that would be great. And did I say your channel is amazing! just subscribed!
Great tips!! Thanks for sharing!
You are so welcome! Thanks for watching. - Josh & Kalie
Hello beautiful lady, Thanks for the acceptance my dear..you look cute and decent on this profile picture of yours, can I be your friend..
Excellent both of you. Great to see Carl's missus too. Thanks 👍👍
Thank you! It was good to see her for us too because we just heard of the Mrs. M and now we know Louisa! 😁 - Josh & Kalie
Electric Blankets are great to "dry" the bedding
Tip: in traditional Portuguese restaurants and tascas a “dose” (portion) is often big enough for two. It is normal to ask for a “meia dose” (half portion) for one person. We were getting pretty fat before we realised this!
Good call, Dirk! - Josh & Kalie
Everybody is getting fat not because the amount of food, but because the amounts of sugar in our food.
Carbs are sugar!
@@miks564 Yes, nothing to do with sedentarism 👌🏻
Tras de ladrón, bufón.
Kalie, Thanks for that interview it’s really helpful
You're welcome. Glad you liked it. - Josh & Kalie
Such a great conversation ladies!
So many things that have been said I have felt in the last 8 weeks that I have been here.
Thanks, Soo. We appreciate it. The last 8 weeks, huh? Warmer days are ahead and it feels like optimism is back on the streets. Right? - Josh & Kalie
Hello beautiful lady, Thanks for the acceptance my dear..you look cute and decent on this profile picture of yours, can I be your friend..
Hello beautiful lady, Thanks for the acceptance my dear..you look cute and decent on this profile picture of yours, can I be your friend..
@@ExpatsEverywhere warmer days are ahead....and yes! I think everyone is getting a spring in their step to experience some socialising and a return to the things that we love! 🌸🌷🌸
Great interview Kalie! Super helpful for addressing those aspects that are of particular interest to me as a woman. I really appreciated it and it was fun getting to “meet” Carl’s wife Louisa. Thank you!
Thank you! 🙏 We're glad that it hit the target. - Josh & Kalie
@@thebarefootbroadcast hopefully that’ll be changing soon! 🤗💓
Hello beautiful lady, Thanks for the acceptance my dear..you look cute and decent on this profile picture of yours, can I be your friend..
Hey, how are you and the family?
Best video about Portugal i`ve seen ! The things behind the scene.
Thanks, Herbert. We're trying to bring a mix of point of views. We appreciate the feedback. - Josh & Kalie
This is one of the best videos I've seen. Very detail oriented, which is helpful.
Thank you very much, Omar. - Josh & Kalie
Great information! This was gold. Thank you.
You're so welcome! We like GOLD. - Josh & Kalie
Thx Kalie, please always interview women and moms to get a better view!
💖💖
Thanks, N D. Noted for sure. We're working on getting an interview with parents that have kids in international schools. We want to cover that topic for everyone. - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere thank you Kalie🌷
@@N17sd Aww 🥰 You're welcome. - Kalie
hi there I have lived in the unspoiled East Algarve for 16 years now.....best thing I ever did was to retire here 100%, no property or anything left in the UK.. It may sound silly, but one thing to consider when buying/renting a house is North/South facing vs East/West facing.
With the low sun in the winters, the North sides of almost every property I see here suffer from damp and mildew. East/West is a much better solution. Sounds a bit daft I know but I lived in both configurations so have experience. A 'Fogo Montana' (wood fire with fan') is almost a must here and can heat a whole (small) house.
Not daft at all, Michael. Thanks for sharing your experience. We appreciate it. - Josh & Kalie
Excellent interview/conversation. Thanks!
I found this extremely helpful. Thank you so much
Great! We're glad it was helpful. You're welcome. - Josh & Kalie
As a portuguese I can confirm these, I'm even living abroad xD
But yes, there is no insulation in portuguese houses, maybe the newer ones are being built with that in mind but the older ones are just a mouldy humid mess in winter. And heating will not save you unless you have over €200/month to pay for electricity, when I was living there I always had hot water bottles and extra duvets in bed.
Also, regarding not advertising the country well, we just share our secret spots with special friends. Doubt anyone would like to see those places transform into Algarve or other tourist trap.
A very interesting and informative video, thank you for sharing! All the best for both families!
Thank you for the comment and support, Elra. Blessings to you and your family too. - Josh & Kalie
@A J Mostly for better wages and job opportunities.
I was born in the Acores and now live in Canada for the last 53 years and I definitely remember the winters where cold and very damp it was horrendous. Do not miss that time in my life. love to visit the Island but only in the summers.
Lovely Interview! I learned so much about their culture, architecture, weather and those little details you never think of! And I'm Portuguese! lol
So glad! Thanks for sharing and subscribing! - Josh & Kalie
Great interview ! I learned a lot.
Brilliant! So glad to hear your feedback, Abby. - Josh & Kalie
Moms always have a better realistic Whole picture of places..dads only focus on money whereas women focus on every member of the family!
Go mama!!❤️🌻
Woah, woah, woah. Not fair! 😉 - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere dads are awesome too:)
@@N17sd Thank you 🙏 - Josh
Nonsense and sexist. Dads are just as capable of focusing on the family and have done so throughout history. “Dads only focus on money” is incredibly offensive and insulting to all the fathers out there.
@Griffin it’s true prices are through the roof but that is the government’s responsibility but it’s true fir the rent ..prices are way higher ..on another hand, expats revived the economy and gave more job opportunities.
At the end, the government can control that.
Ahhhh Louisa had SO much useful information that I hadn't heard anywhere else. Thank you :)
Great! We're glad to hear that, Becky. We hope to continually bring these bits of content to help people prepare to succeed abroad. - Josh & Kalie
Hey, how are you and your family?
i absolutely loved the exchange. So REAL and HONEST.
Thank you. 🙏 That's what we were going for. Louisa kept it real. She love it in Portugal too. - Josh & Kalie
A very enjoyable informative conversation.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the feedback. - Josh & Kalie
Enjoyed this! Well done Kalie!
Glad you enjoyed it! I'll make sure Kalie see this 😉 Thank you. - Josh & Kalie
This was a great video. As someone that has added Portugal to my retirement list, this was very informative.
Awesome! Thanks for the feedback. We'd love to be your go to resource on moving to and living in Portugal. Stay in touch. - Josh & Kalie
Love this woman. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Thanks, Freddy! We appreciate the comment. - Josh & Kalie
Great tips thank you!
Fantastic advice about real day to day living!!
Glad you think so! We appreciate the comment, Carol. - Josh & Kalie
Love Love you two Ladies 🙋♀️🫶🏻👏👏👏🇨🇦
Really great interview/ conversation with Louisa! I really enjoyed this - it’s one of your best so far! So much good information. Thanks!
Thanks so much! We're glad you enjoyed it and we appreciate the feedback. - Josh & Kalie
I don't how I missed this one! Ah, I was out of town w/my Mom! Well this video was Fantastic!! Really up at the top!! I had some questions but didn't write them down, duh. Obrigada. Did great Kalie!
Glad you enjoyed it and finally got to see it. 😉 Kalie says "Thanks! 🥰" - Josh & Kalie
Hey, how are you and the family?
Thank you. Im looking forward to moving to Portugal next year from London, England. I can't wait to begin my next chapter there, on my own. All of my children are all grown up so just me. X
Best of luck! Thanks for watching, Tracey. We hope our videos help. - Josh & Kalie
It's so cool to know I have English people so close to us! We live in Aveiro district also and I have experienced ALL of the things she mentioned. I thought, Oh I'm Canadian I can handle winter in Portugal......not IN the house I can, but OUTSIDE the house is perfect hahaha
We lived in an apartment like that too in Porto! We were very confused the first few times it was cold in the apartment and then we walked outside and it felt great! - Josh & Kalie
Regarding the kittens, I recommend putting up a humane trap with food bait for those kittens. One will never “get close” because the older they get the less catchy they become. There are great videos on UA-cam on how to trap humanely. Kittens should be trapped as early as possible if mom has abandoned them, they will hiss and spit at you but there are also great videos on how to tame them quickly...through food... ; ) and human touch, which they discover they like. I had to do this because I had a feral mom in my backyard who became pregnant over and over. I had a very good vet who worked with me in getting her spayed and adopt out the kittens. Very rewarding to rescue kittens, free them from horrible flea infestation if they survive that and help them to get adopted to better their lives.
💓🙏💓
@@thebarefootbroadcast Sounds like you did great! At the time (years ago) I had no other choice than to end the backyard production myself ; ) since there were also coyotes passing due to the property bordering nature. I wrote my comment to encourage viewers. My personal observation is that people often place phone calls to shelters and wait for help with stray animals and nothing happens. Again, there are wonderful UA-cam videos on trapping and socializing kittens. It’s not for everyone but one can find a neighbor who does it for you and you’d be surprised how quickly it will find a home. Great info in your video by the way!
Thank you so very much!! These things are good to know and it's all fixable but a need to know up front.. Thank you thank you
Thank you for being so truthful.
We try. 😊 Thanks for the comment. - Josh & Kalie
Hi Kalie and Louisa, this was an excellent conversation! So informative. Love Josh and Carl too but you ladies covered some great detail. Counting down now to arrival in Porto at end of July. Yayyy! xo
Thanks, Lisa. Gotta let the ladies do what the men can't. 😁 We're really happy to hear that you've enjoyed the conversation. We were worried it was too long but there was so much to say. Keep us posted on your arrival into Porto. - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere will do! I want to meet you both! xo
@@thebarefootbroadcast hi Louisa, we're long time expats and currently living in Jakarta, Indonesia. We've spent 30 years mostly in Asia, and we bought an apt in Porto. (We're city people). Hope to meet you and Carl sometime. xo
@@lisajennings7276 Let's do it. Let us know when you arrive. - Josh & Kalie
Hello beautiful lady, Thanks for the acceptance my dear..you look cute and decent on this profile picture of yours, can I be your friend..
Funny about the clothes. My Portuguese grandma is tiny as well. About the kids, my grandparents are known for telling me & my kids we are “too skinny!! Don’t you feed them?” Lol. Really good info here. Can’t wait to get myself over there 🥰
Thanks for sharing!! You do feed them, right? 😉 Let's go. Get over here! 😁 - Josh & Kalie
Yeah, I have been to Lisbon for work in a long time ago and I really enjoyed it and it’s a beautiful and peaceful place to live
I was reading your comment and it brought tears to my eyes… in a good way! My Mom who is Portuguese passed 2 years ago. She was the most loving caring Mom ❤️ She would tell us about her Dad who would always tell everyone to eat up… your too skinny 😀 Very Proud to be Portuguese!!!!!!
@@RB-uh1ss 🤗
I really love the discussion!
Thank you. Our biggest video yet! - Josh & Kalie
Good interview and info. Thanx. - Jorge - Santa Rosa, CA
Glad you enjoyed it! 💪 - Josh & Kalie
I see a lot of similarities between Chinese and Portuguese culture. When I took my baby to China , many people would come and pat my son’s head and would say “he is cold he is cold “. Hahaha . We are moving to Lisbon in June .
Very interesting. Thanks for commenting and sharing! - Josh & Kalie
Yes I've been mistaken for Chinese many times
This is a very very valuable video. It's as important to hear about the downsides or not so great things about a place as it is about the wonderful stuff. Thanks to both of you, Kallie and Louisa for this.
Thanks, John. This video has been our widest viewed. We guess that a lot of people want to hear the downside of a place too. We know that we do so that we can be prepared. - Josh & Kalie
We live on Madeira island and the electricity banding issue bewildered us for several years, we couldn’t run the dishwasher, the washing machine and the cooker at the same time or the electricity would trip out! Once we discovered the reason we signed up for the higher tariff. However, we still have to be careful not to put too many appliances on at once. Another related issue here is the absurd dearth of electric sockets in the kitchen! I think it’s because bottled gas is more commonly used here!