Interesting video - I spent Christmas and New Years in Ponta Delgada a few years ago (from the UK, solo traveller, female 50's) - I had an amazing time - stayed in backpackers but had a single room with en suite - perfect mix of privacy and social meeting other travellers. I was very lucky with the weather - it was warm sunshine for my whole trip - sleeveless top weather. I did lots of hiking, hired a car and explored, went to the hot springs at Furnas (def recommend - awewsome) and partied on NYE with a free firework display at the harbour followed by a free outside nightclub / dj set in the main square intil 2am followed by a club at the harbour until 5am...needless to say, a lie in next day. A very friendly place and with a reasonable modern shopping mall on the edge of town with a cinema and some restaurants. All in all, a beautiful place - clean, safe, the freshest air you could hope for, beautiful flora and fauna,- loved it. I could spend 6 months there but think that would be my limit.
The accent is not "strange", just different. If you spend some time travelling around Portugal and the different autonomous regions they all have different accents and even different words for certain things.
I agree. It's the same with English. English is spoken in many different countries such as Australia, Ireland, and Scotland to name a few. Their accents aren't strange, they're just different.
:grins: Accents change from town to town here in England, or they did before everyone watched TV all the time (which smoothed things out a bit). When I left home as a youth I moved all of eight miles ... and couldn't understand the folk who lived in my 'new' street!
My ancestors lived there for 500 years..I’m considering retiring there, more like a snowbird. Spend 5 months a year there and the rest of the time in New England.
Enjoyed your video, but this is incorrect. “Ponta Delgada is the capital of The Azores.” Ponta Delgado is the capital of São Miguel. There are three administrative centers for the islands, including also Angra do Heroísmo on Terceira e Horta on Faial. São Miguel is a lovely island but the people on the other 8 Azores Islands might steal your heart. I have more to do on Terceira than I have time for. Of course, we are the Party Island :-). Also, although it takes time, building community is what makes a place a home and a wonderful place to live and there are no warmer people on earth than those in the Azores.
Also not sure whether the uniqueness of the accent is completely correct - after we landed at Lajes, the TAP captain said "welcome to " (with long A and a very soft sssh), while when we asked how it was correctly pronounced, the answer was "Ladshesh"
It is so funny that I found this video today. We currently live in Ponta Delgada. We moved here a few months ago. We came sight unseen as we wanted a calm landing spot in Portugal. It is stunning here and the people are so welcoming. It is definitely difficult to learn Portuguese living here. I do great listening to the tv or my lessons but I can't understand most of what people say. Rentals are also impossible to find. In fact, we are leaving the island for this reason. Our rental is being turned into an Airbnb and we aren't ready to commit to buying a house. It is also very expensive to leave the island. I just bought tickets to Lisbon for over 400€. The only plus side is that, as residents, we are reimbursed for the ticket cost after the flight. You just have to have the money to shell out initially.
No Amazon or Home Depot, Wal-Mart or variety of foods from around the world. While nice, you will have to do without all the conveniences you are used to. Even buying furniture can be difficult and houses are made of concrete so doing renos is not easy either. Unless you are retiring I would not recommend. As for the accent, that island had an influx of French immigrants way back in the day, hence the Portuguese/French accent. Even Portuguese people have a hard time understanding them.
@@afaria6173 From Wikipedia: "The fertile soils and temperate climate attracted settlers from other countries, notably French and Flemish people. ". That can still be seen today in common surnames in Sao Miguel like Bettencourt.
Really good video. On point, lots of information. We were in the Azores last year. I think you're right about island living being a "stage in life" decision, especially in the Azores with its laid back vibe. I think older people who perhaps grew up in the country and are looking for affordability (I believe the VAT on the island is 5% lower than on the mainland?) would enjoy the island lifestyle on a longer term basis, where younger folk might more be interested in short term "life experience" visits before moving on. Keep 'em coming!
I lived on sao miguel for an entire year. Summer is wonderful. Beach bars everywhere. It is windy, cold and rainy in the winter...and restaurants close down for several months. It was 'in the 50's' (sounds good, right?) at night in the winter. The rains regularly wash out small town roads, bridges and houses. Houses are not insulated, so you have really damp cold...which means moisture on the walls=black mold. It is exceeding difficult to get a professional company to come out to repair a leaking toilet---after 7 weeks, I had to call the previous homeowner who had to call their nephew. This cost 45 euros! I even overheard a commercial airline pilot say they would only stay on the island for 2 or 3 days. Electricity and gasoline is EXPENSIVE. Car rental was almost 200 EUROS a DAY (per a taxi company). Buying a used car is very costly---9,000 euros for 12 yo car and 170,000 km. Yes, you will want a car or you will wait on a bus---which run twice a DAY. The only movie theatre is in the mall in ponta delgada. Bigger supermarkets will have good selection but you will wait for months to get things out of stock. Too far from the mainland. Everything these folks say is accurate. Visiting is great. I moved to the mainland.
Thanks for your take, E Grace. There are 100% sacrifices that need to be made to be in São Miguel or most islands for that matter. Some are seen and known and others aren't. Thanks for your input though. It's interesting that your car rental was €200 a day. We paid €454.08 for a week. When we went to Madeira it was going to be a bit pricey so we decided against renting a car and we just got taxis if we needed to go somewhere outside of Funchal as well as doing an island tour on day. - Josh & Kalie
A leaking toilet! Good lord man get some tools!:) Just kidding,different strokes for different folks. I'd move there in a heartbeat but I'm not the hanging out in beach bars type. We stayed in Candelaria for a month, and basically I'd like to move to the house we stayed at because from our back window the whole vista is ocean. With NO snow. Cold? Dude, here in Canada I'll show you cold! But you are right in that in april its damp inside, but a little heater in the room and it was fine in ten minutes.
@@Hunter_Nebid Thats sometimes true, but I don't think you'll find many places in the Azores that you'd consider really metropolitan. But sometimes people can be too much, other times you want to be aroudn them. On holiday its often true that people have had enough of people, although covid isolation kind of put a dent in that. I loved in the azores on a weekend you could drive around a little town and whereer you saw lots of cars or poeple you could walk in and tehre was a pot luck. At the same time when you LIVE in such an area where 'everybody knows everything' that can be claustrophobic and ironically big cities are better for anonymity. But I like all three in moderation.
A magical Island. I have family there. I also wouldn't live there but have considered purchasing for a rental. Ponta Delgada does get very busy during July and August.
Awesome video! I live on the East Coast and have been to São Miguel a few times. It was my first introduction to Portugal. I agree with all your points about whether to expat the island. It would be nice for a few months to chill but eventually, I might get a little restless . I love Lisbon and Porto and like the energy there so I guess I wouldn't invest in real estate there. Summer is great in the Azores from May until the end of September. However, I know people who had good luck in January and February having sunny days and weather in the 60's. When you live in the North east of the USA, that would be pretty nice. I have been to Madeira twice and to tell you the truth, I prefer the Azores. It's far less crowded and touristy. Plus the two times I went to Madeira, I was cloudy and grey most of the time. There are so many other places to visit so I doubt I be returning to Funchal.
Nice video! My parents were born in the Azores, and I love visiting! I see myself spending most of my retirement there when I get to that point in life... It is amazing, and inexpensive, and I love the natural beauty and culture of island life!
Hey guys, WOWWWWWWW! My nana's (mom's mother's) matriarchal family (Graca/Grace here in the US) is from the Azores. But I always assumed because it's Europe AND it's an island, that prices would HAVE TO BE in the stratosphere...and they're obviously not! I'm also commenting by HOW thorough you two were when it came to anything/everything one would want (or need) to know about a destination. Not only glad I "met" you two, as I just subscribed, but gonna pass along your channel to others. Keep doing what you're doing, I'll be watching :)
Loved the video, and having worked in the tourist industry for nearly a decade, I can vouch point per point on your opinions, as I usualy used to say a very similar description! One small detail that I found funny, regarding our accent (I'm from S. Miguel, obviously), alot of the first colonists on the island originated from places like The Netherlands, Belgium, and France, and so our creole / French influence in our accent is actualy due to that! 😊
The french presence in the island is more related to the 16th century (independence wars of 1581) than to the settlement. Also their presence is so miniscule (compared to mainlanders) that it would be almost impossible to influence a whole way of speaking. The "belgium" and "dutch" you mention were technically Flemish and their presence is bigger in the central group of the Azores (also the language has nothing to do with french). The S.Miguel accent is mostly associated to accents in remote villages in Beira Baixa and the Algarve where most of the settlers came from. Our accent is the product of a more archaic way of pronouncing words that did not "evolve" due to the isolation of the island.
@@marcofurtado5459exactly. There are still some small places in the south of Portugal that if you close your eyes and listen you would swear you're at São Miguel. Nothing to do with French and such
@@marcofurtado5459 you are correct, it's ridiculous how many people who claim they are from Sao Miguel are claiming this false narrative of a significant French and Belgian settlement that contributed to the accent. It is unfortunate that the schools in the Azores are not teaching Azorean history.
Excellent review that is a signature of your work! Awesome example of being our eyes and ears. You guys are a scouting trip on steroids! I love when you do these videos! Josh and Kalie, you rock! I seriously appreciate you both! ❤
Every where you live people have their own accents … even in the USA. Every island Im has there own accent even on the main land Portugal each town has its own accent. Every Portuguese island has their own accent.😊
Azorean from São Miguel here just to clarify don't swim in Lagoa das Sete Cidades, Lagoa do Fogo or Furnas! It is not safe! We have beautifull beachs. 😊
@@asscrackistan there are many algae that produce neurotoxins that can cause serious health problems. There are even signs prohibiting swimming. In addition, Lagoa do Fogo, for example, is considered a natural reserve and it is forbidden to cause any alteration to the ecosystem.
@@dianaspencer5739 There are algae that release harmful substances that can cause health problems. In addition to being protected areas, we have to protect them.
dont move here for the past years Portugal has been flooded with people wanting to live in this "cheap to live" country ehen i reality the real estate industry has been pushing prices up because of the interest foreigners have in the Azores and mainland Portugal and many portuguese cant even afford to live in their own country.
I think the problem too is that foreigners buy the properties and leave them uninhabited for long periods of time or convert them into Airbnb's. This results in a reduction of available housing for locals.
Its not people driving the prices up its the usury based money system we live in, once you under stand this slavery money system we're in then come back to me.
I’ve been to this island loads of times, we hike and this little bit of paradise in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean just does not stop giving. It’s not the Canaries, thank goodness, if that’s your vibe then you may find it boring here. It has stunning scenery, friendly people and I wouldn’t hesitate if I had the opportunity, spending my retirement there.
I’ve been to all the Canary Islands apart from El Hierro, they are all nice and different in their own way. Sao Miguel is like, middle earth, Derbyshire, the Lake District, Ireland all rolled into one, it’s not geared for the same kind of tourism as the Canaries, it’s if you enjoy the outdoors. like to hike in a mild climate then it maybe for you but if your looking for hot weather to sunbathe round a pool it may not be suitable for you, depends on how you want to spend your retirement, it’s an island and it’s remote…it can get damp, you may not be able to get all your conveniences on tap etc but like everything there upsides and downsides…
Another great video guys! And Josh, has anyone said how much better you look without the ball cap? I was so glad to see you lose that and you look much better without it. Totally different looking person.
Azores is a better option to moving, compared to Madeira, Madeira is becoming overcrowed, and you have direct flights from US, that Madeira don't have.
Thanks for sharing. That direct flight has certainly started to draw people with Portuguese roots from Canada and the US back to Portugal. It's pretty interesting. - Josh & Kalie
Fun fact: the island of Sao Miguel, was populated by immigrants from Flanders, now part of Belgium. People speak Portuguese but pronounce the words close to French. In fact, it sounds like French and People from Continental Portugal have difficulty understanding them. Another fun fact: there are more Azoreans, particularly from the island of Sao Miguel, in New England, USA, than in the Azores. The cruise ships have been stopping in Sao Miguel since the 1950's. The luxury yachts crossing the Atlantic have stopping since the 1930's.
Not exactly. Flemish are not where the accent comes from. Most Flemish settled in Faial, with some in Pico, Flores… São Miguel was first settled by people from the Algarve region. I find the accents interesting as both of my parents are from São Miguel. Both speak with a different dialect.
@@yvettec3156 The accent in Algarve is quite different, and they don't understand folks from Sao Miguel. The accents in other islands are quite different and easier to understand. Several families from Sao Miguel, who traced their genealogy, were taken back to Flanders...
@@zairoart yes, the accent is quite different. I agree. The point that I was trying to make was that the Flemish settlers that were in the azores were in the western islands. If anyone would have the French sound it would have been those islands.
I was lucky to live there for over 3 months this year and I'm coming back for another 7 months next year. Btw I don't think you can swim in the lagoons. Aren't they protected?
Think twice before moving there! Experience of my friends: law wages,my friends struggling to make ends meet. Houses constantly get mouldy. Every purchase becomes a challenge: one small shopping mall, no appliances and furniture stores,everything delivered from mainland and takes months to arrive. No professional growth.
@@lc4255 easy to accept... and im not the one frustrated with the azores... so, once again, easy to accept living in a wonderfull place. Enjoy your toxic place you call home. Cheers!!!
Im sorry beeing rude... but your friend didnt aknowledge our history. You come here and you accept the challenge... life is not easy here... never was... never will be. Humidity will eat your bones... earthquakes will eat your home... landslides everywhere... its for hard and resilient people. This is a great place for people who humbly understand Life.
@@oche9827listen mate, my friend is from London,obviously Azores is completely opposite to London lifestyle. We got used to higher salaries,faster services and more opportunities. Azores is not for urban people. And you know many locals go to work and move to North America , that has been for decades, because many of them want more money and different life.
We actually have too many tourists taking into account the size of the island... Get here in the peak of the season and go to places like Furnas or viewpoints at the west over the lake and you can't even have a decent spot for a photo. This video had so many wrong informations it's almost ludacris. Typical case of people that get here and spend less than a week and think they know everything about the life over here... Well... That's internet and vlogs. Everybody is a specialist nowadays
Just so everyone knows. The clips and scenery in this video are from the WHOLE of Sao Miguel and NOT Ponta Del Gada. The steam from the ground shots are from Furnace about a 45 min drive. The black sand beaches are from the other side of the island. Many many of the shots are outside the city. The island is beautiful but the city does not have the amenities this video leads you to believe. If they are lying about this one, who knows about the ones I haven’t been to.
Yes, we traveled around the eastern side of São Miguel and filmed and some of those shots were used in this video as they're locations easily accessible from Ponta Delgada. For example, if one Google image searches Ponta Delgada, it's common to see images of the two lakes that are in Sete Cidades, it's not to deceive but it's because these locations are a mere 35 minutes by car from the city, which in relative terms is close. Have a good weekend, John. - Josh & Kalie
Ryainair and EasyJet as well a TAP have cheap flight at a really regular rate. Daily. The internet was fine in the several places we used it. Ponta Delgada should be just fine.
Thank you K&J for this comprehensive overview. 🙏🏼 Haven’t been but know several from the US who have and they all loved it. Many PT folks in US which I’ve met have Azorean ancestry. Interesting (but understandable) observation about the local dialect. 👄 Ponta Delgada reminds a little of Juneau, Alaska that was overrun by cruise ships in June. I don’t believe the level of cruise activity in P.D. would match that of Juneau (I’m guessing) but did you feel cruise ship activity is a cause for higher prices in restaurants and shops? 🤔 Cheers. 👋🏻
FYI, what one may hear in Ponta Delgada is not a dialect, but Portuguese through and through, albeit spoken with a regional accent. Variations in pronunciation happen in many countries, and Portugal is no exception. Take Ireland for example: would you call a typical accent from Co. Kerry, or from Co. Cork, or from Co. Donegal, or from Dublin, or from Belfast (to mention but a few) dialects of English?! Would you refer to a typical Scottish accent as a dialect of English?!
You're welcome. Thanks for watching and the thoughtful comment. We'll let you know about the tourism level in March or April when PD is a stop on a cruise that we're taking! 😁 - Josh & Kalie
@@miguelcoelho3877 Olá Miguel and thanks for your comments. Here are mine. 1) I’m a person who knows virtually nothing about the Portuguese spoken language. My knowledge is limited to four or five words at best. As such, I consider myself to be a very modest student of the language. I was intrigued by the apparent differences between the spoken language on the Azores vs. the continent. 2) YOU made the association between Portuguese and English-which I find a bit odd. Last I looked, and perhaps I’m wrong here as well, Portuguese is a Latin-based language. Hence, I was making the association (in my mind) between Portuguese and Italian…since both are Latin-based languages and I speak Italian. Spoken English has nothing to do with my observation-it was solely YOURS. 3) As you may know, the spoken and written so-called Italian language (in addition to many other characteristics) varies greatly by location-even a few kilometers away. Linguists and scholars (which you may be one) don’t always agree if the differences of Italian are, indeed, dialects or different languages. Given that, I was associating Portuguese with another Latin language. 4) Apologies if I confused you.
Never sure why Americans / Canadians pronounce it the way they do. It's surely rhymes with adores or abhors. Why AY -zoors?? Each to their own and it's only the tiniest thing, but does anyone else pronounce it this way? In Britain we rhyme with adores.
Keep the Azores free from massive tourism and uncontrolled expats. The world is already full, glad to know there are still some peaceful places out there where people can live freely and at their own pace.
that's 100% wrong there was absolutely no French migration to the Azores. The overwhelming majority of settlers were Portuguese who settled from the late 1400's-early 1500's.
Hi, let me bust a myth about the Hospitals in Portugal and in the EU in general, the Public Hospitals here are NOT like in the US, public hospitals are the ones where you want to go when it's something serious, yes, the buildings will not be state of the art and looking brand spanking new, but the level of experience of doctors and specially nurses in our Public Hospitals is bar none, due to the fact to the amount of cases they take care of in a daily basis. If you got a flu and need some doctor's papers, sure, go to the private one, it will be faster for sure, but if you got something serious go to the Public Hospitals please! You will find, that in most cases, when it's serious the patients from Private Hospitals are transferred to public ones, this is the norm here.
great vid, just being British find your English so funny with terms like "expat that". Expat is not a verb is it? Funnier term is expat. Everyone else is an immigrant but Americans/English who are expats!
Hey want to pay the exact same thing you already are wtih the added disadvantage of waiting 3 months for anything you need. Boy do we have an island for you...
My main impression after trip there: rather boring,poor service, no beaches with nice facilities ,no night life,no shopping. Place more for backpackers or pensioners.
@@briansilva4643it’s not for you to tell me where to go-that is first. Second-there is nothing there to keep on coming more then once.Zero service! They should look at world’s islands resorts like Maldives,Caribbean, Greek islands to see how to attract tourists,Ibiza is not the only one place just in case you don’t know. If locals want to improve their financial status and not live on low income like majority there.And I know that,my friend is from there,people struggle financially there and go to North America to earn money. But of course person with name Silva will like it😂.
The Azores are sacred.Therefore, they are not meant for tourism of the masses. Their land and their waters heal. Silence is needed and it is meant for zen activities. Not meant for shalow people.
@@paulomendes9524that’s why you never be as successful as Spanish islands. You just use what nature gave and not able to provide any decent services,that’s why poverty all over the place on this island and youngsters leave it for better.
I live in São Miguel, and there's a lot of SANDY BEACHES in the entire island, the difference is just the color of the sand, which is DARK by vulcanic reasons.
@@virtualworldsbyloff u mean NO TROPICAL PARADISE, because it's a subtropical Paradise, like Canada is a cold Paradise, or Europe mediterrenian islands that are a non TROPICAL Paradise, but a SUNNY and "WHITE SANDY BEACHES" paradise... there are many types of "PARADISES" around Earth..
@@bernardoa.a.r958 no, I mean no White Sandy Beaches, like in Corralejo, Canary Islands, that are Vulcanic but get white sand from the Sahara... Anyway a Paradise needs hot waters, no Paradise in Europe
Interesting video - I spent Christmas and New Years in Ponta Delgada a few years ago (from the UK, solo traveller, female 50's) - I had an amazing time - stayed in backpackers but had a single room with en suite - perfect mix of privacy and social meeting other travellers. I was very lucky with the weather - it was warm sunshine for my whole trip - sleeveless top weather. I did lots of hiking, hired a car and explored, went to the hot springs at Furnas (def recommend - awewsome) and partied on NYE with a free firework display at the harbour followed by a free outside nightclub / dj set in the main square intil 2am followed by a club at the harbour until 5am...needless to say, a lie in next day. A very friendly place and with a reasonable modern shopping mall on the edge of town with a cinema and some restaurants. All in all, a beautiful place - clean, safe, the freshest air you could hope for, beautiful flora and fauna,- loved it. I could spend 6 months there but think that would be my limit.
The accent is not "strange", just different. If you spend some time travelling around Portugal and the different autonomous regions they all have different accents and even different words for certain things.
I agree. It's the same with English. English is spoken in many different countries such as Australia, Ireland, and Scotland to name a few. Their accents aren't strange, they're just different.
:grins: Accents change from town to town here in England, or they did before everyone watched TV all the time (which smoothed things out a bit). When I left home as a youth I moved all of eight miles ... and couldn't understand the folk who lived in my 'new' street!
the only strange thing is the yank accent no one wants to hear that in europe.
My ancestors lived there for 500 years..I’m considering retiring there, more like a snowbird. Spend 5 months a year there and the rest of the time in New England.
youre not wanted trust me
Enjoyed your video, but this is incorrect. “Ponta Delgada is the capital of The Azores.” Ponta Delgado is the capital of São Miguel. There are three administrative centers for the islands, including also Angra do Heroísmo on Terceira e Horta on Faial. São Miguel is a lovely island but the people on the other 8 Azores Islands might steal your heart. I have more to do on Terceira than I have time for. Of course, we are the Party Island :-). Also, although it takes time, building community is what makes a place a home and a wonderful place to live and there are no warmer people on earth than those in the Azores.
Also not sure whether the uniqueness of the accent is completely correct - after we landed at Lajes, the TAP captain said "welcome to " (with long A and a very soft sssh), while when we asked how it was correctly pronounced, the answer was "Ladshesh"
It is so funny that I found this video today. We currently live in Ponta Delgada. We moved here a few months ago. We came sight unseen as we wanted a calm landing spot in Portugal. It is stunning here and the people are so welcoming. It is definitely difficult to learn Portuguese living here. I do great listening to the tv or my lessons but I can't understand most of what people say. Rentals are also impossible to find. In fact, we are leaving the island for this reason. Our rental is being turned into an Airbnb and we aren't ready to commit to buying a house. It is also very expensive to leave the island. I just bought tickets to Lisbon for over 400€. The only plus side is that, as residents, we are reimbursed for the ticket cost after the flight. You just have to have the money to shell out initially.
They speak with a very thick accent in that island. Even Portuguese people have a hard time understanding them.
jesus u must be a psychopath...moving to a random island u dont speak the languge of sight unseen...wish i had that much money to burn.
YO can I get a Hook up ?
If you are a portugal citizen you are able to purchase plane tickets to lisbon for 60 euros.
No Amazon or Home Depot, Wal-Mart or variety of foods from around the world. While nice, you will have to do without all the conveniences you are used to. Even buying furniture can be difficult and houses are made of concrete so doing renos is not easy either. Unless you are retiring I would not recommend. As for the accent, that island had an influx of French immigrants way back in the day, hence the Portuguese/French accent. Even Portuguese people have a hard time understanding them.
Wrong about the accent
Completely wrong about the accent there were no French immigrants.
@@afaria6173 From Wikipedia: "The fertile soils and temperate climate attracted settlers from other countries, notably French and Flemish people. ". That can still be seen today in common surnames in Sao Miguel like Bettencourt.
Wonderful video. How would you compare living in Azores versus Madeira?
Here's a video on that. ua-cam.com/video/NhGIlI3_ywY/v-deo.html - Josh & Kalie
Thanks for the informationnal video !
I love it their my family originates there and i love learning about my culture
Really good video. On point, lots of information. We were in the Azores last year. I think you're right about island living being a "stage in life" decision, especially in the Azores with its laid back vibe. I think older people who perhaps grew up in the country and are looking for affordability (I believe the VAT on the island is 5% lower than on the mainland?) would enjoy the island lifestyle on a longer term basis, where younger folk might more be interested in short term "life experience" visits before moving on. Keep 'em coming!
Thank you, Rob. We appreciate reading your take on Ponta Delgada and São Miguel as a whole. - Josh & Kalie
I lived on sao miguel for an entire year. Summer is wonderful. Beach bars everywhere. It is windy, cold and rainy in the winter...and restaurants close down for several months. It was 'in the 50's' (sounds good, right?) at night in the winter. The rains regularly wash out small town roads, bridges and houses.
Houses are not insulated, so you have really damp cold...which means moisture on the walls=black mold. It is exceeding difficult to get a professional company to come out to repair a leaking toilet---after 7 weeks, I had to call the previous homeowner who had to call their nephew. This cost 45 euros! I even overheard a commercial airline pilot say they would only stay on the island for 2 or 3 days. Electricity and gasoline is EXPENSIVE. Car rental was almost 200 EUROS a DAY (per a taxi company). Buying a used car is very costly---9,000 euros for 12 yo car and 170,000 km. Yes, you will want a car or you will wait on a bus---which run twice a DAY. The only movie theatre is in the mall in ponta delgada. Bigger supermarkets will have good selection but you will wait for months to get things out of stock. Too far from the mainland. Everything these folks say is accurate. Visiting is great. I moved to the mainland.
Thanks for your take, E Grace. There are 100% sacrifices that need to be made to be in São Miguel or most islands for that matter. Some are seen and known and others aren't. Thanks for your input though. It's interesting that your car rental was €200 a day. We paid €454.08 for a week. When we went to Madeira it was going to be a bit pricey so we decided against renting a car and we just got taxis if we needed to go somewhere outside of Funchal as well as doing an island tour on day. - Josh & Kalie
A leaking toilet! Good lord man get some tools!:) Just kidding,different strokes for different folks. I'd move there in a heartbeat but I'm not the hanging out in beach bars type. We stayed in Candelaria for a month, and basically I'd like to move to the house we stayed at because from our back window the whole vista is ocean. With NO snow. Cold? Dude, here in Canada I'll show you cold!
But you are right in that in april its damp inside, but a little heater in the room and it was fine in ten minutes.
thank you for your input. What part of the 'mainland' is the best to live. we don't want something in city but rather a short drive away?
I'm from the Colorado Rocky Mountains and retired from the Army - the more austere and remote a place is, the better in my book!
@@Hunter_Nebid Thats sometimes true, but I don't think you'll find many places in the Azores that you'd consider really metropolitan. But sometimes people can be too much, other times you want to be aroudn them. On holiday its often true that people have had enough of people, although covid isolation kind of put a dent in that.
I loved in the azores on a weekend you could drive around a little town and whereer you saw lots of cars or poeple you could walk in and tehre was a pot luck. At the same time when you LIVE in such an area where 'everybody knows everything' that can be claustrophobic and ironically big cities are better for anonymity. But I like all three in moderation.
A magical Island. I have family there. I also wouldn't live there but have considered purchasing for a rental. Ponta Delgada does get very busy during July and August.
Thanks!
Awesome video! I live on the East Coast and have been to São Miguel a few times. It was my first introduction to Portugal. I agree with all your points about whether to expat the island. It would be nice for a few months to chill but eventually, I might get a little restless . I love Lisbon and Porto and like the energy there so I guess I wouldn't invest in real estate there. Summer is great in the Azores from May until the end of September. However, I know people who had good luck in January and February having sunny days and weather in the 60's. When you live in the North east of the USA, that would be pretty nice.
I have been to Madeira twice and to tell you the truth, I prefer the Azores. It's far less crowded and touristy. Plus the two times I went to Madeira, I was cloudy and grey most of the time. There are so many other places to visit so I doubt I be returning to Funchal.
Thank you very much for the channel support, Simon! - Josh & Kalie
We really enjoyed reading your take on the island and Portugal as a whole. - Josh & Kalie
Thanks for this wonderful video n for showing d beautiful island, Azores.
Our pleasure! Thanks for watching. - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere 😁
Nice video! My parents were born in the Azores, and I love visiting! I see myself spending most of my retirement there when I get to that point in life... It is amazing, and inexpensive, and I love the natural beauty and culture of island life!
Thanks for sharing and thanks for the compliment. 😁 - Josh & Kalie
Hey guys, WOWWWWWWW! My nana's (mom's mother's) matriarchal family (Graca/Grace here in the US) is from the Azores. But I always assumed because it's Europe AND it's an island, that prices would HAVE TO BE in the stratosphere...and they're obviously not! I'm also commenting by HOW thorough you two were when it came to anything/everything one would want (or need) to know about a destination. Not only glad I "met" you two, as I just subscribed, but gonna pass along your channel to others. Keep doing what you're doing, I'll be watching :)
Very nice, thanks! And yes living in the Azores a wonderful reality.
Loved the video, and having worked in the tourist industry for nearly a decade, I can vouch point per point on your opinions, as I usualy used to say a very similar description! One small detail that I found funny, regarding our accent (I'm from S. Miguel, obviously), alot of the first colonists on the island originated from places like The Netherlands, Belgium, and France, and so our creole / French influence in our accent is actualy due to that! 😊
Muitos de meus antepassados eram açorianos, e alguns deles eram de origem belga 😊
Thanks for the love, Filipe. Great to hear from you.
The french presence in the island is more related to the 16th century (independence wars of 1581) than to the settlement. Also their presence is so miniscule (compared to mainlanders) that it would be almost impossible to influence a whole way of speaking.
The "belgium" and "dutch" you mention were technically Flemish and their presence is bigger in the central group of the Azores (also the language has nothing to do with french).
The S.Miguel accent is mostly associated to accents in remote villages in Beira Baixa and the Algarve where most of the settlers came from.
Our accent is the product of a more archaic way of pronouncing words that did not "evolve" due to the isolation of the island.
@@marcofurtado5459exactly. There are still some small places in the south of Portugal that if you close your eyes and listen you would swear you're at São Miguel. Nothing to do with French and such
@@marcofurtado5459 you are correct, it's ridiculous how many people who claim they are from Sao Miguel are claiming this false narrative of a significant French and Belgian settlement that contributed to the accent. It is unfortunate that the schools in the Azores are not teaching Azorean history.
Excellent review that is a signature of your work! Awesome example of being our eyes and ears. You guys are a scouting trip on steroids! I love when you do these videos! Josh and Kalie, you rock! I seriously appreciate you both! ❤
Thanks for the testimonial, Mo! We appreciate it. 💪 - Josh & Kalie
✨️😊 The weather looks beautiful ...
Every where you live people have their own accents … even in the USA. Every island Im has there own accent even on the main land Portugal each town has its own accent. Every Portuguese island has their own accent.😊
Lagoons are protected areas. In some you can do activities but swimming in the lagoons is not allowed.
The island looks stunning, so green 😍
Thanks for sharing and covering the pros and cons :)
Our pleasure! It is super green. We enjoyed it there. - Josh & Kalie
Azorean from São Miguel here just to clarify don't swim in Lagoa das Sete Cidades, Lagoa do Fogo or Furnas! It is not safe! We have beautifull beachs. 😊
Obrigado pelas dicas 😊 estarei aí em março
Why is it not safe?
@@asscrackistan there are many algae that produce neurotoxins that can cause serious health problems. There are even signs prohibiting swimming. In addition, Lagoa do Fogo, for example, is considered a natural reserve and it is forbidden to cause any alteration to the ecosystem.
What are safety issues
@@dianaspencer5739 There are algae that release harmful substances that can cause health problems. In addition to being protected areas, we have to protect them.
Thanks for the video. More Azores please!
Great shirt, Kalie! I might feel a bit claustrophobic on an island, but it looks beautiful for certain. Thank you for the video.
Thank you!! 😊 Being near the water is really good. You're welcome. Thanks for watching. - Josh & Kalie
Lived in 3 Azores Islands when I was a teen. Miss it. My Home
Aww, we hope the video helped with homesickness. - Josh & Kalie
Thanks for sharing. You must have been there only a week or two after us, I guess. And we loved it too. = )
Ciao from Faro. Yin and Jan.
Anyone else find this place on Google Maps and want to find out more about it?
Thanks for video 😊
im from this paradise
dont move here
for the past years Portugal has been flooded with people wanting to live in this "cheap to live" country ehen i reality the real estate industry has been pushing prices up because of the interest foreigners have in the Azores and mainland Portugal and many portuguese cant even afford to live in their own country.
I think the problem too is that foreigners buy the properties and leave them uninhabited for long periods of time or convert them into Airbnb's. This results in a reduction of available housing for locals.
Its not people driving the prices up its the usury based money system we live in, once you under stand this slavery money system we're in then come back to me.
yup 😅😔
I’ve been to this island loads of times, we hike and this little bit of paradise in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean just does not stop giving. It’s not the Canaries, thank goodness, if that’s your vibe then you may find it boring here. It has stunning scenery, friendly people and I wouldn’t hesitate if I had the opportunity, spending my retirement there.
I have been to the Canaries and I loved it. How is it different from there?
I’ve been to all the Canary Islands apart from El Hierro, they are all nice and different in their own way. Sao Miguel is like, middle earth, Derbyshire, the Lake District, Ireland all rolled into one, it’s not geared for the same kind of tourism as the Canaries, it’s if you enjoy the outdoors. like to hike in a mild climate then it maybe for you but if your looking for hot weather to sunbathe round a pool it may not be suitable for you, depends on how you want to spend your retirement, it’s an island and it’s remote…it can get damp, you may not be able to get all your conveniences on tap etc but like everything there upsides and downsides…
Another great video guys! And Josh, has anyone said how much better you look without the ball cap? I was so glad to see you lose that and you look much better without it. Totally different looking person.
Azores is a better option to moving, compared to Madeira, Madeira is becoming overcrowed, and you have direct flights from US, that Madeira don't have.
Thanks for sharing. That direct flight has certainly started to draw people with Portuguese roots from Canada and the US back to Portugal. It's pretty interesting. - Josh & Kalie
Fun fact: the island of Sao Miguel, was populated by immigrants from Flanders, now part of Belgium. People speak Portuguese but pronounce the words close to French. In fact, it sounds like French and People from Continental Portugal have difficulty understanding them. Another fun fact: there are more Azoreans, particularly from the island of Sao Miguel, in New England, USA, than in the Azores. The cruise ships have been stopping in Sao Miguel since the 1950's. The luxury yachts crossing the Atlantic have stopping since the 1930's.
Wow very interesting. Ive just returned and retiring there from northern Europe
Not exactly. Flemish are not where the accent comes from. Most Flemish settled in Faial, with some in Pico, Flores… São Miguel was first settled by people from the Algarve region. I find the accents interesting as both of my parents are from São Miguel. Both speak with a different dialect.
@@yvettec3156 The accent in Algarve is quite different, and they don't understand folks from Sao Miguel. The accents in other islands are quite different and easier to understand. Several families from Sao Miguel, who traced their genealogy, were taken back to Flanders...
@@zairoart yes, the accent is quite different. I agree. The point that I was trying to make was that the Flemish settlers that were in the azores were in the western islands. If anyone would have the French sound it would have been those islands.
@@yvettec3156 ok we agree to disagree.
I was lucky to live there for over 3 months this year and I'm coming back for another 7 months next year.
Btw I don't think you can swim in the lagoons. Aren't they protected?
Swimming in our lakes is not allowed
Man what you do for living to get an opportunity to live in such beautiful island?
@@bendover-bz4bc I'm a scuba diving instructor so I get to live in cool places all over the world, like Indonesia, Honduras, Azores, Greece etc
Great video! Looks like a great place for retired folk!
Thank you! Yes, it certainly could be. 😁 Are you starting to thing or dream? - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere depends on what direction the country goes in for the foreseeable future! 😜
Just a little correction the Azores has three Capital's Ponta Delgada, Angra do Heroismo and Horta. Ponta Delgada is indeed the largest city.
I guess we could have said, Executive Capital.
Hello, What about items from Aliexpress, eBay, Amazon?
Forget about that mate. My friends have to wait for one month for every little thing to be delivered. Basic stuff becomes a challenge.
Think twice before moving there! Experience of my friends: law wages,my friends struggling to make ends meet. Houses constantly get mouldy. Every purchase becomes a challenge: one small shopping mall, no appliances and furniture stores,everything delivered from mainland and takes months to arrive. No professional growth.
Dont move here... please
@@oche9827 hard to accept the truth?
@@lc4255 easy to accept... and im not the one frustrated with the azores... so, once again, easy to accept living in a wonderfull place.
Enjoy your toxic place you call home. Cheers!!!
Im sorry beeing rude... but your friend didnt aknowledge our history. You come here and you accept the challenge... life is not easy here... never was... never will be. Humidity will eat your bones... earthquakes will eat your home... landslides everywhere... its for hard and resilient people.
This is a great place for people who humbly understand Life.
@@oche9827listen mate, my friend is from London,obviously Azores is completely opposite to London lifestyle. We got used to higher salaries,faster services and more opportunities. Azores is not for urban people. And you know many locals go to work and move to North America , that has been for decades, because many of them want more money and different life.
What do you mean gas ? Do they have natrual gas for heating
Also do cars use petrol or diesel?
Love Sao Miguel. I go back in 2 weeks!
"it is growing in a popularity as a great place to visit" "there aren't many tourists" what do you define visitors as then? if not tourists?
We actually have too many tourists taking into account the size of the island... Get here in the peak of the season and go to places like Furnas or viewpoints at the west over the lake and you can't even have a decent spot for a photo. This video had so many wrong informations it's almost ludacris. Typical case of people that get here and spend less than a week and think they know everything about the life over here... Well... That's internet and vlogs. Everybody is a specialist nowadays
I still have so much left to explore here 😬😂
We. Do. Too! 😁 Let's Get Movin'. Right?! - Josh & Kalie
Hello is there one area of St Michael that you would recommend for an airbnb for a solo traveler. ?
Are the waters warm in summer? 20°
Just so everyone knows. The clips and scenery in this video are from the WHOLE of Sao Miguel and NOT Ponta Del Gada. The steam from the ground shots are from Furnace about a 45 min drive. The black sand beaches are from the other side of the island. Many many of the shots are outside the city. The island is beautiful but the city does not have the amenities this video leads you to believe. If they are lying about this one, who knows about the ones I haven’t been to.
Yes, we traveled around the eastern side of São Miguel and filmed and some of those shots were used in this video as they're locations easily accessible from Ponta Delgada. For example, if one Google image searches Ponta Delgada, it's common to see images of the two lakes that are in Sete Cidades, it's not to deceive but it's because these locations are a mere 35 minutes by car from the city, which in relative terms is close. Have a good weekend, John. - Josh & Kalie
Is it accessible to the rest of Portugal? How long would it take you to get to Lisbon
Yes. There are a ton of flights to a variety of airports in mainland Portugal namely Porto and Lisbon. 2-2.5 hours. - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere Ok great
Would you live there even when you retire?
These places were 25k few years ago
Ridiculous prices
Great video
Thanks! - Josh & Kalie
Boredom? Perfect for me!
The tropical island city to go to is Funchal, in Madeira.
@@grant5059 You mean Ponta Delgada. Yes, because Funchal is a much bigger city, with more diversity of people as well.
Diversity is why I wanna leave the mainland. No thanks. Azores it is.
@@mackmack2689 I'm not sure if Azores is a great place for racists either. Maybe pick another country.
What's the costs and time to fly to the mainland, and how is the internet (fast and reliable)? Thanks
Ryainair and EasyJet as well a TAP have cheap flight at a really regular rate. Daily. The internet was fine in the several places we used it. Ponta Delgada should be just fine.
Thank you K&J for this comprehensive overview. 🙏🏼 Haven’t been but know several from the US who have and they all loved it. Many PT folks in US which I’ve met have Azorean ancestry. Interesting (but understandable) observation about the local dialect. 👄
Ponta Delgada reminds a little of Juneau, Alaska that was overrun by cruise ships in June. I don’t believe the level of cruise activity in P.D. would match that of Juneau (I’m guessing) but did you feel cruise ship activity is a cause for higher prices in restaurants and shops? 🤔 Cheers. 👋🏻
FYI, what one may hear in Ponta Delgada is not a dialect, but Portuguese through and through, albeit spoken with a regional accent. Variations in pronunciation happen in many countries, and Portugal is no exception. Take Ireland for example: would you call a typical accent from Co. Kerry, or from Co. Cork, or from Co. Donegal, or from Dublin, or from Belfast (to mention but a few) dialects of English?! Would you refer to a typical Scottish accent as a dialect of English?!
You're welcome. Thanks for watching and the thoughtful comment. We'll let you know about the tourism level in March or April when PD is a stop on a cruise that we're taking! 😁 - Josh & Kalie
@@miguelcoelho3877 Olá Miguel and thanks for your comments. Here are mine.
1) I’m a person who knows virtually nothing about the Portuguese spoken language. My knowledge is limited to four or five words at best. As such, I consider myself to be a very modest student of the language. I was intrigued by the apparent differences between the spoken language on the Azores vs. the continent.
2) YOU made the association between Portuguese and English-which I find a bit odd. Last I looked, and perhaps I’m wrong here as well, Portuguese is a Latin-based language. Hence, I was making the association (in my mind) between Portuguese and Italian…since both are Latin-based languages and I speak Italian. Spoken English has nothing to do with my observation-it was solely YOURS.
3) As you may know, the spoken and written so-called Italian language (in addition to many other characteristics) varies greatly by location-even a few kilometers away. Linguists and scholars (which you may be one) don’t always agree if the differences of Italian are, indeed, dialects or different languages. Given that, I was associating Portuguese with another Latin language.
4) Apologies if I confused you.
Never sure why Americans / Canadians pronounce it the way they do. It's surely rhymes with adores or abhors. Why AY -zoors?? Each to their own and it's only the tiniest thing, but does anyone else pronounce it this way? In Britain we rhyme with adores.
Muito bom 😊
Keep the Azores free from massive tourism and uncontrolled expats. The world is already full, glad to know there are still some peaceful places out there where people can live freely and at their own pace.
Most of the original inhabitants were from France. It sounds a little French.
that's 100% wrong there was absolutely no French migration to the Azores. The overwhelming majority of settlers were Portuguese who settled from the late 1400's-early 1500's.
I really enjoyed this video and it was really well done...I'd like to visit, but wouldn't expat that!! ❤Lisboa😁...LOL, You know me!!!
Thank you! 😃 We're glad that you liked it. Lisboa for you! We know. And Porto for us. you know. 😁 💪 - Josh & Kalie
My beautiful Mosteiros Parish
Hi, let me bust a myth about the Hospitals in Portugal and in the EU in general, the Public Hospitals here are NOT like in the US, public hospitals are the ones where you want to go when it's something serious, yes, the buildings will not be state of the art and looking brand spanking new, but the level of experience of doctors and specially nurses in our Public Hospitals is bar none, due to the fact to the amount of cases they take care of in a daily basis. If you got a flu and need some doctor's papers, sure, go to the private one, it will be faster for sure, but if you got something serious go to the Public Hospitals please! You will find, that in most cases, when it's serious the patients from Private Hospitals are transferred to public ones, this is the norm here.
True. We discuss this in a different video specially about healthcare. - Josh & Kalie
Go to the Azores when you're on the brink of death. It'll finish you off, you'll die of boredom.
Did you say tropical Not
The islanders have different accents but the language is the same.
any surf?
Yes, the island as a whole is a year-round destination but different spots work better at different times of the year. - Josh
Hey, just to say that the Azores are a part of Portugal so we don't have a capital. The only capital existing in Portugal is Lisbon.
Not tropical! Fauna? What fauna??
Where I was born
Awesome! - Josh & Kalie
Hi
It's not "punta". The correct name It's Ponta Delgada
Aquele que nao nascer de novo nao pode ver o reino de Dios Joao 3-3 BBN- Un oasis no deserto
I'm not sharing this. 🙊🙉🙈
A bored person IS a boring person. I'm amused AND content with simply napping!
🤣
Nice! Enjoy those naps. - Josh & Kalie
The women sounds like Ted in that Mark wahlberg movie.
great vid, just being British find your English so funny with terms like "expat that". Expat is not a verb is it? Funnier term is expat. Everyone else is an immigrant but Americans/English who are expats!
Wow you guys are sooo american its brilliant
Tell us you're British without telling us you're British. - Josh & Kalie
Unfortunately not I'm English
Azores not A-zores
ay·zorz (AME)
uh·zawz (BRE) - Josh
Your not a expat your a immigrant, just the same as when someone moves to your country
Terceira all day.
expensive island what it offers
Nothing like the title. You sound like an estate agency.
Ponta Delgada is not the capital of Azores.
Sorry, it's one of 3 capitals of the Azores. Is that better? Angra do Heroísmo and Horta being the other two. - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere 😃
Hey want to pay the exact same thing you already are wtih the added disadvantage of waiting 3 months for anything you need. Boy do we have an island for you...
you should have spoke in US money......
It's practically 1 euro to 1 USD at the moment. - Josh & Kalie
Time for a 7fter
No .. please don’t move to the azores .. please stay where you are and leave my people alone
There is no capital of the Azores...
My main impression after trip there: rather boring,poor service, no beaches with nice facilities ,no night life,no shopping. Place more for backpackers or pensioners.
Thanks for sharing, L C. - Josh & Kalie
It’s not for you if that’s what you’re looking for lol. Go to Ibiza for that.
@@briansilva4643it’s not for you to tell me where to go-that is first. Second-there is nothing there to keep on coming more then once.Zero service! They should look at world’s islands resorts like Maldives,Caribbean, Greek islands to see how to attract tourists,Ibiza is not the only one place just in case you don’t know. If locals want to improve their financial status and not live on low income like majority there.And I know that,my friend is from there,people struggle financially there and go to North America to earn money. But of course person with name Silva will like it😂.
The Azores are sacred.Therefore, they are not meant for tourism of the masses. Their land and their waters heal. Silence is needed and it is meant for zen activities. Not meant for shalow people.
@@paulomendes9524that’s why you never be as successful as Spanish islands. You just use what nature gave and not able to provide any decent services,that’s why poverty all over the place on this island and youngsters leave it for better.
So much cringe every time they say "A-Sores". At least learn how to pronounce the name of the place you're supposedly living in.
If it's too boring, just shut up. And don't talk about it... trust me, the locals don't want more people coming to the azores ... go to New York
The A-zores! 😂
“Realistic reality”??? Really?? Lol
No sandy beaches, is semi-tropical, beautifully green, great people, but is not Paradise without white sandy beaches
I live in São Miguel, and there's a lot of SANDY BEACHES in the entire island, the difference is just the color of the sand, which is DARK by vulcanic reasons.
@@bernardoa.a.r958 No Paradise
@@virtualworldsbyloff u mean NO TROPICAL PARADISE, because it's a subtropical Paradise, like Canada is a cold Paradise, or Europe mediterrenian islands that are a non TROPICAL Paradise, but a SUNNY and "WHITE SANDY BEACHES" paradise... there are many types of "PARADISES" around Earth..
@@bernardoa.a.r958 no, I mean no White Sandy Beaches, like in Corralejo, Canary Islands, that are Vulcanic but get white sand from the Sahara... Anyway a Paradise needs hot waters, no Paradise in Europe
Love the beaches here !! They are Beautiful! I go there every two years and love the black Sandy beaches 🏝️
Talk too much
Donna con voce fastidiosa.