I am an American living in Braga, NE of Porto. I find the drivers here very respectful of pedestrians in crosswalks. Perhaps because Braga is smaller and poorer than Porto, I feel comfortable smiling at and greeting people I pass when out walking. The people here are simply lovely. We have not ever regretted our move here.
Spot on!!!! I have experienced many of these differences myself but have been pleasantly surprised to find that I can handle a lot more discomfort than the US taught me I could. As you mention, "reframing" is a must - in all of life actually!
Awww yes totally reframe for llife! And you amaze me every day. Do you think you are far more adaptable now than you were a few years ago? I know I am!
Mu biggest concern is the noise, I currently live in a very quiet area so that would take some real work to get used to.
I do have an issue with ear plugs too, I have never found a pair that is comfortable.
I have been to the Porto area twice, admittedly not for any real length of time, but I never had any issues with being able to smile at strangers, and I am totally someone who will talk to any random person I run into. Maybe its the area you live in?
Well, the noise is definitely an issue, so all I can say is I’m super crazy noise sensitive, and I got used to it. As for the smiling, it’s an all over Europe thing. My sister has lived in France for over 20 years and has the same comment. Perhaps you were lucky or perhaps you were smiling at other tourists?! 🤷🏻♀️😅
For plumbing I always get a container of Lye wherever I live.
1. Boil a pot/kettle of water (big one)
2. Pour some boiling water down the drain to soften thing up
3. Pour a 1/4 cup of lye down drain
4. Add a touch of boiling water, let it really simmer in there wait 1-2m
5. Pour in rest of boiling water a little bit at a time
You can do this 2-3 times a year, at least at first.
This will remove all organic matter from drain and really open things up and prevent buildup.
This is safe for septic systems.
However if you have very old ceramic or terracotta infrastructure that is porous, it could be an issue. I've not had issues sofar.
Works for toilets too but you need to pour in a huge pot of boiling water from 3' up in the air to create a big pressure bubble, and you could lose the wax seal on toilet (USA) and must replace.
Wow! Great rundown. Most of these things I think I could be ok with, but the misogyny and not being able to smile at people sounds awful. Also the driving chaos sounds ridiculous. I am hoping to visit Portugal soon, in preparation for an eventual move, and I have to admit, this is now giving me major pause! I would not want to live right in the city though, so I think some of the chaos things might be different in the smaller towns (in the north).
Hi Shonna, everyone's experience and take is completely different. I truly hope that hearing the differences (which are my opinion only) doesn't stop you. In my experience, there's always an excuse or reason not to do it. But as I say 1,000 times a day, I HAVE ZERO REGRETS moving here and would move again in a heartbeat. There's nothing I miss about the US except Amy's drive-through and Trader Joes and those are not enough reasons for me to ever move back.
I enjoyed reading this and if ok with you, I'll write some observations of my own as a European living in Lisbon for almost 2 years:
Toilets: I still don't get the 'do not flush the toilet' paper part- I simply believe it is because Portuguese sewage system is crap (no pun intended, or may it is intended). It seems quaint to me that you think becuase Greece and Portugal are the oldest countries this would make sense- in Italy, which is probably 'older' than Portugal ( think the Roman empire) by some standards, they flush toilet paper. Nations in other parts of the Balkans (not Greece) flush toilet paper.
Heat/AC: I think think there is something of a Stockholm syndrome about lack of heat and a/c in places like Lisbon- especially with climate change- people sitting in coats at dinner table in their own home because it is freezing cold or being shut in the dark from 9am to 8pm to avoid the sun coming in- I believe it is mostly poverty, not the fairytale they like to tell, that it doesn't get that hot or that cold. I made a mistake of choosing a place with great exposure to the sun- cause I wanted to avoid the mould in winter but now my place gets unbearably hot and my landlord refuses to install a/c on the account of being both stingy and due to lower power supply in the building...)
Paying for repairs: my current landlord is doing everything to avoid spending a penny- and has been waiting for 9 months to fix the nasty smell coming from the bathroom drains- as he has found that it was not his fault but the condominiums' fault (condominium as you know is the owner's association) and hence they need to fix it- and the condominium will do everything in their power to avoid fixing anything to save their money). The smell was reported in December last year when I moved it and the repair is scheduled for September this year...)
Sidewalks- I have yet to fall, but I hold on to the wall or the rail, as if I was 90 years old. And dog shit is, as you say, everywhere.
Crosswalks: in Lisbon, people are surprisingly good at stopping for you, people who don't stop are Glovo delivery guys on electric bikes, they don't seem to want to loose the momentum, and women driving big cars, it seems they are too busy checking their phones.
Smiling: I am from the same country as Melania Trump, we don't smile randomly 😝 so I wouldn't know about this.
Driving in Portugal is dangerous. Hence the high rate of car accident related deaths.
Men: I've had not bad encounters yet. I am very tall, so Portuguese men, who are generally short, may find me (a bit)intimidating.
Beijinhos- I recently signed up for a gym and made plans to work with a personal trainer and she gave me a kiss on the cheek after our first encounter. I was a bit surprised.
Noise: it is really the worst. My ex and I lived above a family of 4 in our first apartment here, it was unbearable. Now my neighbours are really quiet, but I live across a street from a restaurant that doens't seem to have ventilation/a/c in their kitchen and as I keep my windows open in the summer, i hear the dishes being washed and stacked until 1 am every night except SUnday....
Smells: my bathroom smells awful (as I posted above), and I smell people grilling sardines on their balconies, my South Asian neighbours cooking cyrries at midnight, car exhaust, and there is also a mystery smell in colder months in Lisbon, sth between a sewage, paper mill and whatever other yucky thing that is- happens on days with lots of fog.
Delivery without a time window drives me nuts.
And the caps that stick to the bottle are a new thing in Europe since a few years- I think it is meant to reduce plastic pollution.
Ok, now you know more than you wanted to know... Sorry, am bedridden with covid (must be all those beijinhos) and bored.
Hi Liza!!!!!!! WOW, thank you, that's extensive! I also notice things every day that I forgot to include like the strong (fake) smell of perfume, etc. but I guess we become used to a lot, which I love.
I'm sorry you have Covid but I really hope you're feeling better now!
You had me laughing when you said "it must be all those beijinhos" hahaha.
I am an American living in Braga, NE of Porto. I find the drivers here very respectful of pedestrians in crosswalks. Perhaps because Braga is smaller and poorer than Porto, I feel comfortable smiling at and greeting people I pass when out walking. The people here are simply lovely. We have not ever regretted our move here.
Wonderful! Happy to hear!!! :)
Spot on!!!! I have experienced many of these differences myself but have been pleasantly surprised to find that I can handle a lot more discomfort than the US taught me I could. As you mention, "reframing" is a must - in all of life actually!
Awww yes totally reframe for llife! And you amaze me every day. Do you think you are far more adaptable now than you were a few years ago? I know I am!
Hell yes!
This is the truth, all of it, and if anyone is moving to Europe or Portugal 🇵🇹 read it 3 times!
Hey thanks for featuring my substack and you made me laugh out loud with your description of me🌹♥️
And my Seductive Siracusa Sicily Photography Retreat is on for 2026! Coming back to Italy in January yay!!😀
Awww thank you Mary and of course, I want to make it a habit to feature someone on each article, you were the kick off!
LOVE hearing about your Italian Photography Retreat coming up and as always, I love all your photos and stories!!!
This is very generous Kimberly, happy I was your kickoff, grateful 🌝🙏
Yes jazzed and doing cartwheels about my Seductive Siracusa Photography Retreat in Sicily ♥️it’s on!
Inviting travel enthusiasts to fall in love with it as I have ❤️🌝is a joy 🌈
YOU are one interesting lady.
Great article.
Thank you Frank!
Mu biggest concern is the noise, I currently live in a very quiet area so that would take some real work to get used to.
I do have an issue with ear plugs too, I have never found a pair that is comfortable.
I have been to the Porto area twice, admittedly not for any real length of time, but I never had any issues with being able to smile at strangers, and I am totally someone who will talk to any random person I run into. Maybe its the area you live in?
Well, the noise is definitely an issue, so all I can say is I’m super crazy noise sensitive, and I got used to it. As for the smiling, it’s an all over Europe thing. My sister has lived in France for over 20 years and has the same comment. Perhaps you were lucky or perhaps you were smiling at other tourists?! 🤷🏻♀️😅
Or I am just oblivious lol
Noooo!!!!
Ugh...I really wish you could edit your responses. I hate seeing typos lol
Sorry I am confused?
I understand!
For plumbing I always get a container of Lye wherever I live.
1. Boil a pot/kettle of water (big one)
2. Pour some boiling water down the drain to soften thing up
3. Pour a 1/4 cup of lye down drain
4. Add a touch of boiling water, let it really simmer in there wait 1-2m
5. Pour in rest of boiling water a little bit at a time
You can do this 2-3 times a year, at least at first.
This will remove all organic matter from drain and really open things up and prevent buildup.
This is safe for septic systems.
However if you have very old ceramic or terracotta infrastructure that is porous, it could be an issue. I've not had issues sofar.
Works for toilets too but you need to pour in a huge pot of boiling water from 3' up in the air to create a big pressure bubble, and you could lose the wax seal on toilet (USA) and must replace.
That's super helpful, thank you! I'll add Lye to my list and copy this over to a note!
Wow! Great rundown. Most of these things I think I could be ok with, but the misogyny and not being able to smile at people sounds awful. Also the driving chaos sounds ridiculous. I am hoping to visit Portugal soon, in preparation for an eventual move, and I have to admit, this is now giving me major pause! I would not want to live right in the city though, so I think some of the chaos things might be different in the smaller towns (in the north).
Hi Shonna, everyone's experience and take is completely different. I truly hope that hearing the differences (which are my opinion only) doesn't stop you. In my experience, there's always an excuse or reason not to do it. But as I say 1,000 times a day, I HAVE ZERO REGRETS moving here and would move again in a heartbeat. There's nothing I miss about the US except Amy's drive-through and Trader Joes and those are not enough reasons for me to ever move back.
Yes, smaller towns are mellower here! :)
I enjoyed reading this and if ok with you, I'll write some observations of my own as a European living in Lisbon for almost 2 years:
Toilets: I still don't get the 'do not flush the toilet' paper part- I simply believe it is because Portuguese sewage system is crap (no pun intended, or may it is intended). It seems quaint to me that you think becuase Greece and Portugal are the oldest countries this would make sense- in Italy, which is probably 'older' than Portugal ( think the Roman empire) by some standards, they flush toilet paper. Nations in other parts of the Balkans (not Greece) flush toilet paper.
Heat/AC: I think think there is something of a Stockholm syndrome about lack of heat and a/c in places like Lisbon- especially with climate change- people sitting in coats at dinner table in their own home because it is freezing cold or being shut in the dark from 9am to 8pm to avoid the sun coming in- I believe it is mostly poverty, not the fairytale they like to tell, that it doesn't get that hot or that cold. I made a mistake of choosing a place with great exposure to the sun- cause I wanted to avoid the mould in winter but now my place gets unbearably hot and my landlord refuses to install a/c on the account of being both stingy and due to lower power supply in the building...)
Paying for repairs: my current landlord is doing everything to avoid spending a penny- and has been waiting for 9 months to fix the nasty smell coming from the bathroom drains- as he has found that it was not his fault but the condominiums' fault (condominium as you know is the owner's association) and hence they need to fix it- and the condominium will do everything in their power to avoid fixing anything to save their money). The smell was reported in December last year when I moved it and the repair is scheduled for September this year...)
Sidewalks- I have yet to fall, but I hold on to the wall or the rail, as if I was 90 years old. And dog shit is, as you say, everywhere.
Crosswalks: in Lisbon, people are surprisingly good at stopping for you, people who don't stop are Glovo delivery guys on electric bikes, they don't seem to want to loose the momentum, and women driving big cars, it seems they are too busy checking their phones.
Smiling: I am from the same country as Melania Trump, we don't smile randomly 😝 so I wouldn't know about this.
Driving in Portugal is dangerous. Hence the high rate of car accident related deaths.
Men: I've had not bad encounters yet. I am very tall, so Portuguese men, who are generally short, may find me (a bit)intimidating.
Beijinhos- I recently signed up for a gym and made plans to work with a personal trainer and she gave me a kiss on the cheek after our first encounter. I was a bit surprised.
Noise: it is really the worst. My ex and I lived above a family of 4 in our first apartment here, it was unbearable. Now my neighbours are really quiet, but I live across a street from a restaurant that doens't seem to have ventilation/a/c in their kitchen and as I keep my windows open in the summer, i hear the dishes being washed and stacked until 1 am every night except SUnday....
Smells: my bathroom smells awful (as I posted above), and I smell people grilling sardines on their balconies, my South Asian neighbours cooking cyrries at midnight, car exhaust, and there is also a mystery smell in colder months in Lisbon, sth between a sewage, paper mill and whatever other yucky thing that is- happens on days with lots of fog.
Delivery without a time window drives me nuts.
And the caps that stick to the bottle are a new thing in Europe since a few years- I think it is meant to reduce plastic pollution.
Ok, now you know more than you wanted to know... Sorry, am bedridden with covid (must be all those beijinhos) and bored.
Hi Liza!!!!!!! WOW, thank you, that's extensive! I also notice things every day that I forgot to include like the strong (fake) smell of perfume, etc. but I guess we become used to a lot, which I love.
I'm sorry you have Covid but I really hope you're feeling better now!
You had me laughing when you said "it must be all those beijinhos" hahaha.