Mostrando resultados por autor "Bruce Joffe" en Todas las categorías

Although Portugal provides universal health care to its citizens -- and foreign residents! -- many of us choose the augment this coverage with private health care insurance ... the annual premiums for which lately have skyrocketed! Nevertheless, you do have options for the coverage you need at a price you can afford for you and your family. Here's a comprehensive list of private health care insurance providers (with links to their coverage and cost sites online) where you can get the biggest bang for your buck. Remember: It's not health insurance you need ... it's health assurance!

Spending less than $20,000 per year on comprehensive health care, car and property insurance, taxes, heating and air conditioning, furnishings, water, twice monthly cleaning, trash pick-up, and all living expenses, we’re maintaining three properties — two in Portugal and one in Spain — on my early retirement Social Security payments of $2,250 (about €2,100 at today's exchange rate) per month.

I asked AI to predict what could happen if the entire government – executive, legislative, and judicial branches – was Republican … albeit with one critical caveat: the president was a convicted felon. At first, AI was baffled, stumped, and spent much longer than usual in its “thinking” mode. Then, it spit out an answer: the sordid story of Donald Trump and his criminal activities. From 1973 until he was first elected in 2016, Trump and his businesses were involved in over 4,000 legal cases in the United States federal and state courts—including battles with casino patrons, ...

Sacred Texts, Sacred Lives explores biblical texts concerning same-sex relationships. The book challenges traditional interpretations that marginalize same-sex relationships and seeks to provide a framework for understanding these relationships as part of the divine creation. Historical perspectives on homosexuality in religious texts are examined to understand evolving interpretations, while a comparative analysis of different religious views on homosexuality highlights diversity in beliefs. The book emphasizes the impact of scripture on LGBTQ+ lives and the need for inclusive theological ...

"Spain & Portugal - Before You Go" offers an insider's guide to navigating the quirks and complexities of life in Spain and Portugal. Drawing from personal experiences, the author highlights practical tips on everything from local customs and driving rules to healthcare nuances, while also revealing unexpected challenges and delights of each country. This essential read prepares travelers and future residents for a richer, more informed experience in these vibrant nations.

We’re on your way home, back to Portugal. Our car-minivan-van-caravan is filled almost to the brim with two humans, two dogs, food and purchases we’re taking back with us on the motorway. The sweltering heat is hovering around 45 degrees and it’s muggy, to boot. Two days earlier, we’d replaced the battery; now, a light on the dashboard indicates in Portuguese “Verificar bomba de óleo” (Check oil pump). Seconds later, a different light comes on in all capital letters in red: “STOP!” The language is universal. We pull off onto a median strip and turn of the engine, which is ...

During our 7+ years living in Portugal, we have bought and sold eight properties: three houses and an office building. Now, we were contemplating another purchase … a small shop for our antiques and collectibles business in a UNESCO-designated historic area in the northern Alentejo, near the Badajoz border with Spain. As with any property purchase — especially homes — we sought a place that met our needs in terms of location, location, location … size … price … and condition.

Seeking to relocate abroad? Are you considering the sun-kissed lands of Iberia: Spain and Portugal? You definitely should ... as both countries offer a high quality of life and a lower cost of living. While Spain and Portugal share much in common, they also are very different. Here's a concise examination of the similarities and differences between the two in terms of what really matters to relocation: culture, language, places of interest, cost of living, etc. This book is the perfect place to begin your expat or immigrant journey and help you choose whether Spain -- or Portugal -- is for ...

Truth be told, Portugal is being oversold. "The sales gimmick of Portugal having the best beaches in Europe, the warm weather, low cost of living, and hospitable people was charming and very appealing. However, as reality set in, I discovered a different picture--more of a western country being operated as a third world country, or an eastern bloc bureaucratic central system," said one critic.

Peering through the peephole of Spanish, because it’s my familiar tongue, I try to unpack the mysteries of how the Portuguese language works—and why. But my Spanish also causes obstacles, hurdles, and stumbling blocks. People constantly remind me that I’m thinking – and talking – in Spanish.

In a world where the USA's isolationist policies have left many feeling disconnected, "Portuguese Passports" follows the journey of an American couple navigating the labyrinthine process of obtaining dual nationality in Portugal. Amidst bureaucratic challenges and cultural misunderstandings, they uncover not just the privileges of a Portuguese passport, but also the resilience of human connections across borders. As they strive for a new beginning, their story reflects the complexities of belonging in an increasingly divided world.

Secession, a term that resonates deeply within American history, refers to the act of a state withdrawing from the Union. This concept has emerged in various forms throughout the nation’s past, often driven by political, economic, and social motivations. The debate surrounding whether states should secede from the United States is not merely theoretical; it raises important questions about governance, identity, and the very fabric of American democracy. States like Texas, California, Alaska, and Vermont have entertained the notion of secession in modern times, reflecting ongoing ...

Who's the rude ones: us or them? “Traffic jams, badly behaved children, disagreements between couples, red tapes, and queues all add up to make the Portuguese the mount irritable, bad tempered, and explosive nation in Europe.” This was among the shocking results of a public survey carried out in 17 countries throughout the European Union by Reader’s Digest in conjunction with leading universities. The leading question made in the survey was this one: “What irritates Europeans the most?” According to Jorge de Sá, professor of sociology and an expert in vox pop surveys, the ...

After owning a vacation home in southern Spain for 18 years and two properties in Portugal for over six, we’ve started to notice and track a variety of not-so-subtle lifestyle differences between the two countries. When or if comparing your expectations or experiences with ours, please bear in mind that we live in towns and villages – not coastal cities – where our neighbors are natives, and many don’t speak English. We’re comparing typical suburban settings, not urban ubiquities, between the two countries.

Geography plays a significant role in shaping the culture and lifestyle of both Spain and Portugal. While both countries share the Iberian Peninsula, each has its own unique landscape, language, culture, and customs. Is either country — or both! — a good fit for you?

The European Union aims to enable EU citizens and legal residents to study, live, shop, work, and retire in any EU country while enjoying products from all over Europe. To accomplish this, it ensures the free movement of goods, services, capital, and persons in a single EU internal market. Sounds like a great idea! By removing technical, legal, and bureaucratic barriers, the EU also allows people to trade and do business freely in this single market. That’s all well and good. But moving beyond principles to practice, let’s see if and how this market actually works. To simplify matters, ...

Wherever you want to buy (or rent), the same general rule applies: Housing costs more in Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve, Silver Coast and their suburbs (Portugal) ... or Madrid, Barcelona, Ibiza, and Málaga (Spain) than comparable inland properties. But, if you know what you want and are willing to reside away from the major tourist traps, you can get one heck of a deal in both Portugal and Spain. Whether you're looking to live in Portugal full-time or seeking a vacation retreat that you can rent out when you're not there, Portugal offers many "soup-to-nuts" opportunities for less than US $...

In an era where the flicker of film can ignite movements and the sway of a storyline can shift societal perspectives, LGBTQ+ cinema stands as a vibrant beacon of representation, resilience, and revelry. From coming-of-age tales that tug at our heartstrings to quirkily comedic shorts that make us laugh until we cry, we see how these cinematic gems resonate far beyond the screen. These films often serve as both mirrors and windows, allowing viewers to see themselves or gain insight into the lives of others. They navigate the trials of love, identity, and self-acceptance with a delightful ...

You're relocating from the USA to Portugal or Spain. So, relocating across the Atlantic becomes a major matter of logistics. Here are the vital steps before, during, and after you travel to prepare for moving your dog(s) or cat(s) to Iberia with you. Not only are the rules are regulations, laws and legalities covered, but also what you need to know in terms of your pets' health and welfare abroad. Included here, too, is a special bonus: a read-aloud children's story about how a dog's life in Portugal can differ substantially from what we're familiar with in the USA.

Through anecdotes and research, Joffe’s narrative explores why we fear and hurt so much: “For many, this need to adjust – to a hostile environment, uncertain economic times, tensions tugging at war and terrorism, extremist politics, racial injustice and religious intolerance, marginalization, spiritual voids, social disconnections, conflicting realities, artificial intelligence, etc. – is threatening, because it removes us from the safety nets and security blankets of our personal comfort zones, whatever they may be,” he says.