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

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 ...

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!

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 $...

They say that people in the Alentejo remember what the rest of the world has forgotten. I must admit, I have used that as a lead more than once. But after the last few weeks, I saw that it was rather true. My family and I spent seven weeks living in the Alentejo—we bought a rural farmhouse not far from Estremoz—and transplanted ourselves into an area where we knew no one.

What's not to like about Portugal? Who wouldn't want to live here? That all depends on who you ask. Believe it or not, there are thousands of people disenchanted — or even disgusted — by what they've experienced in Portugal. So many, in fact, that there are several (private) Facebook groups where people can post and comment freely about what went wrong for them while living in this country.

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.

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.

"I want to take you on a musical travel of sorts." Beginning in the 18th century and spanning the centuries through today's modern music, here's what you want to know about Portugal's music ... interspersed with Youtube links that complement the brief narrative.

Data from the Portuguese Immigration and Border Service show that only 216 of the 1,281 foreigners granted permanent residence in Portugal in 2022 came from the United States. Overall, we make up less than 1.5% of the country’s total immigrant population.

Unlike some countries which pay you interest for the privilege of holding and investing your money, Portugal (and Spain) charge you for “renting” space at their banks. Add five euros each month … just for maintaining your account. To this, your bank will also charge you transaction fees. Consider transfers: Regardless of the amount or location to which you’re transferring funds, you’ll be charged a fee–plus IVA!

Imagine relocating to a different country where you don't even speak the language. So many things you need to buy--including, first and foremost, a car to take you around. You shop the local online classifieds and find the vehicle you want. After following all the instructions -- and receiving all of the paperwork and documentation -- you learn that you're the latest victim of spamming: Internet thievery. How did this happen? What can you share with others to warn them to be careful? Read the learning lesson one new Portugal resident from the USA learned ... the hard way.

Living in Portugal, one learns to be patient. The bureaucracy is tedious, never ending, and long-winded. It's frustrating enough when dealing with government agencies ... but systematic negligence and incompetence when dealing with retailers and service providers are legion. ANACOM, which regulates and oversees Portugal's communications sector recorded more than 125 thousand complaints against communications providers in 2020 alone. MEO received the most complaints, with 35% of the 87.6 thousand complaints about telecommunications, followed by NOS with 32%, Vodafone with 30%, and Nowo with ...

Sometime around two years ago, our house in Portugal — Alcains, Castelo Branco to be precise — was broken into while we were away for a month. Upon returning and investigating, we knew we had been victimized and needed to inform the police. We went to our local police station and reported the crime. Eighteen (18) months later, we received a registered letter from the courthouse (tribunal) in Castelo Branco informing us that we were required to appear as witnesses two months later (17 October) in the courthouse. The fines and penalties for not appearing without providing acceptable ...

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.