移民生活分享：Terry夫妇移民葡萄牙的感受
移民生活分享：Terry夫妇移民葡萄牙的感受
大约两年半前，我和妻子实现了飞跃...
我们走了半个世界...到葡萄牙。
也许我们有点疯狂，但我们没有回头，我们再高兴不过了。
我们在夏威夷生活了40年，我的妻子安刚刚从急诊室护士的职业生涯中退休。现在是我们生命的下一阶段了，我们想充分利用它。我们存了足够的钱，但不想只是安顿下来，一个"舒适"的退休。我们想要新的，不同的，令人兴奋的。
我们俩都是积极健康的，我们喜欢旅行。我们认为更简单的生活，少可以多，听起来非常有吸引力。
生活和投资海外很快成为我们的指南，因为我们探索了住在美国以外的想法。我们获取了国家报告，并推荐了对外籍人士生活可能涉及哪些内容的研究。
当葡萄牙出现在"海外生活和投资"榜单上，成为旧世界生活的最佳地点时，我们真的变得感兴趣了。我们出国旅行多年，但从未到过葡萄牙。
我们知道我们适合自己的标准。温和的气候很重要，就像生活在海洋附近一样，良好的医疗保健、安全的环境、有趣的文化和历史、良好的食物以及合理的生活费用和建立居住地。我们也在寻找一个我们可以通过说英语得到的地方。
我们了解到葡萄牙拥有一切。
我们的朋友问我们为什么要住在一个我们从未见过的地方。安会简单地回答，"为什么不呢？她已经准备好冒险了！我们都准备好了
我们卖掉了房子，我们大部分的财产，收拾好我们的手提箱和相机，并进入一个未知的未来，回去不是一个选择。我们决定全中。
葡萄牙的阿尔加维地区看起来很有趣，但我们想靠近里斯本，至少最初是这样。我们再次转向海外生活和投资，以及他们在里斯本的联系人路易斯·达席尔瓦。我们觉得我们和路易斯一起中了头奖。他发现我们一个美丽，设施齐全，两居室的公寓在科斯塔达卡帕里卡，海景，只是很短的步行到海滩，就里斯本南里奥特霍。
科斯塔达卡帕里卡的海滩是巨大的，数英里的沙子和许多精致的贝壳，其中一些现在显示在我们家的架子上。冲浪在这里是一件大事，我们很惊讶，很高兴地发现。冲浪是世界级的，冲浪者也是。虽然我们不冲浪，但我们喜欢看。它帮助我们感觉离我们在夏威夷的原家很近。
没有汽车的生活是安和我都没有经历过的，因为我们在高中。现在，我们尽可能走，使用公共汽车、火车和优步，到太远的地方步行。回到夏威夷， 我从来不坐公共汽车， 总是到处开车， 从来没有意识到它怎么会被隔离。乘坐公共交通工具，我感觉更多的是社区的一部分，认识新朋友，并有更好的地方感。在某些时候，我们可能会得到一辆车，因为有很多偏远的地方，我们想探索，但现在使用我们的脚和公共交通适合我们很好。
三个月后，当我们的初始租赁租约到期时，我们决定搬到里斯本更近一些。这一次，路易斯在里斯本市中心和卡斯卡伊斯之间的卡西亚斯为我们找到了另一套两居室的公寓，可以欣赏海景。
这是一个小社区，有安静的社区和友好的人民。隔壁是一座大房子，里面有很多树木和灌木。住在那处房产上，是我们见过的最美丽的孔雀之一。每天早晨，我们看着他伸展他的羽毛和四处闲逛。你永远不知道你会在葡萄牙社区找到什么！
卡夏斯原来对我们来说太安静了。只有几个小街区的杂货店，我们经常坐火车到卡斯卡伊斯寻找补给品。没过多久， 我们才意识到在卡斯卡伊斯会更快乐...这意味着是时候再次移动。
卡斯卡伊斯似乎拥有我们要找的一切，我们喜欢，只需40分钟的火车车程到里斯本市中心。Luis 再次帮助我们找到了一间很棒的公寓，一边是一边，另一边是辛特拉山脉的壮丽景色。毫无疑问，这是我们在这个国家最喜欢的公寓和地点。现在我们感觉我们回家了我们爱卡斯卡伊斯
这里有很多可看和做的事情，我们觉得我们仍然才刚刚开始发现卡斯卡伊斯及其周边地区的真实本质。到目前为止，我们最喜欢的发现是周三和周六巨大的卡斯卡伊斯市场，有鱼贩、面包师、肉店和最新鲜的季节性农产品，价格很容易在钱包上找到。这是一个有着强烈社区意识的地方。
卡斯卡伊斯也拥有壮观的美丽，拥有干净的海水、崎岖的海岸线、白色的沙滩、石头建筑、鹅卵石人行道和几个公园。当太阳或月亮从海湾升起时，你可以感受到空气中的浪漫。我和我妻子感觉我们又坠入爱河了。我们最喜欢的消遣是手牵手沿着海湾漫步。
这里的人太棒了...友好，热情，帮助超越预期。虽然我们学了英语，但我们正在努力学习葡萄牙语。这是一个挑战，但值得付出努力。我遇到的人愿意帮助我学习， 当我正确发音一个单词时， 微笑是无价的。
我们喜欢走路。它防止我们生锈。我们最喜欢的散步之一，从我们的公寓15分钟，是葡萄牙最古老的活动灯塔之一，法罗尔达吉亚。从那里，我们沿着崎岖的海滨悬崖的海岸线沿着一条极好的步行/自行车道进入卡斯卡伊斯市中心。
在卡斯卡伊斯（Cascais）的户外咖啡馆中心，有海滨餐厅的餐厅，还有有趣的商店。除了公园，这里到处都是堡垒、博物馆、鲜花、棕榈树和雕像。我们经常在没有目的地或时间限制的情况下四处逛逛，只是享受网站和拍照。
卡斯卡伊斯的夏天就是出去享受海滩。每年这个时间，我们与来自世界各地充满活力的游客分享这座城市。冬天的月份要安静得多，大多数只有当地的葡萄牙人来陪伴我们。我们喜欢两个季节和每个带来的差异。
有一件事有助于在这里创造强烈的社区意识是年度活动日历。一年四周，我们在海湾有户外音乐会和烟火。然后有一个光节， 当来自世界各地的光艺术家投射他们的艺术在城市结构...国际帆船赛...马术比赛...每年夏天的塞韦哈斯 （啤酒） 和撒丁鱼 （沙丁鱼） 节日。
宏伟的里斯本就在我们家门口。这个城市让我们想起了旧金山，4月25日的红色吊桥、有轨电车（缆车）和陡峭狭窄的街道。我们到里斯本听音乐会、斗牛和丰盛的晚餐。最近，我们发现一家中餐馆，供应可敬的北京烤鸭，还有一家优秀的意大利餐厅栖息在海边的悬崖上。
我可以继续， 但你知道这个主意。
我们在葡萄牙一直感到安全，包括午夜后在里斯本的街道上行走。我们从来没有感到受到威胁。我们可能只是幸运， 但我们认为它不止于于于。这是一个真正安全的地方，也是养家糊口的好去处。孩子和狗无处不在，无论白天和晚上的所有时间。我们非常享受能够走出去，成为这一切的一部分。
我们满意我们的举动吗？没问题。我们在这里停留...仍然微笑每一天，我们大胆的举动和我们未知的未来。
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About two year-and-a-half years ago, my wife and I made the leap...
We moved halfway around the world... to Portugal.
Maybe we were a little crazy, but we haven't looked back and we couldn't be happier.
We'd lived in Hawaii for 40 years, and my wife Ann had just retired from her career as an emergency room nurse. It was time for our next phase in life, and we wanted to make the most of it. We'd saved enough, but we didn't want to just settle into a "comfortable" retirement. We wanted new, different, and exciting.
Both of us are active and healthy, and we love traveling. We thought a simpler life, where less could be more, sounded very appealing.
Live and Invest Overseas soon became our guide as we explored the idea of living outside the United States. We acquired country reports and did the recommended research into what expat living might entail.
When Portugal popped up on Live and Invest Overseas' list as the best place to live in the Old World, we really became interested. We'd traveled internationally for years but never to Portugal.
We knew our criteria for the right place for us. A mild climate was important, as was living near the ocean, good health care, safe environment, interesting culture and history, good food, and a reasonable cost of living and of establishing residency. We were also looking for a place where we could get by speaking English.
We learned that Portugal had it all.
Our friends asked why we were going to live in a place we'd never seen. Ann would simply reply, "Why not?" She was ready for adventure! We were both ready.
We sold our house, most of our possessions, packed our suitcases and cameras, and headed into an unknown future where going back was not an option. We decided we were all-in.
Portugal's Algarve region looked interesting, but we wanted to be near Lisbon, at least initially. Once again, we turned to Live and Invest Overseas and their contact in Lisbon, Luis da Silva. We felt like we hit the jackpot with Luis. He found us a beautiful, fully furnished, two-bedroom apartment in Costa da Caparica, with an ocean view and just a short walk to the beach, just outside Lisbon south of the Rio Tejo.
The beaches in Costa da Caparica are enormous, with miles of sand and so many exquisite seashells, some of which are now displayed on a shelf in our home. Surfing is a big deal here, we were surprised and happy to discover. The surf is world-class and so are the surfers. Although we don't surf, we love watching. It helps us feel close to our former home in Hawaii.
Life without a car is something neither Ann nor I have experienced since we were in high school. Now we walk wherever we can and use the bus, train, and Uber to get around to places too far for walking. Back in Hawaii, I'd never take the bus, always driving everywhere, never realizing how it can be isolating. Using public transportation, I feel more a part of the community, meet new people, and have a better sense of place. At some point we may get a car, because there are a lot of remote places we want to explore, but for now using our feet and public transportation suits us just fine.
After three months, when the lease on our initial rental was expiring, we decided to move closer to Lisbon. This time Luis found us another two-bedroom apartment with an ocean view in Caxias, midway between downtown Lisbon and Cascais.
It was a small community with quiet neighborhoods and friendly people. Next door was a large house with lots of trees and shrubs. Living on that property was one of the most beautiful peacocks we'd ever seen. Each morning we watched him stretch his feathers and prance around. You never know what you'll find in Portuguese neighborhoods!
Caxias turned out to be too quiet for us. With only a couple of small neighborhood grocery stores, we frequently took the train to Cascais for supplies. It didn't take long to realize that we'd be much happier in Cascais... meaning it was time to move again.
Cascais seemed to have everything we were looking for, and we loved that it is just a 40-minute train ride to the center of Lisbon. Luis again helped us find a great apartment with a sweeping ocean view on one side and a spectacular view of the Sintra Mountains on the other. This is, without a doubt, our favorite apartment and place in this country. Now we feel like we're home. We love Cascais.
There's so much to see and do here that we feel like we are still only beginning to discover the true nature of Cascais and its surrounding areas. Our favorite discovery so far has been the enormous Cascais market on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with fishmongers, bakers, butcher shops, and the freshest seasonal produce you can find at prices easy on the wallet. This is a happening place with a strong sense of community.
Cascais is also spectacularly beautiful with clean ocean waters, a rugged coastline, white sandy beaches, stone buildings, cobblestone sidewalks, and several parks. When the sun or moon rises over the bay, you can feel the romance in the air. My wife and I feel like we're falling in love all over again. Our favorite pastime is strolling along the bay holding hands.
The people here are marvelous... friendly, welcoming, and helpful beyond expectation. Although we get by with English, we're trying to learn Portuguese. It's a challenge but worth the effort. People I meet are willing to help me learn, and the smiles are priceless when I actually pronounce a word correctly.
We love to walk. It keeps us from getting rusty. One of our favorite walks, 15 minutes from our apartment, is to one of the oldest active lighthouses in Portugal, the Farol da Guia. From there we follow an excellent walking/bike path along the coastline of rugged seaside cliffs into downtown Cascais.
In the center of Cascais outdoor cafés, restaurants with seaside dining, and interesting shops abound. In addition to the parks, there are forts, museums, flowers year-round, palm trees, and statues everywhere. We often stroll around with no destination or time constraints, just enjoying the sites and taking photos.
Summer in Cascais is all about getting outside and enjoying the beaches. This time of year, we share the city with a vibrant tourist crowd from all over the world. The winter months are much quieter, with mostly just local Portuguese folks to keep us company. We like both seasons and the differences each brings.
One thing that helps to create the strong sense of community here is the annual events calendar. All year long we have outdoor concerts and fireworks by the bay. Then there's a Festival of Light when light artists from around the world project their art on city structures... international sailing races... equestrian events... and each summer cervejas (beer) and sardinhas (sardine) festivals.
Magnificent Lisbon is on our doorstep. This city reminds us of San Francisco with its red 25th of April suspension bridge, trams (cable cars), and steep, narrow streets. We've traveled to Lisbon for concerts, a bullfight, and great dinners out. Recently we found a Chinese restaurant that serves respectable Peking duck and an excellent Italian restaurant perched on a cliff over the ocean.
I could go on and on, but you get the idea.
We've always felt safe in Portugal, including walking the streets of Lisbon after midnight. Never have we felt threatened. We could just be lucky, but we think it's more than that. This is a truly safe place and a great place to raise a family. Kids and dogs are everywhere, at all times of day and night. And we are so enjoying being able to get out and be part of it all
