Showing results by author "Bruce Joffe" in All Categories

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 ...

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.

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, ...

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.

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.

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.

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.

Tipping has been one of those difficult adjustments for me to make, now that we live in Portugal and Spain. While I am tempted to use the same rule of thumb that guided my gratuities in the USA – 20% for good service, 10-15% for acceptable, less for less – I am seeing how awkward even appreciative workers here may feel and react when given a tip based on these percentages.

Here in Portugal, there are more than 500 groups just for “expats.” They cater to every possible want or need: buying property or second-hand furniture, advice on visas, home renovation, caring for the land, restaurant recommendations, hiking and horse riding, local events and happenings, rehoming pets, connecting women, connecting singles, connecting various LGBTQ immigrants. If you can think of a niche or particular interest, there is a Facebook group for it.

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 ...

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 ...

"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.

As two of the most Catholic countries, religious holidays are bountiful in both Spain and Portugal, where many of the same feast days and ferias are celebrated. Of Portugal’s 13 annual legal holidays, seven – more than half – are religious. Spain has ten national holidays of which seven – 70% -- are also based on religious observances.

Consider this scenario, one quite familiar to everyone seeking to move abroad to Portugal (and Spain). One of the indispensable requirements of obtaining a residency visa is documenting that you have a dwelling … at least for your first six months here. You can rent or buy. Your choice. Though some opt for renting, knowing they will have to relocate when their lease is up, it’s a sensible choice—especially if you have few household items and worldly goods to transport. You’ll have a chance to live up close and personal and understand the lay of the land as you explore other ...

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!

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?

It’s been well over six years now since we relocated to Portugal from the USA, time enough to evaluate our life and experiences here. Overall, we do love Portugal—for what it is, not for what it’s not. Too many people focus on the reasons why they’re leaving their homelands, rather than why they’ve chosen to live in another country. Some people are thrilled to acculturate and absorb Portuguese culture; others, however, are unable to adapt to the ways of their adopted country, and shuttle back and forth as foster children… ultimately deciding that Portugal isn’t for them. ...

"There has been a very concerning rise in far-right racist attacks in Portugal, confirming that the hate messages are fueling more aggressive tactics that target human rights defenders from racial minorities,” states the European Network Against Racism (ENAR), calling for an urgent institutional response. Religious discrimination and hate crimes are on the rise in Spain, as well, pushed by rhetoric from far-right political movements.