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Portugal did not work out for us.

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Portugal did not work out for us.

All animations by my son Sky:

Our amazing travel agent G can be reached here:

Oftentimes in life, things don’t turn out as planned. We have ideas of how things should go, but the Universe will intervene, and instead take us down a different path, as if that’s the experience we were meant to have.

Are there always lessons in that to be learned? Who really knows, but it’s definitely a different version than what we had in mind.

Which is exactly what happened to us, as we traveled to the US to submit our Portuguese visas and then to Mexico to spend a couple of months awaiting the processing.

Boy, did things end up differently than we ever imagined!

Not only the experience itself of traveling through so many cities, but the fact that we came to realize that Portugal wasn’t the right fit for us.

What followed will surprise you…

Find me here on Instagram:

#portugal #europe #travel #portugaltravel #europetravel #europeantravel #mexico #mexicotravel #mexicantravel #portuguese #movingtoeurope #france #movingtofrance #worldtravel #worldtraveler #travelingtheworld #traveltheworld #traveling #globetrekker #worldexploration #visaprocessing #frenchliving #francetravel #exploringfrance #exploringeurope #movingabroad

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50 COMMENTS

  2. Wow! Thanks for honesty! My husband and I have talked about moving to Portugal or Spain part time and we have spent time there but we live on West Coast and thought flying back and forth across USA would get old and then over Atlantic would get old after a while. On the other hand, we have visited New Orleans several times abd have really enjoyed the vibe and have thought about staying down there for a few months sometime in the future. But, I agree and think the pandemic has made traveling a little more crazy byt I'm sure it will calm down in a few years.

  3. The poor parts of Europe are not really cosy, and mentality’s are soooo different to America. I assume it’s mostly that Americans speak no other languages and speak about different things. Europe is the old world where people speak their real mind, not putting on a show. Kinda refreshing but not for the faint of heart. Wishing you all the best ❤

  4. Thank you for sharing. We are considering moving to Portugal, but we also loved our visit to Paris. Can you please tell me the difference in waiting time for the Portuguese visa versus the French visa?

  6. I came to Portugal more than a decade ago, did not gel with the place and moved back to my home country. My home country is infested with crime and a failing economy, and I decided to move back to Portugal a few years ago. Yes, Portugal has a a different culture with a different way of doing things and it has its problems. However now being wiser and not chasing unrealistic fantasies – I'm now very appreciative of living in a safe country and doing the things I want to do.

  9. Can't watch the whole video now and don't know about your plans, but come to live in Mauritius. I have watched your previous video where you had problems with the internet, door frame etc, you won't be plagued by these problems here. Mauritians are bilingual, English and French. The country is not perfect but has many advantages.

  10. I love having stumbled your channel. The videos alone are so well done. But what I enjoy most is the invaluable content. I too share the desire to move abroad. Spain in particular. I visited a few countries in Europe this summer and I fell in love with Madrid. I wish the relocation process from the States to Madrid was easier. I love the way you guys have worked together as a team to get to where you guys want to be. It is beyond inspiring. You guys are very fortunate to have each other and to work so well together even under all the stress and pressure the relocation has caused. Thank you for putting this quality content out and I wish you guys a happy life in France!

  11. Love your commentaries…..and seeing the journey of you and your wife….I lived in France years ago…..and am always thinking of moving back……but I live in Northern California…..and really do love it here……looking forward to your adventure in France…..mine began in Aix en Provence…and went to Paris.

  12. Hi Thank you for your videos. My husband and I too sold our house and all of our belongings and moved to Portugal in July 2021 from the USA. We were there for 3 months, and decided it was not for us. It is different to vacation in a country and Living in a country. It is a culture shock, even as beautiful as the country is, it was too much of a change for us. Also, my sons were still living in the USA. So that also made it difficult. Much success to you finding your landing spot. We probably didn't give it enough time, but still feel like we made the right move back to the USA. I will go back and visit to Portugal in the future for sure. Ruth

  13. I think it’s great that you got to know Portugal so well. That was not time wasted! You learned more about yourselves-your wants, needs and deal breakers. I look forward to your France chapter! ❤️

  14. You sound like the whiny americans i see when i travel abroad. and i live in america. OMGGGG, they make me wanna cringe and disappear when i see whiny / needy americans when i travel …and it is OFTEN. I and my friends have many many stories of being embarrassed by americans abroad. …This sounds like THEM. Can you imagine jamaicans going online becasue our plantains weren't in every store, or Tanzanians whining because they didn't get their fufu ontime or they saw our american zoos and were almost in tears. or japanese whining because they had to wait for the computer chip THEY wanted wasn't available on time in the USA. stop whining and adjust or go back to your 'comfort spot' but quit going places and making us who understand usa vs not-usa, have to explain that we aren't ALL like that idiot over there… appreciate something and stop whining and crying. you make us all look bad.

  16. I mean you kind of covered this around minute 1:30, but y'all are really particular and may not be suited to international living. If you've got really strong ideas about how things should look or be, travel is your best way to be disappointed. I've lived in Europe, Asia for 7 years, and traveled to a bunch of other countries, and I finally learned you just have up let go of how you think it should be, and appreciate what is. Noise, mosquitoes, disappointing food, illness, communication problems, cultural differences, visa and passport delays or issues… I've experienced all of that too, but also had to work (with local bosses and coworkers) in those situations. I think you'll really have to change your mentality if you want to live abroad long term. Portugal, Mexico, France…you'll keep running into the same discomfort no matter which country you go to.
    That said, your content is wonderful, and your commentary is insightful, and I'm rooting for you!

  18. Well, you had some experience and did you not first read up on some of the places you wanted to see…I ALWAYS did, were ever I went Europe Asia south Pacific Mongolia Africa…so I can not see that you are surprised of what you encountered…also a lot of waisted money, but if have a lot of that enjoy those silly touristy places…

  19. My husband and I moved from the US to Portugal in 2019. We refitted a van in 2021 and spent the past year traveling through France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Spain, and Italy. We loved each country for different reasons, but Portugal is our place!

  22. I totally feel y’all! I had bought a ticket to Portugal after my daughter had been delayed there for 2 weeks and she told me that I should retire there and to at least go check it out for a bit, well my flight left the day of lockdown, I did get reimbursed for my Airbnb but not the airline via another party. I drove to Baja Ca Sur from Raleigh, NC, totally clueless as what to expect and wow my first month there was complete isolation which is what I really didn’t need after lockdown!, but after a few months in the southern Baja area realized that there are so many cool, simple little pockets, totally diamonds in the rough! Cheers to y’all for finding your happy spot!

  23. Why?!? Because Americans look for a soft landing and follow where other Americans say is great to live or retire, because Americans are fearful of just taking the leap alone in another Country due to fears we are told about other Countries are less than the USA. Save yourself the hassle and go see for yourself first, live there for 3 months,before buying or renting long term, because there’s so many factors where those places that everyone say’s is amazing may not be for you. Good luck with France, but also be prepared for some crazy Beauracracy in France, but I think it’s better than Portugal, in my opinion..
    I know from experience.😉

  24. Very interesting ideas and struggles. What about cost of living differences? What about tax differences? Was the VFS process easier for France or did you just take the same things you had prepared for Portugal and "just" switch them over to French forms? Many thanks for sharing.

  26. Thank you for letting us be part of your journey. I admire how you and your wife embrace life. My husband and I visited Portugal at the end of August with our two teenage children and we loved the Silver Coast. We are contemplating options for after the kids are off. I really like Portugal but I must admit I am pretty in love with France. Our son spent part of last year studying in Rennes. It was magical last Christmas…there was a neat Christmas Market/Art Fair and a whole carnival thing. That part of France reminds me a bit of the Pacific Northwest (we live in Seattle)…I suppose it is the coastal vibe. Concarneau was a sweet town and there is a fabulous Airbnb with a Jules Verne theme (and a hot tub). On another note, I would like to commend you on your video quality…The editing is great and I think you are a natural in front of the camera (just like your son). More videos please!

  29. “Try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don't search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live with them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now.”
    Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet

  30. Bonjour and love from New Zealand! We have been here since May and navigating all the things but still loving our choice. Wishing you both a great new chapter in France. It's a brave new world. Sending good vibes your way.

  32. Im sorry. I can’t watch anymore. I know I’m in the minority here. I picked y up on your theme. You complain a LOT. You lost me when you “had to insist” that folks stopped working. Good luck on your adventure.

  34. Wow, If you took the two of you and made one, and then were 83, you would have my mother who has had an almost PARALLEL experience to yours, (including losing her phone like your passport in Bali when she first arrived, etc) in moving from California to Bali. After 10 months there, we met in Greece, and toured several islands, Barcelona and…drum roll…Portugal, for my family it was to seek a place to move, and for her, a possible alternative to Bali, or a six-month home to split with Bali that wasn't quite clicking. All the while, we all knew we preferred the south of France, but we kept pushing that aside. She went back to Bali, and things really didn't work out this time-in a month, she was back to me in Los Angeles, and now we spend the next four months investigating the south of France before arriving there to look for rentals; we won't buy until we have lived a full year there. We feel about Portugal exactly as you described it too. If only we had a camera and your editing skills 😉 THANK YOU for documenting your journey with such real and raw honesty and insight..it's almost as if it's been tailor made for us to watch and commiserate and learn. Ironically, your link was sent to me from our friends who did move to Portugal-45 mins. outside Coimbra and off grid, and who felt sure we were going to join them as did we at one point…but alas, as you know, the Universe had other plans 🙂

  35. How come you haven't considered Spain? You speak the language but the country itself is probably a bit more like France than Portugal. Then, depending on the region you can really have tourist areas, quiet towns, cities etc

  37. Playa del Carmen is a great option instead of Cancun or Tulum! It is underrated so its very peaceful, the hotel and the people need to abide & adjust by the environments' rules, so a natural wonder! Conservation is heavy there.. On another note, since yall speak Spanish, have you considered Spain? I went to Barcelona & its beautiful 😍 and its a seaside town too, but I'm sure there is more in Spain

  43. Hi, I used to live in San Miguel de Allende for many years and I also really enjoy it. My mother owned a house there in Colonia San Antonio within walking distance to the Jardin. You went to Pet Vet there where my friend and veterinarian Alma has worked for years. Small World.

  45. I was quite interested in your video as we have lived happily in Portugal for over a year now. I wanted to hear about your experience in Portugal but your video was more about your personal experiences in your decision process in deciding where to retire. My wife and I did things differently; we were still working when we began considering where to live in retirement. We visited the countries on our short list and reviewed the residency requirements. When I was still working we decided on Portugal, and by chance we found a place to buy several years ago. It was only prior to retirement that we did the steps for residency. I did not understand why you were going through the very lengthy residency process before being firm on your target country. Americans can stay in Europe for six months at a time, which allows ample time to evaluate a country if you have that kind of time. But my advice for anyone who does not have substantial overseas living experience is to take your time and really make sure that you are prepared for the challenges of a foreign country. We see lots of people come and go because they were not prepared for the scope of change. The people who stay seem to have considered long and hard and are committed for the long term.

  46. Not the fault of Mexico, I got super sick w/ a cold in San Miguel Allende! More sick than I'd ever been. What is it about that place? I didn't see much of it b/c I was dead to the world. What I did see was enchanting. Someday I'll go back. I was on a trip through Central Mexico, traveling by car from D.F. The next stop was Patzcuaro, which is a fascinating, historical place, original name translates to Door of Heaven, which is so true. Looking forward to your move to France.

  47. Watching you all fill the visa applications was really funny. Some of us have to do that every time we want to visit France/ Europe as tourists! Not just for the long term.

    I.e. I’m going for 2 days for a conference. NEW visa.

    Going for 1 week for holiday. a NEW visa.

    The Schengen is one of the few places that requires some nationals to apply for a visa for every visit you make.

    U have to submit bank statements, marriage certificates .. all for a 2 day visit, for instance!! It’s literally crazy.

  48. It's too bad that you didn't choose Playa Del Carmen Mexico instead. It's 45 minutes towards Cancun, has amazing access to Cozumel Island, and is the place Mexicans go to vacation. Tulum seems to have no master plan, and so winds up with the experience that you had, crazy growth, private beaches with little public access, and little chance for community to establish itself. -Frank

  49. You are just so great in your videos, so wise and sincere! Both as the actors as well as the video makers. It is always so interesting and useful to follow your experience.
    Thank you and just keep going please!

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