It was the week of unexpected visits. Randi suddenly came by. We have known each other for a long time, from rare encounters. We’re not BFF’s, but people who like and respect each other a lot. Randi is Norwegian, and was married to a Portuguese man (emphasis on was), and has a Portunorwegian daughter.
There are more and more Portuguese foreigners
Randi has always been a striking appearance in Portugal: Norwegian white blonde with sapphire blue eyes. You don’t see that often here. Clearly a foreigner. Secretly I think she has achieved the best of both worlds: Norway is known as a top country, rich and distributes that wealth fairly among all its citizens (with emphasis on all), safe and quiet.
Just like in safe and quiet Portugal, relatively few people live there, but that is due to one of the few disadvantages of Norway: the climate. That’s much better here in Portugal, although it is quite varied from north to south and from east to west. For example, we, in the middle near the coast, have a moderate maritime climate.
Another foreigner whom I have known for a long time is currently wandering through our – may I say that, having been a resident for so long? – beautiful country, and is now in Trás-os-Montes. It’s quite warmish, he texts, and since he has quite a tolerance for heat, it must be about 60 degrees there now.
Trás-os-Montes, behind the mountains, is the least inhabited part of Portugal. And the least habitable. They say: 9 meses inverno, 3 meses inferno – 9 months winter, 3 months hell. So now he’s on vacation in hell. Very special. Beautiful region nonetheless. Many beautiful rock formations. Lots of waterfalls too.
Few foreigners though
They come more for the attractive climate, and this is not really that. Hot in summer, cold in winter. You cannot grow grain or vegetables or let cows graze on rocks, and pigs would rather roll in the mud than on hard stone.
The Portuguese themselves prefer to go towards the coast. Or to foreign countries. That’s what Paula did. Born in Portugal, falling in love with a Dutchman, and therefore living in the Netherlands for years. I’m Portnether, she is Netherport. Paula moved back after her divorce, because Portugal is a nicer country to live in, and her family has a beautiful large house near Coimbra, where she could easily find a place.
She has lived for years in a huge house with a gigantic garden with two old aunts. One aunt has now passed away, but her Netherport daughter and grandchildren have come to live with them. Good old Portuguese tradition – a few generations in one house. Of course, this can only be done in a big house, otherwise you’ll go crazy, no matter how much you love each other.
The next day, when I came back from shopping, Broes mentioned that I had missed a Dutch couple, who said that we both knew humhumhum, and that they had bought a house across the valley. New residents. They left a box of books behind, because apparently it’s spreading like wildfire that I like to read.
“Humhumhum…. well, I don’t remember that name… was it Tim Thingy or something?” Broes answers my question about who we both know, to find out who this mysterious couple is. “I have already pretty much selected those books, probably many that you’ll like.”
It is an impressive stack, and there is indeed a lot that I’ll definitely read. And a very special book about Russian fairy tales, with lots of beautiful pictures. Thank you dear sweet givers, it’s a shame I wasn’t there, I hope I discover who you actually are, and who we both know!
The next day I’m just closing my eyes, following the example of the dog, who has been sleeping like a rag all day, when Broes comes back in with: “There is a Dutch woman who wants to talk to you” and immediately disappears again. It is the sacred Hour of Lunch, and as good adapted foreigners we honor it.
“Hello!” Femke shouts when I appear, “I don’t know if I’m disturbing you, I just barged in… but I’m now coming from my own little piece of land in the north, and I thought: I’ll drop by!” With Femke it’s about the same as with Randi – you don’t see each other that often but it’s a mutual sympathy that lasts. Femke was once a guest at the Termas and fell in love with Portugal.
She now bought a piece of that new love, in the north, near Ponte de Lima. Ponte de Lima is right on the border with Spain. “It is located on the pilgrimage route to Santiago, and there is a Roman bridge nearby,” she says enthusiastically. Her intention is to start a mini camping there, for the pilgrims, but the next step is where to live. Femke is a step-by-step immigrant.
“I had a well dug,” she says, “that was the next step. During this visit I arranged a Portuguese bank account, which was another thing! I didn’t have a piece of paper that I should have, but luckily it was resolved. Now I’m going to think about what I’m going to do in terms of housing, how I’m going to solve that. I am not allowed to build there, and that is too expensive, and I don’t want a wooden house or a mobile home. So that’s a nice challenge, I can still chew on that back home.”
Now that’s not such an issue, because she works in adult education and is an arithmetician. So that chewing will work out fine. She has to take it step by step, because she still has to work for a living.
So, we come and go from everywhere, in all shapes and sizes, we foreigners!
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We moved here in 2000 from Rotterdam, Holland to the Termas-da-Azenha, Portugal.
A big step, especially with two small children.
We are busy to rebuild one of portugals cultural heirlooms: Termas-da-Azenha, an old spa which has been turned into several holiday houses, rooms and a campsite.
You’ll find mosaics and paintings everywhere.
Since 2018 we call ourselves the first B&B&B in the world – Bed & Breakfast & Bathrobes. You can buy a home-made unique bathrobe/housecoat with us.
Each week a little blog about what is happening around us. An easy read. A few minutes in another world. A little about what it going on in Portugal. If you plan your holiday to Portugal, it might be a nice preparation
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