I’m 55+ from the US and a year ago I moved, by myself, to Portugal without having been here before and without knowing anyone. Sight unseen baby! People have a lot of words for someone like me: crazy, adventurous and brave are the most common. It’s been a trip (can…

Whether you’re traveling full-time or just running to the market, here’s an extensive list to help you return home (or to your van) safely — I’ll start and end this post with this statement: The world is not as scary or dangerous as the news portrays BUT things do happen to innocent people every single day, so please be aware and be prepared. Several months ago I had a creepy stalker encounter. And although I…

Welcome! I’m Kimberly Anne (KA). For a year I lived in a van (solo with my sick, aging dog) and traveled throughout the US. I now live in Portugal. I moved here, sight unseen, by myself, without knowing anyone in September of 2022. First and foremost I’m a writer. …

A Personal Account — I have a lot to say about healthcare in Portugal. So much so that I’ll be separating my experiences into two different articles. This one is about (acute) trauma care and my personal experience. The next is about preventative care. First and foremost, I want to say that overall, the…

It’s Easier Than You May Think — We are social creatures and we need a community to thrive. Do you have a community where you live? If so, are you happy with them? Is your community keeping you from moving and trying to set up roots elsewhere? …

Mistakes from an Expat in Portugal — When you travel to a new country and don’t speak the language it’s fun. When you move there, it’s different. Mostly because there are things you have to get done like buy furniture for your apartment or go to the hospital. While grocery shopping can be a challenge whether traveling…

The time I accidentally asked for a dick at a café. — I was in a Portuguese café, eager to practice my Portuguese whenever I can… (Note: at the time this happened I was only in Portugal for one month). Once at the front of the line I say, “queria dois pão, se faz favor.” What I thought I was saying is…

A country that doesn’t subscribe to urgency culture — Today I was on a work call in front of my huge picture window when I heard a noise and looked up. I’m in a corner unit and can see two streets from my office. The quant cobblestone side street that leads to shops and restaurants and the busy main…

The most asked question… — Before moving to Portugal this question drove me insane. People, few of them supportive, asked me so often that I made a list which I copied and pasted into every text, email and DM. Here it is, word for freaking word. I chose Portugal because: I’m a Europhile. I qualify…