Congratulations Tasmin for your excellent communication skills and fantastic insightful analysis, it is just as you note! We are from Terceira Island (where we have a house and always go in the summer), we live in Hamburg since 2016, but as soon as we retire, we will surely move 6 months a year there to Pico, the most extraordinary island of the Azores! Being / living there, is basically choosing to live in peace, relaxation and experience everything you can't / can't live in countries where you only live for work and to make money. To be there (or in the other 8, let's be honest) is to live together, enjoy being with people and take advantage of the good things life gives us, which is a lot - the negative things, which of course exist, should simply be avoided, that's right, avoided and ignored. Keep going and have a good time, and keep producing these assertive videos! Parabéns!
My family and I have been fantasizing about living in the Azores based on other people's TH-cam videos. After watching yours, I realized there had to be some reality check. Tasmin, all over the world, you are the only one telling people the truth about the Azores. Unfortunately, this sick generation prefer fantasy rather than reality, that's why you're being persecuted. Thank you for being brave. Keep the truth coming. I'm a double subscriber!!
I seem to have fallen in love with Azores by just looking at the beautiful pictures online. I was mesmerized! This video is so helpful, it really cooled down my head haha! Thank you Tasmin for your straight to the point honesty. I will check out your books too. Have a magical day!
Hi Tasmin! New subscriber here. I'd like to say I'm surprised people mistreat you, but I guess that is what comes with honesty in this times when we can openly read what everybody thinks. I'll be exploring yr channel, as I believe yr spiritual side must be so interesting + I highly aporeciate honesty. Keep on shining!
100% true. I live on Terceira and feel absolutely the same. Probably, I can add 3 notes: 1. Regarding luxury, you can see some rather luxurious cars crossing the island in summer. But I guess it's more likely the tourists who can afford that. 2. And the weather. For me, it's a more subjective thing, but here +30 feels much more comfortable than +30 in the city because here it's mostly windy, especially close to the ocean. Anyway the sun is harsh, and you should always put sun protection on you from April till almost November no matter how naturally tant you are. 3. I would suggest to people who would like to move here to rent accommodation for the first year before buying your own house. There are a lot of houses on sale here, so I guess if you bought one, it might be a bit of a problem to sell it if you change your mind.
I liked your other video, it's great to know what to take into account on the island when preparing to go there. It's very difficult to find out these real life intricacies otherwise, so thank you for doing so. Please keep sharing everything as is.
Hi Tasmin thanks for your videos about the downside of the Azores, I'm from the Azores islands but I live in California USA. You are absolutely right about the gossip, the health care, the winter storms are very severe, high humidity lack of accessibility totally agree with all that I can imagine it would be very hard for a foreigner to adapt to the different lifestyle that the islands provide, besides been very beautiful place almost untouched nature I've been thinking about going back when I retire but to be honest I'm not even sure if I could adapt to leave there again year round ,for sure there is a big difference between been there for a vacation and leaving permanently. Also one of the factors of housing market going up as well it's because a lot of Portugueses immigrants that either live in Canada or United States they build a summer home there, the city where I live we have a large Portuguese community from Pico island and pretty much all of them own a summer home there
Hey Rui, thanks for your comment! The islands are so beautiful and have so many wonderful sides to it, but the downsides are just as present and I want to wake people up that think this is a utopian paradise after spending a week of summer holiday here and go ahead and buy said summer homes. In the winter, the island is incredibly empty, the community however is much stronger. Maybe come here some time for a few months before making your decision. Own experience usually helps understand the pros and cons much better :) Greetings to California!
Great job. There are so many beautiful aspects of the Azores that I remember from our week long visit years ago, and I also remember the humidity. Continually surprised to watch vids about the islands without hearing one mention of the humidity. Good on you for putting real issues out there so that people make informed decisions and appreciate the consequences of those decisions. Not surprised by the reactions to your "negatives" vid, and tremendously disappointed that so much hate came your way.
I know its not the right video, but comments were disabled, but as a Azorean, you were spot on on your "Why living on the Azores might not be as great as you think", you truly understood Azorean society, you talked about the bad (which there is alot, like the good), but you were comprehsensive with the Azorean society and why some things are like they are. Being isolated and poor for centuries and jumping for modernity on a spam of 40 years is harsh. Specially still being the poorest region in Portugal. This is what some people coming from outside dont get and are "shocked" with some negatives of Azorean society (even they are stereotypes coming from Mainland Portuguese saying Azoreans are dumb and look down upon them), but you were understanble about it. Education, investement and raising awareness will be the "cure" for this, but it will take time, just hope we dont lose more and more of our young people, that happened alot in the last 10 years. Great video and content on your channel, i would say, its spot on. P.S- I love how you talked about the "beatas" LMAO, never thought i would see a foreigner understand and talk about this. Even the young people here get annoyed by that there are folk songs about them. If you know what they are, and understand it, it means you really are adapted to Azorean society haha.
It was impressive and a session loaded with information,. Information was valid and candid. Admire your effort, hard work and dedication to create content and experience life
Loved your video and your description of island life. I have lived in Hawaii 28 years. Big difference in a vacation V.S. actually living the island life. Thank you for sharing!
I didn't see the video you mentioned in the beginning, but can you control the indoor humidity well enough against mold formation or it's simply too hard to be efficient against it and you have to get used to it? Thank you! PS: 24:40 You addressed this topic already. Hmmm...that's a big issue, not being able to keep your house clean. I'm very grateful for all the details that you presented in this video, kindly, thank you!
Hi thanks for your comments I do appreciate your sincerity also your have to be aware that territory is a volcano look what happened in La Paloma island. Cheers Jose
Just discovered your channel and I love it! We first went to Sao Miguel for a few days in 2016 on our way back to the US from Europe and it has never left our hearts. Your environmental focus and the ways you are explicit about the precariousness of the societies in which we live is particularly valued, as was the video about the negatives in the Azores (other channels tend to only state the positives). I also appreciated the videos telling your story, as I am also a writer and have had challenges publishing, so you are an inspiration on many levels. I'm looking forward to the next installation of your home renovation videos. You help me keep open-eyed about what it would mean to move to the Azores one day.
Thank you for this honest video about your views about the downsides or rather pitfalls of hastily moving on the basis of seeing superficial pictures or videos . I really appreciate the courage you have and the honesty with which you made this video. I think people rather watch raving reports so they can dream about a place. I think it really is very important to hear from people who live in a place - even though it is definitely one person’s perspective. I appreciate hearing about the reality of living on an island- i have never lived on an island myself. I am very curious about the non existing heating systems. Do people not have even wood stoves ?
Thank you! :) Wood stoves are more common than heating systems, but even they are rare. Portugal but specifically the islands used to be very very poor up until around 40 years ago. Before that there were barely even proper roads on most islands, people did not have shoes, etc. In the first world war, Azoreans were hired to fight on the frontlines for the simple payment of a single pair of shoes. So you can imagine how it was like and of course that also translates into the houses here, at least the older ones.
Only discovered your channel today and already watched a dozen episodes. I am planning to spend some time on the islands to find out if there is a place for me. One question that popped up listening to your story; in your opinion, what would be the best thing for the islands and local people an immigrant could bring moving to the Azores permanently?
Hey, thanks so much! And great question. I cannot actual speak for the locals (as I am not a local) but my first thought was skills :) Especially in construction or as a nurse / health care worker / doctor. And maybe someone who is innovative and/or has funds to employ and empower locals outside of cow farming & tourism (especially young azoreans).
Thank you for your intel. I've also lived on an island where people came with stars in their eyes and realized they can't fart without everyone knowing...lol Note to your younger self, never feel the need to apologize to haters, it only gives them fuel. Thanks for a great video
I sailed across the Atlantic on the SS Constitution. It was in 1961, I was 7 years old. The ship sailed into one of the Azores harbor. Which one I don't recall. There were people in rowboats selling beautiful brightly colored things. And tons of flowers. They didn't stay long and I was sorry to see them go. I wanted to know who they were. I wanted to know everything about them. I was so sad to leave that harbor. But we went on to Palma and Madeira. I imagined that the Azores might be like Palma and Madeira . I felt so sorry we didn't have a stop in the Azores that the feeling stayed with me. I can't find much about it online. I'm interested in the day to day life of people. It seems I always was. I have an anthropologist heart. So I really enjoyed your video. I'm astounded that you would receive death threats, but I guess I shouldn't be in a neo fascist world. I believe you are right. There will come a time when traveling will be forbidden. I wish you as I wish for the whole world..
dont expend your time explaining haters to dont hate, they alredy know what tou say but will keep with their rage. Idont know why but they just dont get it Focus on who really like the content. We chat less but we are more!!!
Liebe Tasmin, thanks for your open words! I just watched your preceding (?) video, and it's definitely food for thought. I have been to Sao Miguel twice & Terceira once, but the first two visits were before what you described as a tourism boom. All visits were during December and January. Sao Miguel in December and January was "wo Fuchs und Hase sich gute Nacht sagen" - there were some tourists, but not many. But this was actually a very nice thing. Apparently I was lucky with the weather, but I have personal experience of the "four seasons in a day", too.--- I have been looking at Azores property offers since my first visit as this place (these places, as all islands are different as you say) just flicked all the switches for me, and I have found a really great house on Terceira that looks like a perfect holiday home/workation retreat/retirement domicile during the (northern German) winter. While I see your point of gentrification, I'd say one aspect is the attitude that makes the difference? I know enough people who expect "man spricht deutsch" at their holiday destinations, but I am not one of those. That's the kind of people who want a 24/7 security around their barbed wired property, and meet in their colony with folks speaking their language. If (or when) I buy a property abroad, it would be my firm goal to be affluent in the local language (which certainly is a challenge in the Acores 🙂), not only to show respect but also to gain acceptance. And I think precisely for the reasons you mentioned, the Acores are not a prime target for the all-inlcusive style of buyers - as their customary environment is direly lacking -, but rather one for the original settler type. The type whose aim it would be - if on Pico - to contribute to one of the best wines on earth, be it Verdelho or a red blend heavily influenced by the Lava soil. Or on the other islands, to create some of the best cheese or beef on earth. -- As I have an active eye on property offers on several sites for the three largest/biggest islands for some time now, may I say that anyone paying EUR 200k for a ruin on a tiny patch is an utter fool -- there are a LOTs of great (and instantly tenable) offers for a fraction. --- About prices of living: When I was there, things were rather divergent - imported stuff was expensive, either in supermarkets or elsewhere, while the restaurants serving locally-produced stuff were incredibly cheap.--- To pose some rhetoric and/or dialectic question - is it a crime to buy a house that is over the local budget because it has been made into a gem with considerable investment? My heart has been lost in the Acores, and I long to return, not to recover the heart but simply to breathe that air again. If you never breathed Acores air, you have never been free. You will never breathe anything like that. Possibly excepting certain islands on the Scottish west coast. I desperately need a journey to the Acores, methinks 🙂
Obrigada very much!! ;D thanks a lot for this video, I´m living in Iceland right now and after 5 years living in the middle of nowhere im preparing myself to my next adventure, when i saw videos about azores i though: perfect! tropical ICEland!! but here, we have heatings... I could be very happy there, i know the culture very very well but huimdity+winter+ no heating system is a red flag! what they are using? the old iron stove or the oil stove? anyway, thanks a lot for all the realistic information! have agreat day and thanks a lot again!
Hi! I started watching this video because I'm Azorean and I'm usually very pissed off at all the foreigners coming to live in the islands, and that the government hasn't put any limits to the amount of foreigners buying houses here and even making them into airbnbs. We had a first taste of this 8 years ago, when the islands got more well known and since then, it's just getting worse. And when saying foreigners, the locals here include all portuguese from the mainland who are specially very disrespectful to the Azores culture, different accent and think they own the island. NO, even if you are Portuguese, from the mainland, you are NOT azorean. Before 2013, we barely had anyone know the Azores even existed or how many islands are. Anyway, I just decided to comment because you surprised me at around 14min into the video, talking about the very serious problem of all the foreigners moving there, making their own communities and not caring 1 bit on immersing in the culture and showing NO RESPECT for the locals. And about young azoreans moving out of the islands, this is mostly because minimum wage is very very bad (600/700eur p/month). With house prices going up to insane amounts (due to immigrant invasion), the chance of buying a house for most local youth is 0. With all that said, I really appreciate this video. Thank you for respecting the Azores and its locals :)
Hey Inês, thank you so so so much for your comment, it means the world to me. I try to portrait the islands in a realistic way, both positive and negative, so people stop seeing it as some kind of paradise that they NEED to move to because they think everyday will be like their 1 week summer vacation. Yes, the islands are amazing, but not every aspect of life here is and if you want to move you need to do it with consciousness and that includes integrating, respecting the locals and realizing that you are a guest here and should behave as such. I am getting a lot of hate online for talking about gentrification and speaking up against foreigners moving here for "investments" and "summer houses" or to create their own "communities", as if there was not already an existing community on the islands. So your positive comment really made my day. Thank you. ❤️
@@Tasmetu I can say with certainty you are one of a kind, until now I had yet to meet a foreigner that talks about the Azores in the realistic way that azoreans do too. I had no idea you got nasty comments for speaking the TRUTH! But unfortunately I’ve come to the conclusion that this world just likes being fed superficial pretty pictures and not face life’s complexities. But your videos are really powerful in this way, because no one talks about the reality of what’s going on. The biggest problem being the government not addressing this, and making the stupidest decision of relying more and more solely on tourism. Thank you again 🙂 and love your garden. I usually go to Pico once every 2 years, and always contemplate if I could live there as it’s very secluded!
@@1lovetheocean I luckily know a few more who are like me in that regard. But I also know many who are as you have described them - very much in their own world, ignorant of the culture and seeing Azores as some sort of natural Disneyland. :( Thank you again for your kind words! Maybe one day we meet on Pico :)
The Azores are a form of paradise....but it will become paradise lost if the over commercialisation and influx of foreigners continues...the local govt needs to act
As someone who was born in the Azores and is going to come back to retire all your comments were not only correct but in my opinion there should of been more. Be well, be safe. BY the way Terceira rocks over any of the other islands even though my late Mother was born in Pico:)
Hi Tasmin,I was born in Lajes do Pico and also lived in Fayal in the early 60's ,I live in California,and I watch your videos,incidently,thank you for saying something nice about older people,as I am one,although I feel much younger,I have been a musician ,composer,and artist,I am looking after all these years to visit the Azores,mainly Pico and Faial,also if my mate likes it ,we might move there,but first I want to visit for at least a month sometime next year and off season,I am interested to know if you have been to Faial and what your experience there was like,Pico still seems kind of barren,would Faial have heating,etc? its been a long time from the old days when I was just 12 years old,anyway,my hats off to you for moving there and for your industry as an author.best wishes.
Hey John, thanks for your lovely comment & sharing your story :) Yes, I have been to Faial (I have been to 8 of the 9 islands), but I have never lived there. On Faial, access and flight connections are a bit better, but the island is small, as you know, so some of the same problems still arise. I know of a few people who are building heating systems into their houses now (mainly Germans), so apparently there is a way to get a heating system, also on Pico. I assume it is simply a bit complicated and probably expensive, but that is just a guess. It is still very very uncommon, a fireplace is much more common.
Hello Tasmin, Thank you for sharing so frankly about your life on this island. Personally, I think that this video should be a per-requisite before moving to the island. Amazing synopsis of what matters. Ha, ha. I looked for your previous video, but could not find it. I am sorry. I wish I could have seen it.
Looking into potentially moving there, I come from a small town in the midwest of the USA - so the feeling of being known by everyone is just fine :) My biggest obstacle is getting citizenship or residency. I am a dual citizen of Australia and the USA, so I could potentially get my citizenship in England. Would that be the quickest way to get to the Azores? Also, how fluent in Portuguese do you recommend being?
Hey, since I am European I cannot answer your question, I am sorry. However, since the UK is no longer EU and Brexit was messy, it might be faster to just apply for it as is.
Hello Tasmin, Good video and honest questions. I get the feeling that you subconsciously still doubt whether you want to live in Pico? Or am I totally wrong? You show everyone on TH-cam how much you love Pico. But if you are so sure of yourself, maybe you don't have to keep saying and showing it. I like your videos and you've given me food for thought too. Do I want to move to Sao Miguel or not in the future, when I'm done working in the Netherlands? In any case, Pico is too small and too wet for me, I guess. You mainly tell what is not nice about living on Pico. But can you also name the things you love about Pico? I am very curious. Thanks in advance.
@@Tasmetu HiTasmin, I'm gonna look at those videos. Thanks for your reply. I really find it very cool and MEGA strong that you made your move from Germany to the Azores. I hope one day I dare to do the same. But I'm an insecure guy at some points. I love my family a lot and right now I don't want to miss them. Maybe in the future when my parents have passed away, I think differently.
I love your channel, I enjoyed your last video and you're the only one who open our eyes to negative side of Portugal,,it is soooooo true the rich always ruined things wherever they go ,,thanks for the insight
Thanks for the content. I’ve got a question about humidity, i am currently living in Malta and we have issue with humidity and mold as well, but we solve it with dehumidifiers, i am not sure how stronger the humidity is there, but is there a reason why dehumidifiers would not solve this issue?
Hey! Thanks for watching & totally valid question :) Yes, the humidity can be extremely high here (-> middle of the Atlantic ocean & in the winter it can rain non-stop for weeks). However, it also really depends on the house you are in. I know houses (often the old ones with massive stone walls), where a dehumidifier is doing the job very well. But I also know places (like the apartment I am currently living in) where the dehumidifier runs 24/7, gets emptied 3 times a day and it is still humid inside and stuff molds away. In the summer this issue is much better of course, but in general it is a question of how the house is build. :) Greetings to beautiful Malta!
I love your videos!!! Having plans to move with my family of my husband and two kids. So far we are in love. I wonder how easy it is to connect to with the locals (we speak the language) and how easy it is to connect with people from other countries (foreigners).
Thanks for the compliment :) Regarding the connecting: It totally depends on your personality and who you will meet along the way. But with kids, I am sure you will connect to people quickly!
Thank you so much for information about the azores. Greed & Egos kills humanity & the way of living or survival. Too keep a balance between tourism & properties for sale, is for the Government & the local people to look at the long term affects. A balance can be achieved, not by Greed & Egos of a small group.
It is not a discount in the classical sense. You can get a part of the money back afterwards if you go and claim it, but it is only valid for flights to the Portuguese mainland. If you continue your flight elsewhere, this is not valid.
You are completely on point!!!!!!!! She speaks the truth!!!!!!!!!!!!! We did not follow her advice bc/we never saw her videos. Wish we would have.....😬 The mold is so annoying!!!!!!
Thanks for great videos. It would have been great if you've left the comments turned on for your other video "Why living on the Azores might not be as great as you think" where you say there was a lot of anger and abuse, but there must have been a lot more positive and beautiful comments as well. It would have been a curiosity to see who was commenting what and who was abusive, whether they were locals or foreigners living on Pico or whether they were someone from other countries or from the continental Portugal and whom to avoid as well.
Mostly things you say no true ,, This is lovely place on of the best of world with peace less crimes friendly people , i know because i am from there with beautiful natural land
Hi Tazmin: I just watched your video on the terrible things about The Azores. I 1,000% agree with everything you said. You NEVER once said anything negative about the Azoreans. I am listening to your video and I CAN'T BELIEVE PEOPLE ARE ATTACKING YOU. WHY? YOU NEVER SAID ANYTHING NEGATIVE OR UNTRUE. UNBELIEVABLE. I am so sorry. My parents and sister lived on Terceira for two years and ALL THAT YOU SAID IS TRUE. My mother moved the chest away from the wall and found hairy black mold on the white plaster wall like black hair on a man's chest! It DID TAKE MONTHS AND MONTHS to get packages. Since we were military we had a little benefit, but a lot of military wives HATED the island and ran away from their husbands and came back to the US. We endured a huge earthquake that knocked out the power for three days and killed several locals. We were required to boil our water. The islands are made up of volcanic eruptions. I was also the subject of local gossip. I won't go into details, but I didn't speak the language and was clueless and completely innocent of all the plotting going on, so YES, GOSSIP, GOSSIP, GOSSIP!!! It does get COLD in the winter and it's the HUMIDITY. BONE CHILLING. And the clothes ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS being damp. ALWAYS! We had a line dryer on the roof and our lacy panties disappeared! Three days later they were hanging on the roof of the neighbor's line three houses down!!!! The lifestyle is COMPLETELY different than "home". This is not HOME as you said like US or Germany or where ever native home is. I don't think people understand this. It DOES give you the opportunity to experience something you will never experience again. I walked with my dad to the pier to where the fishermen were fishing and one man caught an octopus. He beat the head on the pier because it was trying to get away by using its arms and suckers all over. Or going into a cave where we were able to see the hole when we passed it from above. Luscious green ferns and crystal clear water. Dad haggling for wool blankets at FAST EDDIE'S shop down the street. Seeing scrimshaw on a beaded leather choker for the first time and buying it from the cute local boy employee working at the store. Going to Angra to shop... the BIG CITY!!! AND GETTING A PAIR OF KNEE HIGH BOOTS!! That was cool! Lots of great memories. I cried when we came back to the US. I feel the same as you about The Acores. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤.
Hey Bella, thank you so much for your comment, it feels good to be validated. I love the Azores to much, which is why I would never dishonor the islands by pretending they are perfect. Life here can be tough, for locals as well as immigrants, no matter how much we love it here. ❤️ Your story sounds very intense and I had a good laugh at the lacy panty story - I assume the wind might have been the true thief here but I laughed nonetheless at the picture in my head of someone actively stealing your underwear. 😂 We just had someone steal a flower from right in front of our doorstep - I was super mad about it at first but now I find it kind of funny. It is truly a very different life here - but I would never exchange it for anything. ❤️
Tazmin: I am still so upset that people would be so aggressive towards you for saying nothing horrible. It doesn't make sense. You said nothing to make people attack you. Ridiculous. You brought up a very good point regarding wealthy people purchasing land and building beautiful rental/vacation homes on the land while the locals have very little and are being pushed into poverty and where are they going? They can't afford to live in their own home. This really is a sad plight for people who call this home and planned on staying home for the remainder of their lives. So much has changed since my family lived there. What was once considered "hell" is now "paradise" for some. And those "paradise" seeking people are killing the locals with meek wages and no where to go because this is home. All the widows wear black and there is a LOT of head to toe BLACK around. I do not know much about the black wearing ladies, but some are young and some are old. I'm sure there is a hierarchy in the black wearing community and as you said, THEY ARE TO BE RESPECTED. The lacy underwear, 😂😁😆!!! Yes, they blew off our line and magically appeared on our neighbor's line, drying when their maid and her teen daughters were cleaning our neighbor's home three days later 😂😁😆!! They originally were my mom's... so they found a new home by being passed around, making ladies around the world happy and perhaps finding a good mate! Magical mate finding lacy undies! They were in red and in Barbie pink colors and stretchy lace. One size fits most! 😂😁😆🤗😍🌸. They came from Japan, to the US, then the Acores and then who knows where!!! Hilarious! There was so much more I could have explored and learned, but I didn't take advantage of my time there. It is a beautiful place, but not meant to be exploited as you mentioned. It's to be loved and preserved for what it is and what it has to offer. I ONE THOUSAND AGREE WITH YOU AND BACK YOU UP A MILLION PERCENT. You go girlfriend!!!!! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🌸🌹👍!!!!
When you were talking about restaurants, I agree with you and even beyond getting bored from the lack of dining-out restaurant options, for a lot of people they just don't know how to cook for themselves very well or keep things interesting culinarily at home to compensate. And a lot of these restaurants close up shop for the non-tourist months so knowing a thing or two in the kitchen can really make a big difference in mitigating that culinary boredom and also save you some money.
True, I forgot to mention that many places close in the winter time. And you are 100% right about the cooking thing! I also miss cozy comfy cafés as they are very very rare here.
Hello Alberto, as I consider finances to be a very private topic, I will not share any details regarding this online / in public, I hope you understand. Have a nice day
Cheezaz women don't mind or even a knowledge haters on social media, took you about five minutes on this video ;) just do your thing and don't justify some stupid posts by giving them attention they don't deserve! Ausserdem sehr begrüßenswert eine Münchnerin erzählen zu hören! Als Wiener haben wir denke ich ähnliche "Standards" und deine Sicht der Dinge entspricht mit 90% Sicherheit der meinen. Von dem her herzlichen Dank für das ungeblümte, sehr angenehm!
Hallo liebe Tasmin, ich habe den Ruf der Azoren in mir gespürt. Tief berührt und am Weinen, spürte ich, dass ich dort schon Mal war oder dass dort eine Erfahrung auf mich wartet. Ich plane Anfang August zu kommen und es wurde mich freuen, Dich kontaktieren zu können. Da Du sehr naturverbunden bist, würde es passen und Du könntest mir bestimmt einige Fragen beantworten, die in mir brodeln. Vielleicht magst Du mir antworten und wir können uns austauschen. Liebe Grüße von Insel zu Insel. Lebe zur Zeit auf Mallorca.
Hello Tasmin… I don’t live in the Azores but I was born in the Azores and enjoy visiting the islands andI want to say that every piece of information that you spoke about in your video is absolutely correct. Even the mold is true lol. A lot of the issues you spoke of is on the Azores news Chanel. Azoreans we love our islands but let’s be real , things are not perfect. I am glad you had the courage to speak up. It’s good for people to know this information and then decide for themselves. I want to say thank you and keep up the good work. 👍 🇨🇦
I have enjoyed your videos and frank discussion. I think I don't want to live there but I definitely want to visit Pico and meet the locals, and hike on the beautiful island. Have you met Carlos and Laura? ("Our Journey to Pico Island" channel) All the best.
The only cons is finding a good job and boredom if you can’t find any hobbies. Other than that I love the Azores. I would move there if I could find a stable job there.
Did you know Azores has the HIGHEST suicide rate of the country? Well i am azorian, nothing is as good as it seems. I am in lisbon and dread the day i have to go back... Edit: Maybe you should talk about these important things?
I am sorry to hear you are so unhappy with the islands. I know many people who are much more happier in cities or other countries and I 100% understand why. I hope you find your path wherever it may take you 😊
@@gailalbers1430 well, most likely he comes from the smaller islands with smaller population, some modern "comeditions" that first world regions people like so much is harder to find, there are no big shoppings (today you can order stuff from internet though), for example, winter season, alot of restaurantes close very early or dont open at all. Its a very isolated world, it rains alot also, its very "slow", for people who like big city life, small population, you see the same people every day, lesser people, lesser oportunity for jobs etc, not to mention, despite on its foundations the Azores being multicultural (Portuguese marjoity, 2nd group flemish people, then jewish, north africans, italians etc), today is very ethnic homogenous. Clearly is not for big city lifestyly lovers. The bigger islands with population like Terceira and Specially São Miguel have mix of calm island life, while having the good (and bad) of city lifestyles. I am telling this because even Azoreans from these "main" islands, feel the others more isolated and "slow".
Hi Tasmin, how would you feel just talking about your experience without turning it into generalized opinions? Let others,,should,, do. I feel a local is a human being that lives with an open heart and respects all life in its various expressions.
Hello Kati. As I said multiple times in this video, the entire video is based upon my own personal experience and opinions. I never said or implied that the things I say are general facts. Whenever I speak about the locals or the culture I always make sure to add that it is of course not everyone who is the same as a society never consists of homogenous identical people. I would love to know what exactly bothered you? In which of the mentioned points do you disagree and why? Please share so that the other people in the comments can know your experience and learn from it as well.
You are talking about 40 years ago, we are in the 21st century. Not much heating system, because it never gets to cold or too hot. It is humid, so just get a dehumidifier and for heating, you can always buy electric heating, and a/c in the summer. If you hate it so much, you are free to move out.
I never said I hate living on the island and as I stated a billion times in comments and in all my videos, I love living on Pico. There is literally a 5 minute disclaimer in this video alone about that. If you are not actually listening to what I am saying, please do not comment. Thank you.
Thank you very much for the video. I'm absolutely agree with you about living in Azores. We moved 2 years ago to Faial and happened everything that you are talking about. 👍🫶
Congratulations Tasmin for your excellent communication skills and fantastic insightful analysis, it is just as you note!
We are from Terceira Island (where we have a house and always go in the summer), we live in Hamburg since 2016, but as soon as we retire, we will surely move 6 months a year there to Pico, the most extraordinary island of the Azores!
Being / living there, is basically choosing to live in peace, relaxation and experience everything you can't / can't live in countries where you only live for work and to make money.
To be there (or in the other 8, let's be honest) is to live together, enjoy being with people and take advantage of the good things life gives us, which is a lot - the negative things, which of course exist, should simply be avoided, that's right, avoided and ignored.
Keep going and have a good time, and keep producing these assertive videos!
Parabéns!
Thank you Jorge! I hope your return to the Azores will be just as wonderful as you imagined 😊
My family and I have been fantasizing about living in the Azores based on other people's TH-cam videos. After watching yours, I realized there had to be some reality check. Tasmin, all over the world, you are the only one telling people the truth about the Azores. Unfortunately, this sick generation prefer fantasy rather than reality, that's why you're being persecuted. Thank you for being brave. Keep the truth coming. I'm a double subscriber!!
Good, the more people stay away, the better.
You weird cultist. Brave? LMAO let me hit that pipe too buddy
@@fumarmatadeixeja3781 Grow up.
I seem to have fallen in love with Azores by just looking at the beautiful pictures online. I was mesmerized! This video is so helpful, it really cooled down my head haha! Thank you Tasmin for your straight to the point honesty. I will check out your books too. Have a magical day!
Thanks Rain! :)
Hi Tasmin!
New subscriber here.
I'd like to say I'm surprised people mistreat you, but I guess that is what comes with honesty in this times when we can openly read what everybody thinks.
I'll be exploring yr channel, as I believe yr spiritual side must be so interesting + I highly aporeciate honesty.
Keep on shining!
Thanks so much! :)
I'm really grateful for all these precious questions and answers. Thank you Tasmin!
Love this, so proud of you❣️
Thank you E! 💜
100% true. I live on Terceira and feel absolutely the same. Probably, I can add 3 notes:
1. Regarding luxury, you can see some rather luxurious cars crossing the island in summer. But I guess it's more likely the tourists who can afford that.
2. And the weather. For me, it's a more subjective thing, but here +30 feels much more comfortable than +30 in the city because here it's mostly windy, especially close to the ocean. Anyway the sun is harsh, and you should always put sun protection on you from April till almost November no matter how naturally tant you are.
3. I would suggest to people who would like to move here to rent accommodation for the first year before buying your own house. There are a lot of houses on sale here, so I guess if you bought one, it might be a bit of a problem to sell it if you change your mind.
Thanks for chiming in on the discussion - I agree with you :) Also greetings from Pico to Terceira (gorgeous island!)
I liked your other video, it's great to know what to take into account on the island when preparing to go there. It's very difficult to find out these real life intricacies otherwise, so thank you for doing so. Please keep sharing everything as is.
Thanks!
Hi Tasmin thanks for your videos about the downside of the Azores, I'm from the Azores islands but I live in California USA.
You are absolutely right about the gossip, the health care, the winter storms are very severe, high humidity lack of accessibility totally agree with all that
I can imagine it would be very hard for a foreigner to adapt to the different lifestyle that the islands provide, besides been very beautiful place almost untouched nature
I've been thinking about going back when I retire but to be honest I'm not even sure if I could adapt to leave there again year round ,for sure there is a big difference between been there for a vacation and leaving permanently.
Also one of the factors of housing market going up as well it's because a lot of Portugueses immigrants that either live in Canada or United States they build a summer home there, the city where I live we have a large Portuguese community from Pico island and pretty much all of them own a summer home there
Hey Rui, thanks for your comment! The islands are so beautiful and have so many wonderful sides to it, but the downsides are just as present and I want to wake people up that think this is a utopian paradise after spending a week of summer holiday here and go ahead and buy said summer homes. In the winter, the island is incredibly empty, the community however is much stronger.
Maybe come here some time for a few months before making your decision. Own experience usually helps understand the pros and cons much better :)
Greetings to California!
Great job. There are so many beautiful aspects of the Azores that I remember from our week long visit years ago, and I also remember the humidity. Continually surprised to watch vids about the islands without hearing one mention of the humidity. Good on you for putting real issues out there so that people make informed decisions and appreciate the consequences of those decisions. Not surprised by the reactions to your "negatives" vid, and tremendously disappointed that so much hate came your way.
Thank you very much!
This seems like a contracted perception of reality. Thank you for your efforts x
I know its not the right video, but comments were disabled, but as a Azorean, you were spot on on your "Why living on the Azores might not be as great as you think", you truly understood Azorean society, you talked about the bad (which there is alot, like the good), but you were comprehsensive with the Azorean society and why some things are like they are. Being isolated and poor for centuries and jumping for modernity on a spam of 40 years is harsh. Specially still being the poorest region in Portugal. This is what some people coming from outside dont get and are "shocked" with some negatives of Azorean society (even they are stereotypes coming from Mainland Portuguese saying Azoreans are dumb and look down upon them), but you were understanble about it.
Education, investement and raising awareness will be the "cure" for this, but it will take time, just hope we dont lose more and more of our young people, that happened alot in the last 10 years.
Great video and content on your channel, i would say, its spot on.
P.S- I love how you talked about the "beatas" LMAO, never thought i would see a foreigner understand and talk about this. Even the young people here get annoyed by that there are folk songs about them. If you know what they are, and understand it, it means you really are adapted to Azorean society haha.
Thank you so much for your kind words! 😊
I love the way you explain things. I live in Canada 🇨🇦 but still love the azores the place where was born.
Thanks! Greetings from the islands to Canada 😊
It was impressive and a session loaded with information,. Information was valid and candid. Admire your effort, hard work and dedication to create content and experience life
thanks! :)
Thank you for being you --- live and don't worry about others.
Loved your video and your description of island life. I have lived in Hawaii 28 years. Big difference in a vacation V.S. actually living the island life. Thank you for sharing!
Oh, I love that! Do you think live on Hawaii and Azores are similar? :)
The video get started at 6:00.
Ok ok get going
@@carmaYT727 Jeepers🤷♂️
I didn't see the video you mentioned in the beginning, but can you control the indoor humidity well enough against mold formation or it's simply too hard to be efficient against it and you have to get used to it? Thank you! PS: 24:40 You addressed this topic already. Hmmm...that's a big issue, not being able to keep your house clean. I'm very grateful for all the details that you presented in this video, kindly, thank you!
Hi thanks for your comments I do appreciate your sincerity also your have to be aware that territory is a volcano look what happened in La Paloma island. Cheers Jose
Just discovered your channel and I love it! We first went to Sao Miguel for a few days in 2016 on our way back to the US from Europe and it has never left our hearts. Your environmental focus and the ways you are explicit about the precariousness of the societies in which we live is particularly valued, as was the video about the negatives in the Azores (other channels tend to only state the positives). I also appreciated the videos telling your story, as I am also a writer and have had challenges publishing, so you are an inspiration on many levels. I'm looking forward to the next installation of your home renovation videos. You help me keep open-eyed about what it would mean to move to the Azores one day.
Thank you so much 🥰
Really great video! Thank you!
Thank you! :)
Thanks again American currently living in Kaiserslautern thinking of moving to Portugal. Thanks for the information.
Thank you for this honest video about your views about the downsides or rather pitfalls of hastily moving on the basis of seeing superficial pictures or videos . I really appreciate the courage you have and the honesty with which you made this video. I think people rather watch raving reports so they can dream about a place. I think it really is very important to hear from people who live in a place - even though it is definitely one person’s perspective. I appreciate hearing about the reality of living on an island- i have never lived on an island myself.
I am very curious about the non existing heating systems. Do people not have even wood stoves ?
Thank you! :)
Wood stoves are more common than heating systems, but even they are rare. Portugal but specifically the islands used to be very very poor up until around 40 years ago. Before that there were barely even proper roads on most islands, people did not have shoes, etc. In the first world war, Azoreans were hired to fight on the frontlines for the simple payment of a single pair of shoes. So you can imagine how it was like and of course that also translates into the houses here, at least the older ones.
Only discovered your channel today and already watched a dozen episodes. I am planning to spend some time on the islands to find out if there is a place for me. One question that popped up listening to your story; in your opinion, what would be the best thing for the islands and local people an immigrant could bring moving to the Azores permanently?
Hey, thanks so much! And great question. I cannot actual speak for the locals (as I am not a local) but my first thought was skills :) Especially in construction or as a nurse / health care worker / doctor. And maybe someone who is innovative and/or has funds to employ and empower locals outside of cow farming & tourism (especially young azoreans).
This is VERY helpful and you are a lovely girl (and funny!). Thank you Tamsin.
Thank you for your intel. I've also lived on an island where people came with stars in their eyes and realized they can't fart without everyone knowing...lol Note to your younger self, never feel the need to apologize to haters, it only gives them fuel. Thanks for a great video
Thanks! :)
I sailed across the Atlantic on the SS Constitution. It was in 1961, I was 7 years old. The ship sailed into one of the Azores harbor. Which one I don't recall. There were people in rowboats selling beautiful brightly colored things. And tons of flowers. They didn't stay long and I was sorry to see them go. I wanted to know who they were. I wanted to know everything about them. I was so sad to leave that harbor. But we went on to Palma and Madeira. I imagined that the Azores might be like Palma and Madeira . I felt so sorry we didn't have a stop in the Azores that the feeling stayed with me. I can't find much about it online. I'm interested in the day to day life of people. It seems I always was. I have an anthropologist heart. So I really enjoyed your video. I'm astounded that you would receive death threats, but I guess I shouldn't be in a neo fascist world. I believe you are right. There will come a time when traveling will be forbidden. I wish you as I wish for the whole world..
Hey Carmen, thanks for your comment! As someone who studied cultural anthropology: I feel you! I am glad I can give some insight :)
Oh my God the sounds of the birds and the roosters in the background 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Happy you like it!
I'll be on Pico in June. I absolutely love spending time there. Thank you for your content 🙏
Enjoy the island! :)
dont expend your time explaining haters to dont hate, they alredy know what tou say but will keep with their rage. Idont know why but they just dont get it Focus on who really like the content. We chat less but we are more!!!
Thanks! :)
Liebe Tasmin, thanks for your open words! I just watched your preceding (?) video, and it's definitely food for thought. I have been to Sao Miguel twice & Terceira once, but the first two visits were before what you described as a tourism boom. All visits were during December and January. Sao Miguel in December and January was "wo Fuchs und Hase sich gute Nacht sagen" - there were some tourists, but not many. But this was actually a very nice thing. Apparently I was lucky with the weather, but I have personal experience of the "four seasons in a day", too.---
I have been looking at Azores property offers since my first visit as this place (these places, as all islands are different as you say) just flicked all the switches for me, and I have found a really great house on Terceira that looks like a perfect holiday home/workation retreat/retirement domicile during the (northern German) winter. While I see your point of gentrification, I'd say one aspect is the attitude that makes the difference? I know enough people who expect "man spricht deutsch" at their holiday destinations, but I am not one of those. That's the kind of people who want a 24/7 security around their barbed wired property, and meet in their colony with folks speaking their language. If (or when) I buy a property abroad, it would be my firm goal to be affluent in the local language (which certainly is a challenge in the Acores 🙂), not only to show respect but also to gain acceptance. And I think precisely for the reasons you mentioned, the Acores are not a prime target for the all-inlcusive style of buyers - as their customary environment is direly lacking -, but rather one for the original settler type. The type whose aim it would be - if on Pico - to contribute to one of the best wines on earth, be it Verdelho or a red blend heavily influenced by the Lava soil. Or on the other islands, to create some of the best cheese or beef on earth. --
As I have an active eye on property offers on several sites for the three largest/biggest islands for some time now, may I say that anyone paying EUR 200k for a ruin on a tiny patch is an utter fool -- there are a LOTs of great (and instantly tenable) offers for a fraction. ---
About prices of living: When I was there, things were rather divergent - imported stuff was expensive, either in supermarkets or elsewhere, while the restaurants serving locally-produced stuff were incredibly cheap.---
To pose some rhetoric and/or dialectic question - is it a crime to buy a house that is over the local budget because it has been made into a gem with considerable investment? My heart has been lost in the Acores, and I long to return, not to recover the heart but simply to breathe that air again. If you never breathed Acores air, you have never been free. You will never breathe anything like that. Possibly excepting certain islands on the Scottish west coast.
I desperately need a journey to the Acores, methinks 🙂
Obrigada very much!! ;D thanks a lot for this video, I´m living in Iceland right now and after 5 years living in the middle of nowhere im preparing myself to my next adventure, when i saw videos about azores i though: perfect! tropical ICEland!! but here, we have heatings... I could be very happy there, i know the culture very very well but huimdity+winter+ no heating system is a red flag! what they are using? the old iron stove or the oil stove? anyway, thanks a lot for all the realistic information! have agreat day and thanks a lot again!
Hi! I started watching this video because I'm Azorean and I'm usually very pissed off at all the foreigners coming to live in the islands, and that the government hasn't put any limits to the amount of foreigners buying houses here and even making them into airbnbs.
We had a first taste of this 8 years ago, when the islands got more well known and since then, it's just getting worse. And when saying foreigners, the locals here include all portuguese from the mainland who are specially very disrespectful to the Azores culture, different accent and think they own the island. NO, even if you are Portuguese, from the mainland, you are NOT azorean.
Before 2013, we barely had anyone know the Azores even existed or how many islands are.
Anyway, I just decided to comment because you surprised me at around 14min into the video, talking about the very serious problem of all the foreigners moving there, making their own communities and not caring 1 bit on immersing in the culture and showing NO RESPECT for the locals.
And about young azoreans moving out of the islands, this is mostly because minimum wage is very very bad (600/700eur p/month). With house prices going up to insane amounts (due to immigrant invasion), the chance of buying a house for most local youth is 0.
With all that said, I really appreciate this video. Thank you for respecting the Azores and its locals :)
Hey Inês, thank you so so so much for your comment, it means the world to me.
I try to portrait the islands in a realistic way, both positive and negative, so people stop seeing it as some kind of paradise that they NEED to move to because they think everyday will be like their 1 week summer vacation. Yes, the islands are amazing, but not every aspect of life here is and if you want to move you need to do it with consciousness and that includes integrating, respecting the locals and realizing that you are a guest here and should behave as such.
I am getting a lot of hate online for talking about gentrification and speaking up against foreigners moving here for "investments" and "summer houses" or to create their own "communities", as if there was not already an existing community on the islands. So your positive comment really made my day. Thank you. ❤️
@@Tasmetu I can say with certainty you are one of a kind, until now I had yet to meet a foreigner that talks about the Azores in the realistic way that azoreans do too.
I had no idea you got nasty comments for speaking the TRUTH! But unfortunately I’ve come to the conclusion that this world just likes being fed superficial pretty pictures and not face life’s complexities.
But your videos are really powerful in this way, because no one talks about the reality of what’s going on. The biggest problem being the government not addressing this, and making the stupidest decision of relying more and more solely on tourism.
Thank you again 🙂 and love your garden.
I usually go to Pico once every 2 years, and always contemplate if I could live there as it’s very secluded!
@@1lovetheocean I luckily know a few more who are like me in that regard. But I also know many who are as you have described them - very much in their own world, ignorant of the culture and seeing Azores as some sort of natural Disneyland. :(
Thank you again for your kind words! Maybe one day we meet on Pico :)
The Azores are a form of paradise....but it will become paradise lost if the over commercialisation and influx of foreigners continues...the local govt needs to act
@@martel7322 ABSOLUTELY.
Are you Azorean?
As someone who was born in the Azores and is going to come back to retire all your comments were not only correct but in my opinion there should of been more. Be well, be safe. BY the way Terceira rocks over any of the other islands even though my late Mother was born in Pico:)
Thanks Alan! And I wish you the best time back on Terceira - it is a beautiful island, please say hi to the wonderful caves from me!
Impeccable images. Keep up the good work.
Best regards.
Thanks guys! Obrigada :)
Hi Tasmin,I was born in Lajes do Pico and also lived in Fayal in the early 60's ,I live in California,and I watch your videos,incidently,thank you for saying something nice about older people,as I am one,although I feel much younger,I have been a musician ,composer,and artist,I am looking after all these years to visit the Azores,mainly Pico and Faial,also if my mate likes it ,we might move there,but first I want to visit for at least a month sometime next year and off season,I am interested to know if you have been to Faial and what your experience there was like,Pico still seems kind of barren,would Faial have heating,etc? its been a long time from the old days when I was just 12 years old,anyway,my hats off to you for moving there and for your industry as an author.best wishes.
Hey John, thanks for your lovely comment & sharing your story :) Yes, I have been to Faial (I have been to 8 of the 9 islands), but I have never lived there. On Faial, access and flight connections are a bit better, but the island is small, as you know, so some of the same problems still arise. I know of a few people who are building heating systems into their houses now (mainly Germans), so apparently there is a way to get a heating system, also on Pico. I assume it is simply a bit complicated and probably expensive, but that is just a guess. It is still very very uncommon, a fireplace is much more common.
@@Tasmetu Thank you Tasmin .
The disclaimer sounded longer than the video!
Hello Tasmin,
Thank you for sharing so frankly about your life on this island. Personally, I think that this video should be a per-requisite before moving to the island. Amazing synopsis of what matters. Ha, ha. I looked for your previous video, but could not find it. I am sorry. I wish I could have seen it.
Thank you very much :) Yes, I had to take it down due to safety reasons. Maybe one day I will make a newer version, who knows. :)
@@Tasmetu Wow! So sad, but I understand.
Looking into potentially moving there, I come from a small town in the midwest of the USA - so the feeling of being known by everyone is just fine :) My biggest obstacle is getting citizenship or residency. I am a dual citizen of Australia and the USA, so I could potentially get my citizenship in England. Would that be the quickest way to get to the Azores? Also, how fluent in Portuguese do you recommend being?
Hey, since I am European I cannot answer your question, I am sorry. However, since the UK is no longer EU and Brexit was messy, it might be faster to just apply for it as is.
Does everyone have a hot water heater?
You mean a boiler? Yes
Hello Tasmin,
Good video and honest questions.
I get the feeling that you subconsciously still doubt whether you want to live in Pico? Or am I totally wrong?
You show everyone on TH-cam how much you love Pico. But if you are so sure of yourself, maybe you don't have to keep saying and showing it.
I like your videos and you've given me food for thought too.
Do I want to move to Sao Miguel or not in the future, when I'm done working in the Netherlands? In any case, Pico is too small and too wet for me, I guess.
You mainly tell what is not nice about living on Pico.
But can you also name the things you love about Pico?
I am very curious.
Thanks in advance.
I have plenty of videos about the good things on Pico! xx
@@Tasmetu HiTasmin, I'm gonna look at those videos. Thanks for your reply. I really find it very cool and MEGA strong that you made your move from Germany to the Azores. I hope one day I dare to do the same. But I'm an insecure guy at some points. I love my family a lot and right now I don't want to miss them. Maybe in the future when my parents have passed away, I think differently.
I love your channel, I enjoyed your last video and you're the only one who open our eyes to negative side of Portugal,,it is soooooo true the rich always ruined things wherever they go ,,thanks for the insight
Thanks for the kind words!
Thanks for the content. I’ve got a question about humidity, i am currently living in Malta and we have issue with humidity and mold as well, but we solve it with dehumidifiers, i am not sure how stronger the humidity is there, but is there a reason why dehumidifiers would not solve this issue?
Hey! Thanks for watching & totally valid question :) Yes, the humidity can be extremely high here (-> middle of the Atlantic ocean & in the winter it can rain non-stop for weeks). However, it also really depends on the house you are in. I know houses (often the old ones with massive stone walls), where a dehumidifier is doing the job very well. But I also know places (like the apartment I am currently living in) where the dehumidifier runs 24/7, gets emptied 3 times a day and it is still humid inside and stuff molds away. In the summer this issue is much better of course, but in general it is a question of how the house is build. :) Greetings to beautiful Malta!
As far as activities I can see why many do socially hang out at local cafes!! Since you are limited in the island
true! :)
The British Isle's are humid wet and cold, so similar I guess
In the winter maybe, in the summer Azores have a pretty warm/hot climate
I love your videos!!! Having plans to move with my family of my husband and two kids. So far we are in love. I wonder how easy it is to connect to with the locals (we speak the language) and how easy it is to connect with people from other countries (foreigners).
Thanks for the compliment :) Regarding the connecting: It totally depends on your personality and who you will meet along the way. But with kids, I am sure you will connect to people quickly!
Thank you so much for information about the azores.
Greed & Egos kills humanity & the way of living or survival.
Too keep a balance between tourism & properties for sale, is for the Government & the local people to look at the long term affects.
A balance can be achieved, not by Greed & Egos of a small group.
I’ve heard that residents of the Azores get a discount on flights to Lisbon ,no?
It is not a discount in the classical sense. You can get a part of the money back afterwards if you go and claim it, but it is only valid for flights to the Portuguese mainland. If you continue your flight elsewhere, this is not valid.
You are lovely.
You are completely on point!!!!!!!!
She speaks the truth!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We did not follow her advice bc/we never saw her videos. Wish we would have.....😬
The mold is so annoying!!!!!!
Thanks for great videos. It would have been great if you've left the comments turned on for your other video "Why living on the Azores might not be as great as you think" where you say there was a lot of anger and abuse, but there must have been a lot more positive and beautiful comments as well. It would have been a curiosity to see who was commenting what and who was abusive, whether they were locals or foreigners living on Pico or whether they were someone from other countries or from the continental Portugal and whom to avoid as well.
I get it but its not like its a marriage. You can try it and if you don’t like it you can leave.
Hi Tasmin .. I like ur video
We love your videos ! We will be in Pico with our daughters in June, thanks for the advise !
Mo & Don
Sarasota Tiny House
Thanks! Hope you have a great stay on the island :)
Mostly things you say no true ,, This is lovely place on of the best of world with peace less crimes friendly people , i know because i am from there with beautiful natural land
Hi Tazmin: I just watched your video on the terrible things about The Azores. I 1,000% agree with everything you said. You NEVER once said anything negative about the Azoreans. I am listening to your video and I CAN'T BELIEVE PEOPLE ARE ATTACKING YOU. WHY? YOU NEVER SAID ANYTHING NEGATIVE OR UNTRUE. UNBELIEVABLE. I am so sorry. My parents and sister lived on Terceira for two years and ALL THAT YOU SAID IS TRUE. My mother moved the chest away from the wall and found hairy black mold on the white plaster wall like black hair on a man's chest! It DID TAKE MONTHS AND MONTHS to get packages. Since we were military we had a little benefit, but a lot of military wives HATED the island and ran away from their husbands and came back to the US. We endured a huge earthquake that knocked out the power for three days and killed several locals. We were required to boil our water. The islands are made up of volcanic eruptions. I was also the subject of local gossip. I won't go into details, but I didn't speak the language and was clueless and completely innocent of all the plotting going on, so YES, GOSSIP, GOSSIP, GOSSIP!!! It does get COLD in the winter and it's the HUMIDITY. BONE CHILLING. And the clothes ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS being damp. ALWAYS! We had a line dryer on the roof and our lacy panties disappeared! Three days later they were hanging on the roof of the neighbor's line three houses down!!!! The lifestyle is COMPLETELY different than "home". This is not HOME as you said like US or Germany or where ever native home is. I don't think people understand this. It DOES give you the opportunity to experience something you will never experience again. I walked with my dad to the pier to where the fishermen were fishing and one man caught an octopus. He beat the head on the pier because it was trying to get away by using its arms and suckers all over. Or going into a cave where we were able to see the hole when we passed it from above. Luscious green ferns and crystal clear water. Dad haggling for wool blankets at FAST EDDIE'S shop down the street. Seeing scrimshaw on a beaded leather choker for the first time and buying it from the cute local boy employee working at the store. Going to Angra to shop... the BIG CITY!!! AND GETTING A PAIR OF KNEE HIGH BOOTS!! That was cool! Lots of great memories. I cried when we came back to the US. I feel the same as you about The Acores. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤.
Hey Bella, thank you so much for your comment, it feels good to be validated. I love the Azores to much, which is why I would never dishonor the islands by pretending they are perfect. Life here can be tough, for locals as well as immigrants, no matter how much we love it here. ❤️
Your story sounds very intense and I had a good laugh at the lacy panty story - I assume the wind might have been the true thief here but I laughed nonetheless at the picture in my head of someone actively stealing your underwear. 😂 We just had someone steal a flower from right in front of our doorstep - I was super mad about it at first but now I find it kind of funny. It is truly a very different life here - but I would never exchange it for anything. ❤️
Tazmin: I am still so upset that people would be so aggressive towards you for saying nothing horrible. It doesn't make sense. You said nothing to make people attack you. Ridiculous. You brought up a very good point regarding wealthy people purchasing land and building beautiful rental/vacation homes on the land while the locals have very little and are being pushed into poverty and where are they going? They can't afford to live in their own home. This really is a sad plight for people who call this home and planned on staying home for the remainder of their lives. So much has changed since my family lived there. What was once considered "hell" is now "paradise" for some. And those "paradise" seeking people are killing the locals with meek wages and no where to go because this is home. All the widows wear black and there is a LOT of head to toe BLACK around. I do not know much about the black wearing ladies, but some are young and some are old. I'm sure there is a hierarchy in the black wearing community and as you said, THEY ARE TO BE RESPECTED. The lacy underwear, 😂😁😆!!! Yes, they blew off our line and magically appeared on our neighbor's line, drying when their maid and her teen daughters were cleaning our neighbor's home three days later 😂😁😆!! They originally were my mom's... so they found a new home by being passed around, making ladies around the world happy and perhaps finding a good mate! Magical mate finding lacy undies! They were in red and in Barbie pink colors and stretchy lace. One size fits most! 😂😁😆🤗😍🌸. They came from Japan, to the US, then the Acores and then who knows where!!! Hilarious! There was so much more I could have explored and learned, but I didn't take advantage of my time there. It is a beautiful place, but not meant to be exploited as you mentioned. It's to be loved and preserved for what it is and what it has to offer. I ONE THOUSAND AGREE WITH YOU AND BACK YOU UP A MILLION PERCENT. You go girlfriend!!!!! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🌸🌹👍!!!!
When you were talking about restaurants, I agree with you and even beyond getting bored from the lack of dining-out restaurant options, for a lot of people they just don't know how to cook for themselves very well or keep things interesting culinarily at home to compensate. And a lot of these restaurants close up shop for the non-tourist months so knowing a thing or two in the kitchen can really make a big difference in mitigating that culinary boredom and also save you some money.
True, I forgot to mention that many places close in the winter time. And you are 100% right about the cooking thing! I also miss cozy comfy cafés as they are very very rare here.
Can anyone find a job in there
Hi, how much have you pay your new house?
Hello Alberto, as I consider finances to be a very private topic, I will not share any details regarding this online / in public, I hope you understand. Have a nice day
@@Tasmetu ok...i know that It s difficult find men in Pico that work for building... How do you think to do for tour home?
Palma Island (correct)
Cheezaz women don't mind or even a knowledge haters on social media, took you about five minutes on this video ;) just do your thing and don't justify some stupid posts by giving them attention they don't deserve!
Ausserdem sehr begrüßenswert eine Münchnerin erzählen zu hören! Als Wiener haben wir denke ich ähnliche "Standards" und deine Sicht der Dinge entspricht mit 90% Sicherheit der meinen. Von dem her herzlichen Dank für das ungeblümte, sehr angenehm!
Hallo liebe Tasmin,
ich habe den Ruf der Azoren in mir gespürt. Tief berührt und am Weinen, spürte ich, dass ich dort schon Mal war oder dass dort eine Erfahrung auf mich wartet. Ich plane Anfang August zu kommen und es wurde mich freuen, Dich kontaktieren zu können. Da Du sehr naturverbunden bist, würde es passen und Du könntest mir bestimmt einige Fragen beantworten, die in mir brodeln.
Vielleicht magst Du mir antworten und wir können uns austauschen.
Liebe Grüße von Insel zu Insel.
Lebe zur Zeit auf Mallorca.
Hello Tasmin… I don’t live in the Azores but I was born in the Azores and enjoy visiting the islands andI want to say that every piece of information that you spoke about in your video is absolutely correct. Even the mold is true lol. A lot of the issues you spoke of is on the Azores news Chanel. Azoreans we love our islands but let’s be real , things are not perfect. I am glad you had the courage to speak up. It’s good for people to know this information and then decide for themselves. I want to say thank you and keep up the good work. 👍 🇨🇦
Thanks Delia! :)
I have enjoyed your videos and frank discussion. I think I don't want to live there but I definitely want to visit Pico and meet the locals, and hike on the beautiful island. Have you met Carlos and Laura? ("Our Journey to Pico Island" channel) All the best.
Thanks! :) I know about Carlos and Laura and have seen them around, but I have not met them yet :)
The only cons is finding a good job and boredom if you can’t find any hobbies. Other than that I love the Azores. I would move there if I could find a stable job there.
Excellent video. In true German Style... Straight to the point... Pro's and con's. Looking for your next video. South Africa Cape Town.
Did you know Azores has the HIGHEST suicide rate of the country? Well i am azorian, nothing is as good as it seems. I am in lisbon and dread the day i have to go back...
Edit: Maybe you should talk about these important things?
I am sorry to hear you are so unhappy with the islands. I know many people who are much more happier in cities or other countries and I 100% understand why. I hope you find your path wherever it may take you 😊
Do you know why they have the highest suicide rate?
hi! Can you be more specific about what it is in particular you dislike so much ? or just what you dislike the most ?
@@gailalbers1430 well, most likely he comes from the smaller islands with smaller population, some modern "comeditions" that first world regions people like so much is harder to find, there are no big shoppings (today you can order stuff from internet though), for example, winter season, alot of restaurantes close very early or dont open at all. Its a very isolated world, it rains alot also, its very "slow", for people who like big city life, small population, you see the same people every day, lesser people, lesser oportunity for jobs etc, not to mention, despite on its foundations the Azores being multicultural (Portuguese marjoity, 2nd group flemish people, then jewish, north africans, italians etc), today is very ethnic homogenous. Clearly is not for big city lifestyly lovers. The bigger islands with population like Terceira and Specially São Miguel have mix of calm island life, while having the good (and bad) of city lifestyles. I am telling this because even Azoreans from these "main" islands, feel the others more isolated and "slow".
Hi Tasmin, how would you feel just talking about your experience without turning it into generalized opinions? Let others,,should,, do. I feel a local is a human being that lives with an open heart and respects all life in its various expressions.
Hello Kati. As I said multiple times in this video, the entire video is based upon my own personal experience and opinions. I never said or implied that the things I say are general facts. Whenever I speak about the locals or the culture I always make sure to add that it is of course not everyone who is the same as a society never consists of homogenous identical people.
I would love to know what exactly bothered you? In which of the mentioned points do you disagree and why? Please share so that the other people in the comments can know your experience and learn from it as well.
You are talking about 40 years ago, we are in the 21st century. Not much heating system, because it never gets to cold or too hot. It is humid, so just get a dehumidifier and for heating, you can always buy electric heating, and a/c in the summer. If you hate it so much, you are free to move out.
I never said I hate living on the island and as I stated a billion times in comments and in all my videos, I love living on Pico. There is literally a 5 minute disclaimer in this video alone about that. If you are not actually listening to what I am saying, please do not comment. Thank you.
😂your funny lol
If I hear the globalist, cliché' , regurgitated word "sustainability" one more time I swear to God I will write an unbearably boring book!!
You're a lovely person I'm sure but I think you're a tad self obsessed
You're a lovely person I'm sure but I think you're a tad rude
Thank you very much for the video. I'm absolutely agree with you about living in Azores. We moved 2 years ago to Faial and happened everything that you are talking about. 👍🫶