I moved to Portugal six years ago and love living here. I find the Portuguese people to be friendly and helpful, and I have never seen even one example of ant-social behaviour here. It is as different from the UK as chalk is from cheese. That said, you are spot on about the frustrations caused by accessing the local health center and the bureaucracy here. To other single's over 50/60, you should also be aware that despite their general day-to-day friendliness, it can be difficult to make friendships here. I know a few people, but I spend far more of my time doing things on my own than I had envisaged. Nevertheless, I wouldn't swop living here for anywhere else.
@@dougposkitt1690 thanks for your comment, I think it depends where you live, here in Tomar most people are friendly and I did make a few acquaintances and one or two close friends. No one said something negative about me a foreigner living here. In fact local Portuguese mentioned to me they do need the publication to grow as alot of young people move away. It’s not just 50 and over with no kids moving I see families making the move as well.
Portuguese here. Well, if you are on your 50/60 it will be difficult to make friends because people above 50 almost don't speak English. First because until 30 years ago the French was the main second language at school and also because the most part of the people of that age does not have many years of school. If you live outside the large cities on the litoral ir gets worse.
@@liveyourbestlifeover50I'm portuguese and my wife is from Tomar(Casais). Their parents still live there. Tomar is a beautiful historical city but depressed on economical grounds. It was an important industrial city until maybe 50 years ago, but with the country becoming more and more leaned towards the litoral it became increasingly detached from the economical axis Porto- Lisboa. Because it is relatively near Lisbon, many people work in Lisbon and many just went to live to that macro-cefalous region. There are almost no jobs in Tomar outside the services sector.
I’ve lived in Portugal for 35 years and I found it incredible that I got a family doctor before my Portuguese partner. Once in the system, setting up appointments is much easier but still the wait time can be weeks. Fortunately, all prescriptions are digital. I’ve just retired on a Portuguese pension and money is very tight. I am still better off than most pensioners. Natalie I think it’s very useful to share these realities. After all this time my Portuguese is hilarious.
@@lisacraig4585 thanks so much for your comment and support, good to hear I’m not the only one that has a realistic view of Portugal 🇵🇹. Every country as it’s good and bad it just depends what you personally can live with and if the positives way with the negatives.
Hi Natalie, this is only the 2nd video of yours that I've watched. Great info. Do you think $1,000 a month is livable in Portugal? I visited PT last November and will be there again this November. I am planning on retiring there and want to learn as much as I can about the realities of living there. All I know is that it's better than living here in US, it's getting nutty here! So, thank you so much for your video's! 💚
@@lynetterosario5697 thank you for your comment again,€or$ 1000.00 is doable but $1500.00 maybe better it depends on your lifestyle and location of course.
Hi, Natalie. I know what you're going through... And I am Portuguese! :)))))))))))))))))))))))))) Yap, beaurocracy is no piece of cake for anyone, and Portugal is a beaurocratic nation, unfortunately - it is just a way to enable corruption! Cheers, from Lisbon.
@@user-tm2vc6fj8q I made actually I video about Tomar at Christmas, but more about the decorations and lights. The restaurants are pretty much all open during Christmas. I was very happily surprised by the enthusiasm for Christmas😁.
@@user-tm2vc6fj8q I had my daughter planned coming, but unfortunately, she couldn’t make it but my son should be able to come later this year in November before Christmas. my mother might also come at the same time
@@user-tm2vc6fj8q yes my daughter she supposed to come this summer, but unfortunately that didn’t work out but my oldest son and maybe even my mother will be able to come in November before the year ends and we’ll figure it out how the sleeping arrangements will go.
Hi Natalie, I love your videos, missed a few because it's summer but thank you for these. Awesome!! Take care in you Portugal adventure/home.
Glad you like them! Hope all is well with you in Canada 🇨🇦
I moved to Portugal six years ago and love living here. I find the Portuguese people to be friendly and helpful, and I have never seen even one example of ant-social behaviour here. It is as different from the UK as chalk is from cheese. That said, you are spot on about the frustrations caused by accessing the local health center and the bureaucracy here. To other single's over 50/60, you should also be aware that despite their general day-to-day friendliness, it can be difficult to make friendships here. I know a few people, but I spend far more of my time doing things on my own than I had envisaged. Nevertheless, I wouldn't swop living here for anywhere else.
@@dougposkitt1690 thanks for your comment, I think it depends where you live, here in Tomar most people are friendly and I did make a few acquaintances and one or two close friends. No one said something negative about me a foreigner living here. In fact local Portuguese mentioned to me they do need the publication to grow as alot of young people move away. It’s not just 50 and over with no kids moving I see families making the move as well.
Portuguese here. Well, if you are on your 50/60 it will be difficult to make friends because people above 50 almost don't speak English. First because until 30 years ago the French was the main second language at school and also because the most part of the people of that age does not have many years of school. If you live outside the large cities on the litoral ir gets worse.
@@liveyourbestlifeover50I'm portuguese and my wife is from Tomar(Casais). Their parents still live there. Tomar is a beautiful historical city but depressed on economical grounds. It was an important industrial city until maybe 50 years ago, but with the country becoming more and more leaned towards the litoral it became increasingly detached from the economical axis Porto- Lisboa. Because it is relatively near Lisbon, many people work in Lisbon and many just went to live to that macro-cefalous region. There are almost no jobs in Tomar outside the services sector.
I’ve lived in Portugal for 35 years and I found it incredible that I got a family doctor before my Portuguese partner. Once in the system, setting up appointments is much easier but still the wait time can be weeks. Fortunately, all prescriptions are digital. I’ve just retired on a Portuguese pension and money is very tight. I am still better off than most pensioners. Natalie I think it’s very useful to share these realities. After all this time my Portuguese is hilarious.
@@lisacraig4585 thanks so much for your comment and support, good to hear I’m not the only one that has a realistic view of Portugal 🇵🇹. Every country as it’s good and bad it just depends what you personally can live with and if the positives way with the negatives.
Hi Natalie, this is only the 2nd video of yours that I've watched. Great info. Do you think $1,000 a month is livable in Portugal? I visited PT last November and will be there again this November. I am planning on retiring there and want to learn as much as I can about the realities of living there. All I know is that it's better than living here in US, it's getting nutty here! So, thank you so much for your video's! 💚
@@lynetterosario5697 thank you for your comment again,€or$ 1000.00 is doable but $1500.00 maybe better it depends on your lifestyle and location of course.
use private insurance for anything non emergency and dentistry. use public hospitals for real emergencies.
Thanks 🙏
Hi, Natalie.
I know what you're going through... And I am Portuguese! :))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Yap, beaurocracy is no piece of cake for anyone, and Portugal is a beaurocratic nation, unfortunately - it is just a way to enable corruption!
Cheers, from Lisbon.
@@teresabaptista7016 thanks for your comment much appreciated, Obrigada 🙏
Any chance you could tell us what Tomar is like at Christmas...if restaurants etc are open etc
@@user-tm2vc6fj8q I made actually I video about Tomar at Christmas, but more about the decorations and lights. The restaurants are pretty much all open during Christmas. I was very happily surprised by the enthusiasm for Christmas😁.
🙂💜
Does your family from Canada visit you in Portugal ? Would you have room for them to stay?
@@user-tm2vc6fj8q I had my daughter planned coming, but unfortunately, she couldn’t make it but my son should be able to come later this year in November before Christmas. my mother might also come at the same time
@@user-tm2vc6fj8q yes my daughter she supposed to come this summer, but unfortunately that didn’t work out but my oldest son and maybe even my mother will be able to come in November before the year ends and we’ll figure it out how the sleeping arrangements will go.