Bom dia! We want to meet you! If you want to meet others on your journey to live abroad. Join us on Patreon. We have a 'It'll Be Fun Monthly Online Meet up Crew' level and every level currently has access to our new 'Itllbefun Discord server' to talk in real time with a private group of like minded people. Click the link www.patreon.com/itllbefun
Just started following you! I´m a Mexican living in Madeira. Have been living here for the past 4 years and feel like living in PARADISE. Love your videos. Wonderful explanations. Amazing VOICE.
Bom dia Carolina, Nice to meet you! Thank you for watching and for the compliment. Madeira is fabulous. Maybe we should pinch ourselves to see all is real. Have a wonderful day Alan and Leslie
Ola Koko and Steve, Thank you for watching and supporting pour channel, again! We are glad you enjoyed the content. Keep watching and let us know what else for you interested in learning. Enjoy your journey, Alan and Leslie
Bom dia c-money, Thank you watching and commenting on multiple videos. It really helps our channel grow. And encourages us to keep trying to improve. Have a wonderful day Alan and Leslie
Helping your channel grown my American _Cousins your voice is so calming to listen to your interesting commentary wishing you Love 💕 & happiness from the U.K.
Since 2019, 20K people moved to Madeira Island, the main foreigner community is from UK. Portugal is 7th most fluent in English, so language isn't a barrier. Enjoy while you can, life is too short for not take the best we can.
I've watched this multiple times. The criteria and information is spot on and the scenery is so soothing. BTW, you have a voice for radio... do you have a future doing an English Podcast for expats? Speaking of which, how is the island radio selection as you tool around in your sporty little bug?
Olá Admin Desk, Thanks for supporting and watching our channel. The scenery here Is beautiful. As my car is equipped with with the original A.M. radio, and there's no A.M. stations, I just enjoy the show. Do I have a future for a Podcast? ...We'll see. Stay tuned. Have a great day Obrigado Alan and Leslie
I have been watching so many vlogs of ex-pats that moved to Portugal. Really nervous about where US is going. I'm 78, in very good health, but wondered if someone of my age would not be welcome. Did you use a service to guide you through for visa, backing, etc. Love your voice. You sound like you can do voice overs and calm people. Jane, Philadelphia
Hi Jane, Thank you for your lovely comments and support. We did use a service for part of the process and learned a lot along the way. For the visa service we use EImigrante.pt. While they are filled with wonderful knowledge and support. They will still process through VFS in the US. You can google VFS and look through the process. We think we would have been fine just going straight through VFS but did feel better with the extra hand holding we received from EImigrante.pt. For all the rest such as drivers license, bank accounts, etc we did these on our own. We don't think age is an issue. But we do recommend that you come stay for at least a month or so, in order to get a feel for the country, area and people. It is fun.
Thank you for watching and sharing our journey. We hope you will continue to watch. Let us know what you are interested in hearing or learning about. Enjoy your journey!
Hi Sue, Thank you supporting our channel! We are so glad you enjoyed our video. Please let us know what we can speak to that you are interested in and what we can continue to try to improve. Please note the key word "Try".😃 Enjoy your journey! Alan and Leslie
Interesting and will make a note to look more into Portugal for retirement. Looking to get out of the U.S. and no longer have to pay crushing property taxes and healthcare costs and not be surrounded by people I want nothing to do with.
Sounds like you have started the process of discovery. It'll be fun! 😀 send us your list of questions and we will answer them with what we have learned. Enjoy your journey!
Glad you are enjoying your retirement in Madeira; we (madeirenses)(people from Madeira)are one of the most genuine and welcoming people in the world always happy to help others and yes we value and respect elderly people, doesn't matter if they're your family or not. Nice video 📹 👍 👌 👏 😀
Bom dia Dance, Obrigado por assistir e apoiar nosso canal. nós realmente apreciamos isso. Muito obrigado por comentar. Somos tão abençoados por estar aqui em sua ilha. Todo mundo tem sido tão gentil e maravilhoso. Esperamos que você continue nos apoiando e esperamos não decepcionar. Tenha um dia maravilhoso Thank you for watching and supporting our channel. we truly appreciate it. Thank you very much for commenting. We are so blessed to be here on your Island. Everyone has been so kind and wonderful. We hope you continue to support us and we hope that we do not disappoint. Have a wonderful day, Alan and Leslie
It looks so peaceful. The views are incredible. How is the renting process, expensive or are you buying? Thank you for the nice walk through the country side.
Olá Jerard, Thanks for watching and supporting our channel. Here's a link to our apartment video th-cam.com/video/fPZMjJw5kjc/w-d-xo.html Hope this helps. Obrigado Alan and Leslie
We were just in Madeira as my wife's family is from there going back to the early 1600s. Because of the steep, hilly terrain, we couldn't live there. If we moved to Portugal, we'd chose the mainland because it's less expensive, and probably near Porto because of the great food.
Olá MrRugbyprop1, Thanks for watching and supporting our channel 😀. Madeira may not be for everyone. Glad you found your place. Obrigado Alan, Leslie and Wolf
Hi Alan, Thank you for your wonderful tours and very important details on how to prepare for this! Question, is Madeira more costly to live than the Mainland? We are considering both. Thank You!
Ola Joel, Thanks for watching and supporting our channel. It can be It really depends on where you are looking. From our understanding central Portugal would be the most cost effective. Enjoy your journey Leslie and Alan
Hi Alan, thanks for another terrific video. Can you also share a bit of your thought process on choosing Madeira over mainland Portugal? Did you scout out the mainland? If you discussed this in a different video, apologies.
Olá Louis, Thanks for supporting and watching our channel. We are discussing this decision in an upcoming video. Keep watching. Obrigado Alan and Leslie
Bom dia! New and Improved! Join our Patreon community! Click the link www.patreon.com/itllbefun As always we would like to thank you for watching and for being our subscribers. Each and every one of you mean the world to us! And if you are not already, we invite you to subscribe and become part of our TH-cam community. We would love for you to join us on our journey! Enjoy your journey, Alan and Leslie
I just found your channel today and subscribed. My husband and I are strongly considering Portugal as our future retirement destination. The biggest drawback, besides language (and that doesn't seem so big according to what you have indicated), is the abundance of seafood. I am deathly allergic. Are there vegetarian places on Madeira? I know Lisbon and Porto are supposed to have several. Thanks in advance. I'm looking forward to getting caught up on all your videos.
Olá Nicole, Thanks for supporting and watching our channel. There are several vegan restaurants in the Funchal area . So this should not be an issue. Enjoy your journey Obrigado Alan and Leslie
I ll have to say, I must agree with Leslie, i dont like creepy crawlers either and since i m lucky enough to have a European passport Portugal sounds like a wonderful place to land. Just going to have to see if my USA husband can come with me :)
Which levado or trail is this that Leslie is walking. We are arriving April 24 for 10 days and have a few afternoons free for walking near Funchal. I have looked at Alltrails too.
Madeira looks beautiful. My question to you is whether you considered Mexico. In particular the Lake Chapala area. It is high in the mountains, has a great climate and is close to an international airport? Oh an has one of the largest US expats communities outside of the US. If you did consider this area what was you reasons for not choosing Chapala? We own a home in Ajijic and really like the area. Many of the reasons you chose Portugal are also there. We are just curious and look to come visit Madeira in the future to possibly split our time between Mexico, Europe and our native Canada. Thanks for you response and keep up the good content. JC
Ola overworkin, Thanks for watching and supporting our channel. We did consider Mexico but decided to we wanted to be in Europe for the last adventure. Have a wonderful day Leslie and Alan
Ahhh, yes! You found a way to make it work! You're living the fantasy so many Americans dream about. I hope you remember that when the inevitable unpleasant experience or homesickness occurs. I say that as someone who has lived in exotic locations and no matter where one is, life happens. Now in early retirement, I am more Euro-Centric than ever before. Eastern Europe appeals for the cost of living but Portugal can't be beat, especially for proximity to North America. Madeira Island is 95% as large (sq. mi) as the city of New York. I fret it will become "Paradise Lost," growing too quickly and losing its soul. Do you worry about growth and over-building? How are the long-time locals dealing with all these expats driving up prices and mucking up the place? The truth is, Madeira is a front-runner for us, but we keep glancing at the Azores, just over the horizon. Sorry for rambling on... you should be doing your own show, does Madeira have anything like NPR (radio?) Thanks again for what you do.
Boa noite Admin Desk, Thank you for your continued support. And the compliment. We do worry about the fast growth. It is worth keeping an eye on. But the city planners and people of Madeira seem to be watching out. As in any place, while the new people and money bring new jobs at better pay. It can also be scary and uncomfortable for some. We do understand. We hope to meet you in the future and I am sure the Azores will be a great choice as well. Have a wonderful day Alan and Leslie
Not sure how I came across your video. Maybe luck? One moment I was looking for a hotel in south India; the next thing I know is your video started playing. Nevertheless, I saw the whole thing. The video is very peaceful in nature and this is something I wish to do in my life too. For now, your videos will do. You've got a subscribe from me. Goodluck on your adventure. :)
Thank you so much. We truly appreciate it. We dreamed about doing this for years. And no one believed we really would ever get across the finish line. The journey has been fun. If you feel like it, send us a list of questions or comments and we will dive into them for future videos. Enjoy your journey!
I understood you are bringing that small Volkswagen. Interesting. I lived in São Paulo, Brazil, for a number of years, in the late 70’s. I had a car exactly like that, including the colour. Sometimes it will not be easy to drive it in Madeira, because the island is very, very mountainous. I do not know how easy it will be to find spare parts.
Yes, but I am up for the Challenge. The interesting part is that since the car was originally sold for the American market it has a larger engine at a 1.6 vs. A 1.3. Wish me luck!
@@ItllBeFun Portuguese drivers, like me, tend to drive relatively fast. Sometimes they, not we, tend to get impatient with slower cars. Just ignore them. Probably one of our weakest points, driving with proportional care.
Ola Angela Thanks for watching and supporting our channel. Yes, you will want to sign up for your medicare regardless of where are live in the world. There are choices you will need to make with regards to this. Hope this helps. Have a wonderful day, Alan
Portugal is amazing. Haven't been to Madeira yet. Soon as no booster jabs are required I'll go. Just sticking to mainland Portugal for now. I absolutely loved Oporto, Aveiro and Lisbon
Bom dia! We want to meet you! If you want to meet others on your journey to live abroad. Join us on Patreon. We have a 'It'll Be Fun Monthly Online Meet up Crew' level and every level currently has access to our new 'Itllbefun Discord server' to talk in real time with a private group of like minded people. Click the link www.patreon.com/itllbefun
Just started following you!
I´m a Mexican living in Madeira. Have been living here for the past 4 years and feel like living in PARADISE.
Love your videos. Wonderful explanations. Amazing VOICE.
Bom dia Carolina,
Nice to meet you! Thank you for watching and for the compliment. Madeira is fabulous. Maybe we should pinch ourselves to see all is real.
Have a wonderful day
Alan and Leslie
So fun your living your best lives!! Your an inspiration, “what are we all waiting for?”
I know! Glad you are watching. Thanks for your support.
I love the story-telling element to your videos. They are a joy to watch!
Glad you like them! We hope you continue to watch to help us grow. Have a wonderful day.
lovely, thank you so much❤👍🐶🐶🤩🙏
Ola Bernadette
You are welcome.
Enjoy your day
Leslie and Alan
How did you record these? Do you have the camera strapped to yourself?
Hand held.
Keep watching and supporting our channel.
Obrigado
Alan
Really enjoyed this video too Alan and Leslie. Your style Alan is very thorough and informative. Thank you, Koko and Steve in Florida
Ola Koko and Steve,
Thank you for watching and supporting pour channel, again! We are glad you enjoyed the content. Keep watching and let us know what else for you interested in learning.
Enjoy your journey,
Alan and Leslie
Beautiful cinematography and narration!
Bom dia c-money,
Thank you watching and commenting on multiple videos. It really helps our channel grow. And encourages us to keep trying to improve.
Have a wonderful day
Alan and Leslie
Helping your channel grown my American _Cousins your voice is so calming to listen to your interesting commentary wishing you Love 💕 & happiness from the U.K.
Olá skylar blue,
Thanks for supporting and watching our channel.
Life is a journey
Enjoy your journey
Obrigado
Alan and Leslie
Since 2019, 20K people moved to Madeira Island, the main foreigner community is from UK. Portugal is 7th most fluent in English, so language isn't a barrier. Enjoy while you can, life is too short for not take the best we can.
Very true. We are here doing just that. Thank you for watching. Have a wonderful day!
I've watched this multiple times. The criteria and information is spot on and the scenery is so soothing. BTW, you have a voice for radio... do you have a future doing an English Podcast for expats? Speaking of which, how is the island radio selection as you tool around in your sporty little bug?
Olá Admin Desk,
Thanks for supporting and watching our channel. The scenery here Is beautiful. As my car is equipped with with the original A.M. radio, and there's no A.M. stations, I just enjoy the show.
Do I have a future for a Podcast? ...We'll see.
Stay tuned.
Have a great day
Obrigado
Alan and Leslie
Great and interesting video man 😎
Thanks for watching. The Dude!
I have been watching so many vlogs of ex-pats that moved to Portugal. Really nervous about where US is going. I'm 78, in very good health, but wondered if someone of my age would not be welcome. Did you use a service to guide you through for visa, backing, etc. Love your voice. You sound like you can do voice overs and calm people. Jane, Philadelphia
Hi Jane,
Thank you for your lovely comments and support. We did use a service for part of the process and learned a lot along the way. For the visa service we use EImigrante.pt. While they are filled with wonderful knowledge and support. They will still process through VFS in the US. You can google VFS and look through the process. We think we would have been fine just going straight through VFS but did feel better with the extra hand holding we received from EImigrante.pt. For all the rest such as drivers license, bank accounts, etc we did these on our own. We don't think age is an issue. But we do recommend that you come stay for at least a month or so, in order to get a feel for the country, area and people. It is fun.
• As a 68 y/o American I wonder and worry about the future of USA - what's left of it ... 🤔
Thank you for sharing the beautiful video. 🥀🌻
Thank you for watching and sharing our journey. We hope you will continue to watch. Let us know what you are interested in hearing or learning about.
Enjoy your journey!
Kanindot sa place, kanus.a kaha ko maka abut dha dai oi
Thank you for following along on our journey.
Beautiful place to live in. Thanks for sharing your story.
Thanks for watching! Let us know what other topics you are interested in. Enjoy your journey!
Beautiful place and nice video.. Thanks for sharing.. 👍👍😊😊
Thanks for joining us on our journey. We hope you will continue and also ask questions along the way.
Enjoy your journey!
Love , love your videos. Thanks!💕
Bom dia! Redgree16
Thanks for watching and cheering us on.
Have a wonderful day and Enjoy your journey!
Alan and Leslie
Great video! Thank you for sharing your reasons to move to Portugal. Just subscribed.
Hi Sue,
Thank you supporting our channel! We are so glad you enjoyed our video. Please let us know what we can speak to that you are interested in and what we can continue to try to improve. Please note the key word "Try".😃
Enjoy your journey!
Alan and Leslie
Really enjoyed that. Thanks so much.
Thanks for watching.
Interesting and will make a note to look more into Portugal for retirement. Looking to get out of the U.S. and no longer have to pay crushing property taxes and healthcare costs and not be surrounded by people I want nothing to do with.
Sounds like you have started the process of discovery. It'll be fun! 😀 send us your list of questions and we will answer them with what we have learned.
Enjoy your journey!
Great video 😎 beautiful views
Hi! Thanks for watching!
Love the show folks. It was fun.😉
Hi Eric,
Thanks for watching. We appreciate it.
Enjoy your journey
Alan and Leslie
Glad you are enjoying your retirement in Madeira; we (madeirenses)(people from Madeira)are one of the most genuine and welcoming people in the world always happy to help others and yes we value and respect elderly people, doesn't matter if they're your family or not.
Nice video 📹 👍 👌 👏 😀
Bom dia Dance,
Obrigado por assistir e apoiar nosso canal. nós realmente apreciamos isso. Muito obrigado por comentar. Somos tão abençoados por estar aqui em sua ilha.
Todo mundo tem sido tão gentil e maravilhoso.
Esperamos que você continue nos apoiando e esperamos não decepcionar.
Tenha um dia maravilhoso
Thank you for watching and supporting our channel. we truly appreciate it. Thank you very much for commenting. We are so blessed to be here on your Island.
Everyone has been so kind and wonderful.
We hope you continue to support us and we hope that we do not disappoint.
Have a wonderful day,
Alan and Leslie
Bom dia Dance,
Fun fact from Leslie: I am from Madeira, Ohio believe it or not.
Soooo beautiful. Thanks for the ride.
It is! Thanks for supporting us. The car is will be in Lisbon by the end of the week!
Thank you for your candor.
Bom dia Carlos,
Thank you for watching, commenting and helping to cheer us on. We truly appreciate it.
Have a wonderful day,
Alan and Leslie
It looks so peaceful. The views are incredible. How is the renting process, expensive or are you buying? Thank you for the nice walk through the country side.
Olá Jerard,
Thanks for watching and supporting our channel.
Here's a link to our apartment video th-cam.com/video/fPZMjJw5kjc/w-d-xo.html
Hope this helps.
Obrigado
Alan and Leslie
So glad the Bug is on the way!! Miss you guys. Can't wait to visit 😍
We can't wait to see you guys here! But until then we will keep running around the island.
Do not forget about Porto Santo, part of Madeira archipelago. There you can find a very long wonderful beach.
We can not wait to take the bug over on the ferry. We have time scheduled for June.
We were just in Madeira as my wife's family is from there going back to the early 1600s. Because of the steep, hilly terrain, we couldn't live there. If we moved to Portugal, we'd chose the mainland because it's less expensive, and probably near Porto because of the great food.
Olá MrRugbyprop1,
Thanks for watching and supporting our channel 😀. Madeira may not be for everyone. Glad you found your place.
Obrigado
Alan, Leslie and Wolf
Superb video
Olá Tanmay,
Thanks for watching and supporting our channel 😀
Obrigado
Alan and Leslie
Hi Alan,
Thank you for your wonderful tours and very important details on how to prepare for this! Question, is Madeira more costly to live than the Mainland? We are considering both. Thank You!
Ola Joel,
Thanks for watching and supporting our channel.
It can be
It really depends on where you are looking. From our understanding central Portugal would be the most cost effective.
Enjoy your journey
Leslie and Alan
You'd love Colombia based on what you said about Costa Rica. Portugal and Colombia and Spain are all amazing places to live
Olá Mongoose 1880,
Thanks for supporting and watching our channel.
Enjoy your journey
Obrigado
Alan and Leslie
Hi Alan, thanks for another terrific video. Can you also share a bit of your thought process on choosing Madeira over mainland Portugal? Did you scout out the mainland? If you discussed this in a different video, apologies.
Olá Louis,
Thanks for supporting and watching our channel.
We are discussing this decision in an upcoming video.
Keep watching.
Obrigado
Alan and Leslie
Bom dia! New and Improved! Join our Patreon community! Click the link www.patreon.com/itllbefun
As always we would like to thank you for watching and for being our subscribers.
Each and every one of you mean the world to us!
And if you are not already, we invite you to subscribe and become part of our TH-cam community.
We would love for you to join us on our journey!
Enjoy your journey,
Alan and Leslie
Thanks
Ola Joe,
Nice to hear from you again. We appreciate your support.
Have a wonderful day
Leslie and Alan
I just found your channel today and subscribed. My husband and I are strongly considering Portugal as our future retirement destination. The biggest drawback, besides language (and that doesn't seem so big according to what you have indicated), is the abundance of seafood. I am deathly allergic. Are there vegetarian places on Madeira? I know Lisbon and Porto are supposed to have several. Thanks in advance. I'm looking forward to getting caught up on all your videos.
Olá Nicole,
Thanks for supporting and watching our channel.
There are several vegan restaurants in the Funchal area . So this should not be an issue.
Enjoy your journey
Obrigado
Alan and Leslie
I ll have to say, I must agree with Leslie, i dont like creepy crawlers either and since i m lucky enough to have a European passport Portugal sounds like a wonderful place to land. Just going to have to see if my USA husband can come with me :)
Olá Maria,
Thanks for watching and supporting our channel. Enjoy your journey
Obrigado
Alan and Leslie
Feel glad for you!
Thanks! Have a wonderful day!
Which levado or trail is this that Leslie is walking. We are arriving April 24 for 10 days and have a few afternoons free for walking near Funchal. I have looked at Alltrails too.
Olá Lori,
Thanks for watching and supporting our channel 😀. She in walking Levada dos Piornais in Funchal.
Obrigado
Alan
Madeira looks beautiful. My question to you is whether you considered Mexico. In particular the Lake Chapala area. It is high in the mountains, has a great climate and is close to an international airport? Oh an has one of the largest US expats communities outside of the US.
If you did consider this area what was you reasons for not choosing Chapala? We own a home in Ajijic and really like the area. Many of the reasons you chose Portugal are also there. We are just curious and look to come visit Madeira in the future to possibly split our time between Mexico, Europe and our native Canada. Thanks for you response and keep up the good content. JC
Ola overworkin,
Thanks for watching and supporting our channel.
We did consider Mexico but decided to we wanted to be in Europe for the last adventure.
Have a wonderful day
Leslie and Alan
Ahhh, yes! You found a way to make it work! You're living the fantasy so many Americans dream about. I hope you remember that when the inevitable unpleasant experience or homesickness occurs. I say that as someone who has lived in exotic locations and no matter where one is, life happens. Now in early retirement, I am more Euro-Centric than ever before. Eastern Europe appeals for the cost of living but Portugal can't be beat, especially for proximity to North America. Madeira Island is 95% as large (sq. mi) as the city of New York. I fret it will become "Paradise Lost," growing too quickly and losing its soul. Do you worry about growth and over-building? How are the long-time locals dealing with all these expats driving up prices and mucking up the place? The truth is, Madeira is a front-runner for us, but we keep glancing at the Azores, just over the horizon. Sorry for rambling on... you should be doing your own show, does Madeira have anything like NPR (radio?) Thanks again for what you do.
Boa noite Admin Desk,
Thank you for your continued support. And the compliment.
We do worry about the fast growth. It is worth keeping an eye on. But the city planners and people of Madeira seem to be watching out.
As in any place, while the new people and money bring new jobs at better pay. It can also be scary and uncomfortable for some. We do understand.
We hope to meet you in the future and I am sure the Azores will be a great choice as well.
Have a wonderful day
Alan and Leslie
Not sure how I came across your video. Maybe luck? One moment I was looking for a hotel in south India; the next thing I know is your video started playing. Nevertheless, I saw the whole thing. The video is very peaceful in nature and this is something I wish to do in my life too. For now, your videos will do. You've got a subscribe from me. Goodluck on your adventure. :)
Thank you so much. We truly appreciate it. We dreamed about doing this for years. And no one believed we really would ever get across the finish line. The journey has been fun. If you feel like it, send us a list of questions or comments and we will dive into them for future videos.
Enjoy your journey!
I understood you are bringing that small Volkswagen. Interesting. I lived in São Paulo, Brazil, for a number of years, in the late 70’s. I had a car exactly like that, including the colour. Sometimes it will not be easy to drive it in Madeira, because the island is very, very mountainous. I do not know how easy it will be to find spare parts.
Yes, but I am up for the Challenge. The interesting part is that since the car was originally sold for the American market it has a larger engine at a 1.6 vs. A 1.3. Wish me luck!
@@ItllBeFun Portuguese drivers, like me, tend to drive relatively fast. Sometimes they, not we, tend to get impatient with slower cars. Just ignore them. Probably one of our weakest points, driving with proportional care.
How healthcare works when we reach 65 years old (from the US)? We still need to sign up for Medicare, right?
Ola Angela
Thanks for watching and supporting our channel. Yes, you will want to sign up for your medicare regardless of where are live in the world. There are choices you will need to make with regards to this.
Hope this helps.
Have a wonderful day,
Alan
Portugal is amazing. Haven't been to Madeira yet. Soon as no booster jabs are required I'll go. Just sticking to mainland Portugal for now. I absolutely loved Oporto, Aveiro and Lisbon
Olá Mongoose 1880,
Thanks for the continued support.
Enjoy your journey
Obrigado
Alan and Leslie
Great insights into how the US is viewed outside of the American bubble.
Yes, as Gubby would say "colorful".