It may seem like a dream, but Diana and I have been living in Portugal for four and a half years. We have lived in Cascais and Estoril during that time and enjoyed the proximity to Lisbon and all that the area has to offer. There are many things to do, restaurants to try, and, of course, all the friends we’ve made in the area.
Long-time readers are aware that we have been exploring various parts of Portugal since our move here. We have always had an affinity for the north and its cooler climes, delicious food, and beautiful seashores.
After much reflection and research, we decided to move to the Minho region in Portugal. Located in the far northwestern part of Portugal, the area gets its name from the Minho River that flows between Portugal and Spain. The larger cities in the region are Viana do Castelo, Braga. Guimarães, Barcelos, Ponte Lima, and Valença.
The region is said to be the origin of the infamous caldo verde soup and the slightly effervescent vinho verde wine. Sounds like a good place for us!
Our New Place In Moledo
After much hunting and help from new friends in the region, we landed a great space for us in Moledo. It’s a small seaside village. Fifteen minutes’ drive from Viana do Castelo, fifty minutes to Porto, five minutes from Caminha, twenty minutes from Villa Nova de Cerveira, and thirty minutes to Spain. On a clear day, you can see Castro de Santa Trego from our veranda.
We will be enjoying small-town living while still having access to all the necessities like healthcare, shopping, restaurants, and all the everyday things we need. We’ve been here just about a month, and so far, so good. It’s super quiet in the condominium complex we’re living in. 3-bedroom, 3-bath townhouse with a large outdoor space and great views of the sea. We realize that it’s the off-season, but we’re hopeful that it will be peaceful all year long.
We have a five-minute flat walk to the oceanfront, which we enjoy on most days. Here we walk along another flat path for miles either way. Our little town is along the Portuguese Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage Walk. Every day we see people making the walk with their giant backpacks and wish them, “Bom Camino!” with a smile and a Portuguese nod.
Diana has even found a donkey friend along our new path. He’s kept company by some horses, goats, and sheep, which are all quite adorable.
The Food Is Excellent Here
We love going to Caminha, the town five minutes away. The historic square is host to some lovely restaurants where you can sit amongst the hikers who travel there from all over the globe. If you’re trekking through and are craving a burger, be sure to stop by Trincaria Happy Food Bakery; it will indeed make you happy. You are bound to hear several languages spoken at the same time, and it’s fun to meet the walkers and learn where they are from and why they are on the journey.
You’d be surprised to see restaurants that serve pizza, hamburgers, healthy foods, and even an American-style diner amongst the Portuguese restaurants and traditional tascas.
Not to be outdone, even our little town has some outstanding restaurants. Maria Moledo and Hamilton’s have quickly become a few of our favorites. Even our little local mini mercado guy knows our favorite snacks and treats.
Grocery Shopping Is Easy Too
We’re lucky to have an Aldi about five minutes away in Praia do Âncora, which also has a Continente Bom dia nearby. A little bit further away is a huge Pingo Doce in Villa Nova de Cerveira. If you head into Viana do Castelo, all the major groceries are there as well as some specialty grocers, too.
All the towns also have local markets for fresh produce, fish, and meat. We have friends who take a ride into Spain on occasion to do their grocery shopping, too.
Lots To Celebrate
There is much to explore in this region, and we’re really looking forward to the upcoming holiday season. Viana do Castelo has already been preparing and getting their lights ready to go. We hear that the lights and holiday markets in Vigo, Spain, are legendary, and since it’s only an hour away you can get we’ll be visiting.
Diana is planning our annual Portuguese Thanksgiving dinner, its the time to be thankful for being here and our abundance of food, friends, and good times. It might not look like a traditional American Thanksgiving, and we’re perfectly happy with that.
To those who are still following along our travels, thank you! We’re grateful for you and we love getting your questions and words of encouragement.
Time To Settle In and Enjoy
As we find our footing here and become more familiar with neighbors, stores, healthcare providers, and hair salons, we take a deep breath and think about how far we’ve come. We’re still working diligently on our not-so-great Portuguese and still get frustrated with the overburdened immigrant system. But all and all, we are still happy that we moved to Portugal. It can’t be overstated – moving to another country is not for everyone. It’s full of paperwork, fees, and unexpected bumps in the road.
However, we’ve also grown as people. We have more patience (most days), have made friendships that will last a lifetime, and have learned to be good tour guides to those wishing to see our new home.
We’re still working, but we’ve slowed down a bit. We make time for morning and sunset walks. Lunch with friends and time spent watching our silly, mindless TV to sometimes escape the madness of the world.
I’m teaching, and Diana is just starting her second novel. If you missed it, her first novel, published just a short while ago, check it out at Conviction by Diana Laskaris to read all about it and buy a copy today. We don’t write as much as we used to here at Food Travelist, and our social media posts are spotty at best. We’re pondering what comes next. Stay tuned, whatever it is, you know you’re going to want to follow along.
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