Local Information In Portugal

So you have decided after careful consideration that you want to start a new life living in the sun based in Portugal. But where exactly should you live is the next question that springs to mind. Portugal is a very large country and there is so much scope to go on.

We personally chose The Algarve which lies on the southern strip and has the most amazing beaches that makes many other places look rather boring when you compare. There is endless beautiful buildings to admire and no two places are the same.

The northern parts of Portugal tend to be somewhat poorer than their southern neighbours and this will often become apparent when you visit these different locations.

Another bonus of choosing the south against the north is that the majority of the locals will be used to the expats so you will not face as many problems. For example many people move to Portugal knowing very little Portuguese and even though you will plan to learn it from the outset you will need that little bit of understanding from the locals.

In the south of Portugal English is taught at school so even if they are not at our level of English they will know enough for you to do your day to day tasks without a problem.

Portugal has really changed for the better over the past few years and in many different ways. It's popularity has never been greater for both business and pleasure due to the economic and structural advances which have been made. 

Portugal now attracts over two million British visitors every year and it has always been the top choice of many holiday makers. One of the most popular areas of Portugal is the Algarve, the beautiful beaches and extremely friendly people make it a popular choice and it is not uncommon for visitors to stay and make the Algarve a home for themselves and their families. 

Some of these people go on to make their living in the Algarve but another option is to work for one of the increasing number of multinational companies who are establishing themselves in Portugal and they often provide transport to enable their workforce to travel to the larger towns where they are based. 

Portugal has been a member of the EU for nearly 20 years and it is now greatly benefiting from a wide range of financial subsidies which have resulted in companies like VW and Vodafone establishing a workforce here which demonstrates a growing confidence in the country.

It should also be noted that the Portuguese people have embraced the development in their country and  many of them have undertaken training in areas such as engineering, computing and business which means that they can compete favourably with other nationalities. 

Many people, especially the younger generation, are multilingual and are able to to converse in English, German, French and Spanish. The Portuguese are always taught French after their own language followed a close third with the English language. They also have a great knowledge of the Spanish language due to how close it is to Portuguese. 

Another sign of the growing confidence and popularity in Portugal was that the world fair, Expo 98 was held in Lisbon. This amazing exhibition was visited by over 11 million people and was held on a massive site next to the River Tagus, it was in fact an old disused oil refinery but was transformed into an exhibition and entertainment area that basically took your breath away due to the size and quality of the structure. 

A legacy of all of the work which was completed for Expo 98 is a state of the art underground system which is being extended as we speak, The Ponte Vasco Da Gama which is a bridge over the river and an Oceanarium which is the second largest in Europe. 

Portugal also has a new motorway infrastructure and a high speed rail network now links Lisbon with Porto, the south and Spain. Portugal has made sure that it has kept its links with agriculture as this is such an important aspect of many Portuguese peoples lives and this appeals to many people who visit, the laid back pace of life and friendliness of people in these rural areas remind people of what really matters as our own life's become more rushed and stressed.

To your new life!

The Living In The Sun Team

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