Rene in Estoril: "I love the freedom and of course the weather"

Why did you decide to move to Estoril?

We moved to Estoril because that was where my husband was born, went to school and where his parent currently live.

How was the moving process?

Very hectic. We had once before in 1994 tried to sell our house in SA with the thought of moving to Portugal however were unable to do so. Then in 1997 we decided once again to try with the proviso that if we did we would leave. Well, house went on the market on the Sun-day, sold for cash by the Wednesday and we were to be out of the house by the end of the month. Hence my previous comment of hectic.

What are the formalities you had to undergo in order to be able to stay and live in Portugal?

None. My husband and I were married in 1981 before all the laws changed in Portugal so it was very easy to acquire all the necessary documentation etc.

Did you face some difficulties to adapt to your host country (language, culture, do's and don'ts)?

Yes and will forever be adapting. The Portuguese have a totally different type mind set. It is very difficult to get used to. I (embarrassed to admit this) am still unable to speak Portuguese. This could be one of a few reasons:
1. The companies I worked for in Portugal only needed an English speaking person to deal with English speaking clients. - no Portuguese required.
2. We have/had very few Portuguese friends and those we do/did have wanted to practice their English.
3. Have no aptitude for languages even though I attended school for a year.
It also felt like I had entered a time warp - Portugal when I got here was way behind in everything I was used to which was very frustrating. They have slowly decreased that gap and I am glad to say that the younger generation is more open to ideas and less afraid of trying new ideas.

Is it easy to meet new people in Estoril? Any advice to share with the other members?

It was not when I first arrived - however, nowadays it is more welcoming and open to making friends and/or meeting people that are not from the same country/culture etc.

Could you please share with us something you like about Estoril and something you don't like?

I love the freedom and of course the weather. Dislike the bureaucracy and the fact that most times one hand does not know what the other is doing - especially when it comes to rules, regulations etc.

What do you miss the most from South Africa, your home country?

The friendliness of all its people. South Africans are more home entertainment orientated. Braais, getting together, no invitation needed. Portuguese (unless family) are more meet for coffee type of people, and not at home, preferably at a café and one never drops in unannounced.

What does your typical day as an expat in Estoril look like?

Whilst working - the normal 8-6. Other than that, relaxing, exploring, sampling the local cuisine.

Talking about food, what are the main typical food of Portugal that one should try?

Bacalhão of course is a traditional dish one should try, especially as there are apparently at least 375 recipes (one for each day of the year). Another dish is migas (mainly associated with the Alentejo) and is a type of "bread pudding" which accompanies meat dishes. Made mainly from leftover bread, olive oil and lots and lots of garlic and coriander. And of course one cannot forget the Bolo Rei (Kings cake) at Christmas which is a type of sweet bread topped with crystallized fruits and a "fava" (broad bean) hidden in the cake. Whoever gets the bean has to buy the cake the next year.

Could you please share with us a tradition or a local habit of Estoril?

My favourite time is Saint Martin's summer (Verão de São Martinho). and the tradition of Chestnuts and Wine (Magusto - castanhas, água-pé and jeropiga). Saint Martin's Summer because we are blessed with a few days of summer in the middle of November. The reason why we have a few days of summer? Well the legend goes that a knight by the name of São Martinho wandered throughout medieval Europe always willing to help people in distress. On a very cold rainy day, whilst riding through the woods somewhere in Portugal he encountered a poor old man shivering in the rain. He took off his cape, cleaved it in two and gave half to the poor man. God was so pleased with this kind gesture that he made the sun shine to warm both. This then is the reason why we have a few summer days in November.
This is also the season for roasted chestnuts and to sample the young wines. There are many places one can attend; where one can sample the fare, whilst listening to everyone have a go at singing the fado, whilst sitting in front of a bonfire.

What advice would you give to people wishing to live in Portugal?

Treat it as an adventure and always think positive thoughts. If you have children and do not intend leaving Portugal then I would recommend the kids attend a local school. This enables them to integrate better with the Portuguese community and if you keep ties in the https://www.expat.community this enables them to have the best of both worlds.