Showing results by author "Bruce Joffe" in All Categories

It’s been well over six years now since we relocated to Portugal from the USA, time enough to evaluate our life and experiences here. Overall, we do love Portugal—for what it is, not for what it’s not. Too many people focus on the reasons why they’re leaving their homelands, rather than why they’ve chosen to live in another country. Some people are thrilled to acculturate and absorb Portuguese culture; others, however, are unable to adapt to the ways of their adopted country, and shuttle back and forth as foster children… ultimately deciding that Portugal isn’t for them. ...

In an era where the flicker of film can ignite movements and the sway of a storyline can shift societal perspectives, LGBTQ+ cinema stands as a vibrant beacon of representation, resilience, and revelry. From coming-of-age tales that tug at our heartstrings to quirkily comedic shorts that make us laugh until we cry, we see how these cinematic gems resonate far beyond the screen. These films often serve as both mirrors and windows, allowing viewers to see themselves or gain insight into the lives of others. They navigate the trials of love, identity, and self-acceptance with a delightful ...

Although Portugal provides universal health care to its citizens -- and foreign residents! -- many of us choose the augment this coverage with private health care insurance ... the annual premiums for which lately have skyrocketed! Nevertheless, you do have options for the coverage you need at a price you can afford for you and your family. Here's a comprehensive list of private health care insurance providers (with links to their coverage and cost sites online) where you can get the biggest bang for your buck. Remember: It's not health insurance you need ... it's health assurance!

Seeking to relocate abroad? Are you considering the sun-kissed lands of Iberia: Spain and Portugal? You definitely should ... as both countries offer a high quality of life and a lower cost of living. While Spain and Portugal share much in common, they also are very different. Here's a concise examination of the similarities and differences between the two in terms of what really matters to relocation: culture, language, places of interest, cost of living, etc. This book is the perfect place to begin your expat or immigrant journey and help you choose whether Spain -- or Portugal -- is for ...

Geography plays a significant role in shaping the culture and lifestyle of both Spain and Portugal. While both countries share the Iberian Peninsula, each has its own unique landscape, language, culture, and customs. Is either country — or both! — a good fit for you?

Spending less than $20,000 per year on comprehensive health care, car and property insurance, taxes, heating and air conditioning, furnishings, water, twice monthly cleaning, trash pick-up, and all living expenses, we’re maintaining three properties — two in Portugal and one in Spain — on my early retirement Social Security payments of $2,250 (about €2,100 at today's exchange rate) per month.

Postscript to Paradise: Portugal may have been known for its "high quality of life" and "low cost of living," but not anymore! From the price of housing to insurance premiums and taxes much higher than the USA's, be prepared is more than the Boy Scouts' motto ,,, it's a fact of living today. Consider the invaluable information included here as you develop your plans to move abroad.

The European Union aims to enable EU citizens and legal residents to study, live, shop, work, and retire in any EU country while enjoying products from all over Europe. To accomplish this, it ensures the free movement of goods, services, capital, and persons in a single EU internal market. Sounds like a great idea! By removing technical, legal, and bureaucratic barriers, the EU also allows people to trade and do business freely in this single market. That’s all well and good. But moving beyond principles to practice, let’s see if and how this market actually works. To simplify matters, ...

"There has been a very concerning rise in far-right racist attacks in Portugal, confirming that the hate messages are fueling more aggressive tactics that target human rights defenders from racial minorities,” states the European Network Against Racism (ENAR), calling for an urgent institutional response. Religious discrimination and hate crimes are on the rise in Spain, as well, pushed by rhetoric from far-right political movements.

Wherever you want to buy (or rent), the same general rule applies: Housing costs more in Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve, Silver Coast and their suburbs (Portugal) ... or Madrid, Barcelona, Ibiza, and Málaga (Spain) than comparable inland properties. But, if you know what you want and are willing to reside away from the major tourist traps, you can get one heck of a deal in both Portugal and Spain. Whether you're looking to live in Portugal full-time or seeking a vacation retreat that you can rent out when you're not there, Portugal offers many "soup-to-nuts" opportunities for less than US $...

They say that people in the Alentejo remember what the rest of the world has forgotten. I must admit, I have used that as a lead more than once. But after the last few weeks, I saw that it was rather true. My family and I spent seven weeks living in the Alentejo—we bought a rural farmhouse not far from Estremoz—and transplanted ourselves into an area where we knew no one.

What's not to like about Portugal? Who wouldn't want to live here? That all depends on who you ask. Believe it or not, there are thousands of people disenchanted — or even disgusted — by what they've experienced in Portugal. So many, in fact, that there are several (private) Facebook groups where people can post and comment freely about what went wrong for them while living in this country.

You're relocating from the USA to Portugal or Spain. So, relocating across the Atlantic becomes a major matter of logistics. Here are the vital steps before, during, and after you travel to prepare for moving your dog(s) or cat(s) to Iberia with you. Not only are the rules are regulations, laws and legalities covered, but also what you need to know in terms of your pets' health and welfare abroad. Included here, too, is a special bonus: a read-aloud children's story about how a dog's life in Portugal can differ substantially from what we're familiar with in the USA.

During our 7+ years living in Portugal, we have bought and sold eight properties: three houses and an office building. Now, we were contemplating another purchase … a small shop for our antiques and collectibles business in a UNESCO-designated historic area in the northern Alentejo, near the Badajoz border with Spain. As with any property purchase — especially homes — we sought a place that met our needs in terms of location, location, location … size … price … and condition.

"I want to take you on a musical travel of sorts." Beginning in the 18th century and spanning the centuries through today's modern music, here's what you want to know about Portugal's music ... interspersed with Youtube links that complement the brief narrative.

Through anecdotes and research, Joffe’s narrative explores why we fear and hurt so much: “For many, this need to adjust – to a hostile environment, uncertain economic times, tensions tugging at war and terrorism, extremist politics, racial injustice and religious intolerance, marginalization, spiritual voids, social disconnections, conflicting realities, artificial intelligence, etc. – is threatening, because it removes us from the safety nets and security blankets of our personal comfort zones, whatever they may be,” he says.

Data from the Portuguese Immigration and Border Service show that only 216 of the 1,281 foreigners granted permanent residence in Portugal in 2022 came from the United States. Overall, we make up less than 1.5% of the country’s total immigrant population.

As two of the most Catholic countries, religious holidays are bountiful in both Spain and Portugal, where many of the same feast days and ferias are celebrated. Of Portugal’s 13 annual legal holidays, seven – more than half – are religious. Spain has ten national holidays of which seven – 70% -- are also based on religious observances.

After owning a vacation home in southern Spain for 18 years and two properties in Portugal for over six, we’ve started to notice and track a variety of not-so-subtle lifestyle differences between the two countries. When or if comparing your expectations or experiences with ours, please bear in mind that we live in towns and villages – not coastal cities – where our neighbors are natives, and many don’t speak English. We’re comparing typical suburban settings, not urban ubiquities, between the two countries.

Peering through the peephole of Spanish, because it’s my familiar tongue, I try to unpack the mysteries of how the Portuguese language works—and why. But my Spanish also causes obstacles, hurdles, and stumbling blocks. People constantly remind me that I’m thinking – and talking – in Spanish.