°µÍø½ûÇø

Language can be a barrier for some °µÍø½ûÇøs, but English is widely spoken in urban areas and among the younger population. Moreover, the region offers various language schools and courses for those who wish to learn Portuguese and fully immerse themselves in the local culture.

And for those who don't wish to learn Portuguese, there might be something for you in Lisbon or the Algarve.  There are for sure people all over the country who speak French, English, German, etc., but I can't imagine how anyone could have a satisfactory life in central Portugal without some command of the language.  Retail, administrative, the police, the plumber ...  Don't kid yourself.

    Hi everybody,if you are wondering why so many °µÍø½ûÇøs are enquiring about moving to the region between Lisbon and Porto, here are a few reasons: -@Santi2

Unfortunately just accepting  some interweb spin on the positive "life in central Portugal" is not the reality of "life in central" Portugal".  From I time I remember well and also from your selected website is (translated for you to read )

Quote""

We have not forgotten. We are still well aware of the consequences of the deadly fires that devastated our region in 2017. We still have in our eyes the ghostly landscape, made of ashes and extinguished embers that greeted us upon our arrival. Cars burned, animals dead or miraculously escaped. The ash we breathed, which filled our mouths and lungs until the first rain arrived. The same ash that that rain precipitated into the crystalline waters of Lago Azul. After the roar of the flames, all that remained was the total, absolute silence of devastation. The silence of DEATH.""

The central Portugal, e.g. from Penice to Porto, is a very good place; sure if you talk Portugiese language is very well, but  with "small talk English" you can go well ahead.

Dippend what do you like to do as well if you found Portugiese people who are interested to "cooperate" with you. It's not easy, it's a big diskrepante between the Portugiese stil of life and other central Europe stil of life.

You need to understand that. At the moment my wife and me are in middle of this "understanding process" of Portugiese kind to be. For us don't exist other solution as to understand these Portugiese style, good so!

Just to be clear   nobody can expect to live in an °µÍø½ûÇø ghetto, expecting to live in Portugal but speaking only English, Dutch, or French. Speaking.from experience, the language courses for adult learners at Jacome Ratton High School in Tomar have helped hundreds of °µÍø½ûÇøs overcome the language barrier. Not only that, but it was and is a great way to meet other °µÍø½ûÇøs.  We all started chatting together Europese... the funniest combination of Portuguese-English-Spanish-Dutch-French-Italian to finally speak Portuguese.

Thank you Prof. Jaime!

@Strontium  YES, it was awful,

While I'm writing this quick note, it is awful for people in California

But WE SURVIVED.

We're here to tell the story. 

We are here to make sure it won't happen again. 

As it happens, we've seen this country developing a more mature and responsible relationship towards the environment.

BTW, this is how it looks now,

More can and must be done.  We are still here to contribute.

Pity we cannot count you in, dear Strontium.

    Hi everybody,if you are wondering why so many °µÍø½ûÇøs are enquiring about moving to the region between Lisbon and Porto, here are a few reasons:     -@Santi2

One of the main reasons is a lack of funds. Lisbon and the Algarve as well as Porto are getting more and more expensive and people are looking for alternatives. Whether this is a good idea everybody has to decide for himself. Portuguese are very family-orientated and are often very busy at work. Consequently they don't have much time for "outsiders", who are often hard to communicate with. I know of a number of cases where °µÍø½ûÇøs ultimately either moved to Lisbon or Porto or decided to leave the country alltogether.

@TGCampo this is why we have 20 different nationalities living in this area.  A number of FB groups to get/give advice and help.  This is what we could call finding a sense of "community". 

Luckily, gentrification has not impacted smaller towns as it has Lisbon and Porto. 

Affordable cost of living, affordable private healthcare,  low crime rate, a laid-back approach to life. 

Now, if you are coming from a fast-paced urban context you have to consider whether a complete change suits you. 

That's why you better assess your needs carefully before you take that leap in life.

But then again, that applies to wherever you want to go.