The first thing we did was to buy a kettle in Figueiro dos Vinhos and update our address with Santander Totta in Avelar. The river, where our house is in Mega Fundeira, is the boundary between the councils of Leira and Gois. We altered our address to show that we are in the Leira district.
It still amazes us that with our very limited ability with the Portuguese language we are able to communicate. We ask whoever we want to talk to if they speak English and generally the answer is 'very little'. This usually translates as excellent.
It still amazes us that with our very limited ability with the Portuguese language we are able to communicate. We ask whoever we want to talk to if they speak English and generally the answer is 'very little'. This usually translates as excellent.
Before and after
Well, the house is looking great. Paulo arrived not long after we got there to show us some of the things he had done. Top class work. The stairs are brilliant and open up the whole of the top floor. The roof terrace has been tiled as well so we used that to sit out on quite a lot.
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Hard-working neighbours
One of our neighbours, Marie-Rose, seen below going to her chicken shed, saw us laying on the terrace and promptly gave us two stools to sit on. She later gave us a broom she had made of olive tree branches, that was after showing us around her home and telling us lots about the area, which was completely lost on us, being able to only pick up a few of her words. The photo on the right shows another neighbour working the land to grow vegetables. It is a massive area that is shared by all.
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We stayed at Sammy's again in Salaborda Nova as our place had no beds or kitchen. But we did have a kettle to make tea and coffee. Next door to us at Sammy's was Anna, a French woman who has lived in Portugal for six years. She was very helpful and informative. Sammy's property the other side of us was let to a family, also French, who were there to find a home.
A fund-raising event in Cortes
On Sunday, 1st April, we took a walk through the forest opposite our house, across the river and up a steep, unmade path. We did this to look for the cafe in Cortes, a small village tucked away in the hillside. After about 45 minutes we were in Cortes and heard an accordian being played. It was just our good fortune to be there on the day when they were holding a Scout's fund-raising event. The photos below show that chickens, etc were for sale along with home-made bread, cakes, wine and jams. We bought some cakes and found the cafe.
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Caterpillars  We were being very careful when walking through the woods, looking out for processionary-caterpillars. At this time of year these can be very dangerous to humans and animals. Click below to read more on the Pure Portugal site. http://www.pureportugal.info/processionary-caterpillars | Weather  A run out to Pampilhosa da Serra was cut short by a scary thunderstorm. Lightening struck just in front of us so we turned back for home. Although the rain was torrential it did not last long enough to fill some of the depleted rivers. Salaborda Nova experienced hail stones! |
Cost of Living
For anyone interested in what it costs to live in Portugal, please note that there are a lot of variations depending on what area you decide to live in. For example, our yearly 'council tax' is 51.81 euros but we met someone who paid 240 euros in northern Portugal on the coast. Still very much less than what we pay in England, which for us is 1560 euros per year. Our monthly water charges in Portugal are 4.12 euros as against 32.40 that we pay in Suffolk.
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