She Sought Out Safety & Sunshine on the Silver Coast of Portugal
Meet Ellen
Also known as @younglovemommy on Instagram and @olive.ellen on TikTok, content creator and blogger, Ellen, decided it was time to escape from the dangers and uncertainty of the U.S. and opted for safe and sunny Portugal.
After moving to the sought-after Silver Coast with her husband and son just before the pandemic, she added a beautiful New Year’s Day baby girl to the family.
Keep reading to hear more about what influenced her decision to move to Portugal.
“Both of our parents immigrated to the U.S. when we were children—I guess we have it in our DNA.”
Tell us about you and your family
My husband and I were both born in Brazil and raised in the U.S. We moved to Portugal from southern Florida with our son and just recently added a Portuguese girl to our family on January 1, 2022.
Where are you currently living?
We’re located in São Martinho do Porto on the Silver Coast.
São Martinho do Porto
What inspired you to pursue expat life?
We’ve always imagined we’d move elsewhere even if just for a couple of years but didn’t have our eyes set on any particular country. Both of our parents immigrated to the U.S. when we were children—I guess we have it in our DNA like our parents.
I’m much more open to change than I thought; I’ve always been overly cautious and embracing big changes never came easy.
How has expat life changed you for the better?
I’m much more open to change than I thought; I’ve always been overly cautious and embracing big changes never came easy. What pushed me over the edge were a few events—the number of shootings happening in the U.S. left me scared for my son at school.
Having graduated from Coral Springs High School in South Florida—rival to Stoneman Douglas in Parkland—the school shooting that took place in Parkland on Valentine’s day left me shook! I couldn’t have imagined something so horrifying happening so close to home, especially in a quiet little town like Parkland.
In another instance, I had taken my son to see a children’s movie in the early morning—the theater was packed with children and their moms (a holiday that fell on a Monday). We sat in our assigned seats, next to a grown man who seemed to be alone—at some point, he began talking to himself and had his hands inside his jacket making some sort of movement.
Two thoughts came to mind, either this man has a gun under his jacket or he’s touching himself. I asked him if he had said anything and he answered a firm “NO, I didn’t say anything”. I grabbed my little one and walked out, reaching out to management.
Nothing came out of it, other than them approaching him and asking if everything was alright. They came back to me and said he seemed fine and if I wanted to get back in the theater. I was shaking and in tears at this point.
I never wanted to feel that way again. But that was the reality we faced in the U.S.
What’s the hardest part about being an expat?
We moved right as the pandemic was making its way around the world, which has made it more difficult to integrate into society. Social distancing is taken very seriously here. The hardest part is the loneliness—being away from family and friends plus not being able to reach out to new people has been difficult.
How did you choose Portugal as your current location?
We chose Portugal simply because of the ease of acquiring residency and overall safety.
What are some interesting things you’ve learned during your time in Portugal?
You might get a different answer to something you’re inquiring about depending on the person you are asking. Lots of government employees are completely unaware of the rules or act as if they don’t know. Not everyone is as helpful as you’d like them to be. Being persistent is the way to go.
What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced while living in Portugal?
For me, the biggest challenge has been making friends. It’s hard to know who’s open to friendship when we are masked everywhere we go. I personally feel awkward approaching someone as I don’t know what’s acceptable. Would they mind if I invite them over, or are they keeping away from everyone?
What has been the most rewarding thing about living in Portugal?
Being able to expose our children to different places and cultures is important to us.
What do you know now that you wish you’d known before moving to Portugal?
How humid it is, at least on the Silver Coast. Our apartment has beautiful vintage wooden doors and windows. Unfortunately, they make the apartment cold and damp—a recipe for mold.
You’ll be tailgated—A LOT! Typically the Portuguese aren’t in a rush except when they are driving.
I knew cigarette smoking was popular in Europe, but it truly still bothers me so much two years in. It’s so normal to everyone that they’ll sit right next to you, with a kid and a tiny baby, and not bat an eyelash. It’s crazy to me that someone would be so inconsiderate.The reason it is important to understand and research the local conditions is that as an expat, it helps you to be mindful and conscious of not exacerbating the problems that already exist and to ensure that you acknowledge quite often your privilege of moving here with a foreign income which allows you to afford a lower cost of living perhaps.
Is there anything else people should know who are thinking of moving to Portugal?
Patience will be your ally. Bring that with you. Consider bringing books you love, especially for the kiddos (they’re a bit on the expensive side here).
What is the coolest or craziest thing you’ve seen or that has happened to you since moving to Portugal?
I was at a hair salon with windows facing the busy street when I saw an older gentleman walk by across the street. He suddenly turned toward a house and publicly urinated on their wall and went on about his business.
Tell us some of your favorite things in Portugal
Wine
Duque de Viseu
Produced at the Quinta dos Carvalhais winery in the Dão region of Portugal
Dish
Arroz de Pato
A simple, but comforting dish of rice mixed with roasted duck and topped with chorizo.
Must-See
Parque Dom Carlos I
A romantic garden located in the nearby popular city of Caldas da Rainha.
Bucket List
Guimarães
Such a beautiful little town located in northern Portugal, in the district of Braga.
Ellen shares a ton of great content about travel, family, and Portugal on her Instagram and Blog, and you can check out her Amazon Shop for some of her favorite finds!
Interested in Moving to Portugal?
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