Are there expats living year round in Vila Real de Santo Antonio - Page 2

Marga wrote on Mon Nov 21, 2022 11:10am:

Hi Daniel we should be in Vila Real after Christmas so look forward to meeting up! We've been going there for a good few years now but hope to find a small house apartment to spend our retirement.

Danielboy wrote on Mon Nov 21, 2022 9:01pm:

Hi there, yes would love to meet up and help you in whatever way that I can. I hope to be out there myself during January. Things are beginning to happen which will greatly improve the town. The railway from Faro will be electrified (the procurement documents are on the EU website) and that will ...

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...speed the journey times to and from the town. Faro to VRSA will be electrified first and then Faro to Lagos.

Also. the quay where the cross river ferry docks is to be improved. It's a bit rough looking at the moment and that can only help matters.

Kind regards,

DANIEL

Marga wrote on Mon Nov 21, 2022 9:29pm:

That's great to see some progress especially with the railway although I did like the old fashioned trains!  Reminded me of days gone by!

The years are flying by so we thought as the kids are doing their own thing we better get a move on and find somewhere.

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Best wishes

Marge

Marga wrote on Mon Nov 21, 2022 11:10am:

Hi Daniel we should be in Vila Real after Christmas so look forward to meeting up! We've been going there for a good few years now but hope to find a small house apartment to spend our retirement.

joan wrote on Thu Dec 1, 2022 4:38pm:

Hi Daniel and Family,

Villa Real de Santo is a lovely region to live in. I am a retired Irish Nurse, 71, living in Monte Gordo, opposite the train Sation. There is so much to do it's unbelievable. The people are friendly and welcoming. I have been here for 12 mths and it has been the happiest time since I started comi...

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...ng to the Algarve. You can take the train or the bus to Spain, or the rest of Europe. The beaches are is fantastic and there is so much fish in the sea if you are into fishing.Sunday morning there is Yoga and exercises free on the beach. It is safe to walk at night on one's own. It is the only safe place where I have felt comfortable with 4 very young grandchildren of 10,7,5, and a little girl of 3, I just open the door in the mornings and they have complete freedom in a locked Villa, the owner a retired school teacher and her son a Pilot love to watch them playing when they are at home. They don't have any screen time and never watch the TV. We collect scraps when we are out and they make tents to play in and out of. On the other side of the railway track is a gipsy camp, and their horses graze in the field beside us and the kids feed them carrots and hay. Now it's winter and I have spent 3 wks making an advent calendar for my host and Hostess. They were speechless when I gave it to them last night. Accommodation is best secured through word of mouth. My Landlord may be able to help you if you like. It takes me 3 quarters of an hour, but I am looking at different things enrouteI know he has another apartment in Monte Gordo. I walk to Villa Real in the morning time about once a month, shop in Continental, Pingo Doce and Lidl and take a taxi home. I like to give a bit of business so get Milk, fish, bread and cakes in Monte Gardo, There are plenty of Indian Shops and 1 guy I have made friends with would turn somersaults to do what he can for me.I sometimes look after his shop while he gets tea..The winter snowbirds are mainly Dutch and, Scandinavian.Really lovely people. Then I don't see any bad in people. You won't regret coming and I look forward to meeting up with you..I am going home for Xmas.

Joan

Danielboy wrote on Thu Dec 1, 2022 6:06pm:

Hi Joan and thank you very much.

I have a place in VRSA and go there at least once a month during the winter.

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I love the location and the weather but find it difficult to meet new friends.

Would love to meet up and hope to get out there in January.

I know that there are protocols for exchanging e-mail addresses and contact numbers and I have asked the website managers. I have not heard back yet.

Best wishes,

DANIEL

Danielboy wrote on Thu Dec 1, 2022 6:06pm:

Hi Joan and thank you very much.

I have a place in VRSA and go there at least once a month during the winter.

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I love the location and the weather but find it difficult to meet new friends.

Would love to meet up and hope to get out there in January.

I know that there are protocols for exchanging e-mail addresses and contact numbers and I have asked the website managers. I have not heard back yet.

Best wishes,

DANIEL

joan wrote on Mon Dec 5, 2022 7:18pm:

Daniel i have been busy making Xmas presents to take home to the Smallies. I love crafts, knitting, sewing and crocheting,I exchange an hour of English conversation for craft classes. Would love to take up cards ,or chess if someone would teach me. Will be back on the 29th, Go to the Indian super...

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...market or next door and ask for Irish lady's ph no and they will tell you.It is sad to see everything closing up,the Indian;s don't close up shop though. Look forward to meeting up. Went to Albufereira last Fri and on the train in the next but 1 row saw 2 girls speaking Irish and I asked them where they were from,then a guy on the other side said,my grandparents are Irish and he was educated in Ireland ,then another lady from behind me said I,m Irish,so in that compartment were 5 Irish nationals.So we are like butter spread around ,Joan 

Danielboy wrote on Thu Dec 8, 2022 5:32pm:

That's amazing Joan to come across so many Irish people that way. It's a small world! Same thing happened to me in 2019, I bumped into a guy in a restaurant in Lagos whom I had not seen in nearly 20 years. He introduced me to VRSA and as they say the rest is history.

I would like to buy a bicycle at some future date as there are so many excellent safe cycle ways in the area. My sister in law is very protective, she says that it must be an electric bike!...

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...

Best for now.

DANIEL

Marga wrote on Fri Dec 9, 2022 12:22am:

I love cycling and also will get a bike when we move and hopefully there will be somewhere to keep it!

I have walked through most of the forest trails and also along the beach to Monte Gordo and back to Vila Real by the road so look forward to more exploring!

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Have a great Christmas and look forward to meeting everybody in the New Year.

Marge