For me, life in the Algarve is not all about beaches, although it can be if that’s what you like. No, my life is in the rolling foothills with a view of the sea instead.
I arrived in the Algarve 14 years ago: I bought a villa and settled down to some relaxed living. Having never been to Portugal before, it was a hit and miss situation as to where and what to buy to suit my lifestyle. It didn’t take me long to realise that I wanted to be in the Santa Barbara de Nexe area where I had made many friends. I also wanted to design my own villa, one to my own taste that would suit my needs.
Building my own place
I bought a plot of land near the village of Santa Barbara, and drew up plans of my ideal home. I decided on a simple, single story villa with eco friendly features, a swimming pool and a fish pond. I wanted enough space for visitors because experience had already taught me that lots of family and friends want to visit you when you live in the Algarve.
It took a total of about two years to get my land purchase completed, get all the relevant permissions, and get my house built and garden landscaped. Since I moved in about five years ago, I’ve never looked back!
Living the dream
The villa, the garden, rescued dogs, my sports and social life keep me busy. My neighbours live in nearby villas, quintas and traditional farmhouses, and are Portuguese as well as Dutch, German, Austrian, Italian, Belgian and British. All are friendly and helpful. Some of my Portuguese neighbours have smallholdings and it’s a delight to see them taking their flocks of sheep out to pasture in the fields nearby.
The winter months are full of colour: bright sunshine, blue skies and orange and lemon trees in full fruit. Pink and white almond blossom fills the air, the grass turns into a beautiful green with the first rains and the meadows are filled with wild flowers of all hues.
Throughout the year the fields and hedgerows around me abound with wild rocket, rosemary, asparagus, spinach, mushrooms and brambles full of blackberries. I harvest almonds, carobs, olives and figs in my garden and my little orchard provides me with oranges, tangerines, lemons, grapefruit, avocados, plums, apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, grapes and quince. It is pure bliss to eat straight from the tree or field.
My little piece of paradise is off the beaten tourist path: so in the summer months there are no crowds and no noise. If there is a car or two at a junction, we call it a traffic jam! The pace of life is much slower and I take great delight in ‘tootling’ along the country lanes and not worrying about traffic or rushing to get from A to B.
A little bit of eco-friendliness
My water comes from a borehole, so aside from running the pump, it doesn’t cost me anything. I planned the house so that all the waste water (except from the toilets) goes into a cistern which is used for irrigation. The water for the house is solar-heated and the pool is a salt water system. Contrary to what you might expect, you can’t taste salt in a salt water pool!
There is no rubbish collection from your house if you live in this part of the Algarve. I take my rubbish to the nearest bank of bins, which also include bins for recycling glass, plastic and metal, and paper.
Casual living, modern technology
Despite the laid-back lifestyle and in some ways old fashioned approach to life, Portugal is remarkably strong in its technology and infrastructure. Power cuts are extremely rare, mobile phones work in even the most rural of locations, and high speed internet is available just about everywhere, at reasonable rates.
Just about anything you can think of is available, whether its authentic, ornate Thai garden furniture, the latest electric appliance (have you seen the Dyson cooling fan?) or favourite brands of food from home.
Becoming a local
Within a few short months I was well settled into the village. I am known in the bank, the post office, the two small supermarkets, even the insurance office. Everyone is friendly and welcoming, none more so than in my local pub, Julie’s Taverna! With a pharmacy and hardware store, a legal office and even a computer geek, I’d never need to go further afield if I didn’t want to.
Within a 15 minute drive in any direction there is a plethora of local restaurants, all cheap, all cheerful. For €15 (or less!) you can have a three course meal with wine, coffee, dessert, a local port or medronho to finish. The fish is always fresh, the flavours are subtle and tasty, and the environment is traditional. Fabulous!
There is never a dull moment since moving to the Algarve, with things to do, places to go and people to visit.
Editor’s note:
Meravista’s information and resource sections offer plenty of information about all aspects of life in the Algarve. Our blog pages include regular updates on events and festivals.
If you are interested in moving to the Algarve, there are thousands of properties of all kinds in all areas of the region on Meravista’s maps. To learn more about the different areas, check out the Algarve county information as well.
Brought to you by Meravista – the place where smart people search for Algarve property for sale.
Life in the Algarve hills
For me, life in the Algarve is not all about beaches, although it can be if that’s what you like. No, my life is in the rolling foothills with a view of the sea instead.
I arrived in the Algarve 14 years ago: I bought a villa and settled down to some relaxed living. Having never been to Portugal before, it was a hit and miss situation as to where and what to buy to suit my lifestyle. It didn’t take me long to realise that I wanted to be in the Santa Barbara de Nexe area where I had made many friends. I also wanted to design my own villa, one to my own taste that would suit my needs.
Building my own place
I bought a plot of land near the village of Santa Barbara, and drew up plans of my ideal home. I decided on a simple, single story villa with eco friendly features, a swimming pool and a fish pond. I wanted enough space for visitors because experience had already taught me that lots of family and friends want to visit you when you live in the Algarve.
It took a total of about two years to get my land purchase completed, get all the relevant permissions, and get my house built and garden landscaped. Since I moved in about five years ago, I’ve never looked back!
Living the dream
The villa, the garden, rescued dogs, my sports and social life keep me busy. My neighbours live in nearby villas, quintas and traditional farmhouses, and are Portuguese as well as Dutch, German, Austrian, Italian, Belgian and British. All are friendly and helpful. Some of my Portuguese neighbours have smallholdings and it’s a delight to see them taking their flocks of sheep out to pasture in the fields nearby.
The winter months are full of colour: bright sunshine, blue skies and orange and lemon trees in full fruit. Pink and white almond blossom fills the air, the grass turns into a beautiful green with the first rains and the meadows are filled with wild flowers of all hues.
Throughout the year the fields and hedgerows around me abound with wild rocket, rosemary, asparagus, spinach, mushrooms and brambles full of blackberries. I harvest almonds, carobs, olives and figs in my garden and my little orchard provides me with oranges, tangerines, lemons, grapefruit, avocados, plums, apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, grapes and quince. It is pure bliss to eat straight from the tree or field.
My little piece of paradise is off the beaten tourist path: so in the summer months there are no crowds and no noise. If there is a car or two at a junction, we call it a traffic jam! The pace of life is much slower and I take great delight in ‘tootling’ along the country lanes and not worrying about traffic or rushing to get from A to B.
A little bit of eco-friendliness
My water comes from a borehole, so aside from running the pump, it doesn’t cost me anything. I planned the house so that all the waste water (except from the toilets) goes into a cistern which is used for irrigation. The water for the house is solar-heated and the pool is a salt water system. Contrary to what you might expect, you can’t taste salt in a salt water pool!
There is no rubbish collection from your house if you live in this part of the Algarve. I take my rubbish to the nearest bank of bins, which also include bins for recycling glass, plastic and metal, and paper.
Casual living, modern technology
Despite the laid-back lifestyle and in some ways old fashioned approach to life, Portugal is remarkably strong in its technology and infrastructure. Power cuts are extremely rare, mobile phones work in even the most rural of locations, and high speed internet is available just about everywhere, at reasonable rates.
Just about anything you can think of is available, whether its authentic, ornate Thai garden furniture, the latest electric appliance (have you seen the Dyson cooling fan?) or favourite brands of food from home.
Becoming a local
Within a few short months I was well settled into the village. I am known in the bank, the post office, the two small supermarkets, even the insurance office. Everyone is friendly and welcoming, none more so than in my local pub, Julie’s Taverna! With a pharmacy and hardware store, a legal office and even a computer geek, I’d never need to go further afield if I didn’t want to.
Within a 15 minute drive in any direction there is a plethora of local restaurants, all cheap, all cheerful. For €15 (or less!) you can have a three course meal with wine, coffee, dessert, a local port or medronho to finish. The fish is always fresh, the flavours are subtle and tasty, and the environment is traditional. Fabulous!
There is never a dull moment since moving to the Algarve, with things to do, places to go and people to visit.
Editor’s note:
Meravista’s information and resource sections offer plenty of information about all aspects of life in the Algarve. Our blog pages include regular updates on events and festivals.
If you are interested in moving to the Algarve, there are thousands of properties of all kinds in all areas of the region on Meravista’s maps. To learn more about the different areas, check out the Algarve county information as well.
Brought to you by Meravista – the place where smart people search for Algarve property for sale.