Our New, Temporary Digs
In the Center of Cascais
On Monday, we moved to our new (albeit temporary) apartment in downtown Cascais. If you are not clear as to why we say temporary, you need to read about the flood and how our realtor saved us.
The Plan
We had developed a plan. Victor, the ever-patient driver, would arrive at 10:45. He would load up the van and we would be off to Cascais. I was worried, because somehow 4 duffle bags, 3 suitcases, 1 large box, and 1 golf bag carrier had multiplied. I was certain that everything wouldn’t fit. But Denise was right…it fit. After a quick 8 minute drive, Victor was parking on the sidewalk in front of our apartment. Central Cascais is a web of narrow streets. Many of them (like ours) are one-way … so parking on the sidewalk is not unusual.
Francisco, aka Xico, the property manager, was waiting for us. The four of us quickly dumped the stuff we “needed” in the apartment. I stayed with Onix and began unpacking, while Denise and Victor went to the other apartment to unload the rest of the stuff into the storage unit. Denise was back with Onix and me by 11:30.
Love and Putting Up with It
We were unpacked by 14:00 and decided it was time to take a walk. The sun was out and all you needed was a light sweater. First, what we love.
This apartment is 2 blocks from our real/new apartment. So if we need something out of the storage unit it is a quick walk away. (We already made one such trip.)
It is right in the heart of downtown Cascais … we are already certain we are going to love living in the city.
There is a fabulous pastiera across the street … this morning’s chocolate croissants were fabulous.
While the country is still in lockdown, many restaurants remain open for takeout. There are so many within a few blocks of the apartment, it was hard to decide. But we picked up some red curry and pad thai, from an Asian restaurant … it was quite good.
We are a five-minute walk from the Mercado da Vila. More on that in a later post.
We feel we have upgraded our living accommodations. I guess the real estate adage, “location, location, location” is right.
That being said, the apartment is still cold. More accurately, the temperature inside the apartment is colder than outside. So we still have to use the portable electric heater, and cover ourselves with blankets when we watch TV at night. But all and all, we are glad we made this move and are actually looking forward to the next one.
One correction: you said you live across the street from a "pastiera". It is a pasteleiria
Pastries are pasteis, 1 pastry is a pastel.
Most houses/apartments do not have heating and therefore lots of blankets are needed. Ni live in Wisconsin, US and even with heating, we use blankets! Using an electric heater will be very, very, very expensive!
Many people who are part of the fb grp Americans and friends have commented on how they wear long underwear under their clothes inside their unheated houses to help keep warm.
Those of you thinking of moving to PT and have not found this group yet, post haste...they have files of documents that people have written about how to do things, where to find things, etc. It is a great grp for meeting others and also sharing info.
Yes, location, location, location! Sounds like a great restart!