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moving to azores

Posted in Azores forum

I am considering moving to the Azores in the near future .I am traveling to the Azores in early march and would like to meet with UK expats who may be able to introduce me to in Azores!!

graham wheeler

  • Jefrey Gomes

    posted by  in Azores forum 

    Sorry for the late reply but i have been away. The cats should be fine I think you need to have a vet checkup and health certificate showing they are all current on there vaccines. the rest is dealing with the airlines. But I suggest you call the Portugues consulate and verrify with them for all current requirements.If you are looking for a rental we have a 1 bedroom apartment downstairs we built to rent to tourists but I can discuss it with my wife about a long term rent al if you are interested. As has been stated before each Island is differnt you should try to visit as many as possible to get a true picture of the Azores

  • Go to Nate Moore's profile

    posted by  in Azores forum 

    I think the cats just need to be vaccinated for rabies within 30 days of arrival: http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/liveanimals/pets/nocomm_thir
    d_en.htm .

    I was quite surprised at the level of self sufficiency on Sao Miguel, at least. I found everyone that we talked with to be very friendly, from those in restaurants etc to people I asked for directions in my non-existent Portuguese.

    I hope you go give it a try - there's a lot to like.

    Nate

  • posted by  in Azores forum 

    David,

    Thank you so much for your interesting, friendly and welcome "2 cents"!
    I enjoyed reading your take (on the subject of 'moving to the Azores') very much.
    And it is exactly what I had hoped: that there are a variety of islands within the Azores, so there must be a variety of environments and people, different degrees of warmth and/or receptiveness to visitors or new residents, varying amenities (be they progress and technology, or spartan and simple) etc.
    And I also understand the things that sadden you, as well: too much progress can be a bad thing if the very things that made a place charming and unique in the first place become that which is 'updated' (ie: replaced by the newer, more improved way of life). And I have witnessed the property values rocket skyward, in just the two or three years I've been researching the Azores. A quaint but well-appointed (ie: MODERN and quite habitable, but sans upscale things like swimming pool, wine cellar, garages, chef kitchens, etc.) cottage of 2 bedrooms/1 bath east of Sao Miguel by just a few easy miles was going for around $47,000 USD the first time I looked at its listing, a little over 2 years ago. Now, even the RUINS properties are going for well over $150,000 USD, and you couldn't TOUCH that little cottage I spoke of, now, for less than $200,000. THAT saddens ME. ;-(
    So I've instead resigned myself to looking at apartment rentals, and have been stunned to find those went up, meteorically, too (from around $250/month for a 3 room to over $700/month now for the same).
    Several years ago, a friend of mine watched this happen to BULGARIA, of all places. He was getting ready to dive in, buy an $11,000 property (very liveable 3 bedroom country house, some small repairs, mostly cosmetic, and on almost 4 acres with several outbuildings, near the Turkish and Greece borders to the west) but he hesitated, waited a few months to get some things in order, and then found the Seller had turned around and sold it for THREE TIMES THAT to a couple from Germany (STILL a bargain! but an indication something was happening, and it was happening FAST...).
    I think this is the case all over the world right now. People, in general, are looking for a better life, even if across the world, simpler, less complicated and as far away from political war gamers as possible.

    At any rate. I'm still convinced this is where I'm going to live, to spend this half of my life at (the Azores), simply because the CLIMATE and relative isolation appeal to me, and my health, at this point of my life (no 'millions' of people, complicated over-funded/under-staffed agencies and organizations and all the corruption and woes that go with all that in America). As much as I love my country, its sheer size and increasing unrest has made me yearn for a 'home away' from the cacaphony and unrest.
    If the end of the world were to come one day, in the next few years, I'd much rather be somewhere smaller, reasonably-self-sufficient, than a country with several billion and the potential for huge areas of civil unrest and disaster... It's not the 'end of the world' I'm afraid of: it's the PEOPLE I'm living amongst, that I'd be afraid of.
    Anyway. I'm rambling now. ;-)
    Thanks again for your post.
    I STILL have the question about my cats, unanswered, though. Is there a problem, in the Azores, with my bringing with my three indoor (healthy, spayed/neutered, etc.) cats with me?

    Shea

    I thank you for your honest and friendly post. ;-)

  • Go to David T's profile

    posted by  in Azores forum 

    Maybe I can help with some of the questions.
    Just a little background of me.
    I was born here in Toronto and parents are from Terceira. They moved back home in ‘86. At the time I was still in my teens so I moved over as well and spent about 3.5yrs, then came back to Toronto for school. My parents still live there and I go back often. As I am this June.

    Now with the cost of flights that's really extreme. You may want to drive to Toronto which has a large Azorean community and have flights leaving almost daily during the summer. I'm booking a flight for $777cdn taxes in.
    I can't comment on hotel costs since I still at my parents place to stay at.

    When I was there in ‘86 it was a much much different place compared to now. Each visit over I’m amazed(and sadden too) at the progress. The islands are becoming more like North American’ish. Cell phones/multiple cars for each home, 400tv channels.... It's good and bad at the same time.
    After Portugal became part of the EU things changed greatly. Property values have gone thru the roof.

    Weather wise. You can't beat it. Summer temps are very comfortable 25C/77F on average and winter about 15C/59F.
    The whole time I lived there not once do I recall wanting a A/C, summer temperatures are just perfect. Now winter was a different story. Most homes don’t have central heating. Come to think, I don't think I have ever been in a house over there with central heating. The three years I was there my parents never did have a heater. We just dresses in layers.
    Yes, the winters are wet and so are they here just in the form of snow. The Azores do get some wild winds for left over hurricanes. But I never experienced anything extreme, I actually enjoyed the winters it gave me a reason to jump into a bed to stay warm and read a book by candle light due to a power outages. :)

    Now to say the people are cold or unwelcoming I think is a wrong statement. Maybe it's just me. Because of my background. But I have always found people more than welcoming to strangers or going out of their way. I do find a difference between people in a small village and those from the bigger cities. I think you will find that people would be warm to a new resident then not.

    You will have to take note that visiting one island is not going to work. Each island is totaling different

    So taking a trip and only visiting one island and making a judgment would be a mistake.
    There are many cons and pros to each island and that would all depend on what you are looking for, or wanting to do. As in relaxing and not working or planning to work.
    You can live in Sao Miguel With a few hundred thousand people or Flores with a few hundred people

    I hope this gives you some feedback. If not let me know and I will try to answer any questions you may have.

  • posted by  in Azores forum 

    Nate Moore, Jessica, and Jeffrey,

    Nate: Thank you for the info. I did check, recently, and you are correct, I have found that if I time it right, I can drive to Boston, and hop a $575 flight (roundtrip) to the Azores! So I may very well put in a pre-move 'visit' later this year!

    Jeffrey: SO sorry to hear about your illness... I am keeping you and your family in my prayers; I do not know you personally, but your letters here have been friendly and helpful, you are a fellow-American (expat) and you sound like a wonderful, kind person... thoroughly deserving of all the extra love and support that comes your way!
    Hoping this finds you well, hopeful and bearing life, in general, with a continuing positive state of mind...

    Jessica: I m so late in checking my mail here! Surely YOU must have already, like Graham, taken a visit to the Azores by now? As I mentioned to Jeffrey in another message, now that I know the cost of a flight to the Azores CAN be much less than I had initially believed, my hope is to at least pre-visit the islands later this year, possibly by August (2011). Would be lovely to have someone(s) already there to visit with... such as yourself? Jeffrey?

    Looks like Graham has made it, and I am a little saddened by his report, as it sounds as though he was disappointed. Perhaps February is simply just as bleak in the Azores as it is everywhere else?
    I'm not a typical 'island person'. I actually DISLIKE 'tropical' sunny places like the Carribbean islands and coasts, and also cannot tolerate overmuch heat and humidity due to health complications. I need AND want to be somewhere temperate, where it is pretty much on the cooler side most of the year. Looked into Nova Scotia, but the 'cooler' months there are FAR TOO COLD (often in the sub-zero's). The climate of the Azores seemed a much better fit, at least for *my* particular health needs.
    So I have no unrealistic expectations of the Azores Islands being the typical 'hot and sunny' islands many might expect; quite the contrary.
    But I do appreciate Graham's report. His description of the general 'feel' of things does leave me saddened (natives being somewhat suspicious, dismissive, of non-Azoreans), but it is good to know the bad with the good BEFORE getting there. Like any areas that have seen more than their share of tourists and ex-pats, the locals have probably encountered one-too-many 'bad apples' to have much faith in the rest...

    Question for Jeffrey: How difficult will it be for me to bring three indoor cats with me? They are young enough to handle the flight and travel, but too old to leave behind, rehomed (it would kill them, not to mention destroying ME!). Wait times? Fees?
    AND, do you think it is possible to live on any of the islands in an off-the-grid fashion without too much trouble in the local building/dwelling CODES department?
    I've had my eye, speculatively of course (more of a long-range, future goal), on yurt or mobile cottage (think gypsy wagon/roulotte) living, for forever. This may be a more practical possibility were I still considering Nova Scotia (before the extremely cold winters there made me rethink things), not so much the Azores... just wondering....

    Thanks,
    Shea

  • Go to Nate Moore's profile

    posted by  in Azores forum 

    Hi Shea,

    This may be too late, but in terms of cost, you should be able to get to the Azores for under $1000, at least at this time of year. We just got back, and tickets were about $450 from Boston, which has a direct flight 2x weekly. Going via Lisbon is much more expensive, and takes a long time by comparison.

    hope that helps,
    Nate

  • Jefrey Gomes

    posted by  in Azores forum 

    I am not sure I understand where you are asking that I live now. But I am liveing here in The Azores On Pico Island still. We havent sold our house yet. Me And my wife are currently In Lisbon seeing Doctors about my cancer they are trying to determine when and if they can do surgery to remove the tumors. I advise that if you want to come visit the Azores that you waite until spring. Although the islands are beautiful year round the weather is unpredictable and transportation can also be, especialy between islands if you are planning to visit more than one island.Wish you guys all the best on your trip and if you have any questions I would be glad to try to help you if I can.

  • Go to Monique Brignoni's profile

    posted by  in Azores forum 

    Hi Jefrey, Shea & Graham,

    Jefrey I'm so sorry for what happened. I'll pray for you to get better soon!
    Shea, so... I'm not the only crazy one? I just decided I need to find a place to live near the ocean & would love to check the Azores out! I'm thinking of going at the end of December/beginning of January to have a look and if I like the feeling.... I'm moving:))
    Shea & Graham you must be living there by now, right?

    All my best to you all!

  • Jefrey Gomes

    posted by  in Azores forum 

    Hello I live here on Pico island in the Azores. if you have some questions i would be glad to try and answer them. I also have my house for sale here it has a apartment downstairs and beautiful garden area. I am origonaly from California I moved here 5 years ago and love it but recently I have been diagnosed with cancer and i want to move back to be closer with my kids.

  • posted by  in Azores forum 

    Hi, Graham,

    No, I'm as non-Azorean as you (currently)...;-)
    I chose several 'communities' I'm interested in (as well as my 'home' community of Illinois, USA), and those show up as a cluster in my profile's 'communities' area... but my nationality (and current res) is that of the US (born in Biloxi, Mississippi, to be exact); I've only been overseas from the States ONCE. and that was when my Dad was in the US Air Force, and our family lived off-base, with the wonderful family of Kasim Bozedagon (not sure if the last name is spelled correctly; I just woke up ten minutes ago and am blearily enjoying my first cup of coffee! lol) while Dad was stationed a couple years to three in Adana, Turkey!

    I recently posted somewhere that I had decided to simply make the move, sight unseen, because I had discovered roundtrip airfare to the Azores (from my central midwest position in out country) would amount to almost (over, in many cases!) $3000 (that's about 2500 euros, I think)!
    So with about $5000 total, involved) a girl needs a clean room to wash her face and sleep under clean sheets, too, it seemed silly to spend so much to just VISIT, when that would go a long way towards a down payment on a sleep little bungalow somewhere on Terciera, Sao George, Pico or Faial...
    Sorry for the confusion. And hope we can still be friends, as POTENTIAL Azoreans?
    ;-)

    jipsi

    PS: Apologies for ANY typos or mis-spells: I'll need to have another cup of coffee before I'm functioning 100%...;-)

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