I'm with you in finding Braga charming. That was my original plan for where to move. I think that's why Julie suggested I stay with her instead, so I could come to my senses and realize I'm still too young to live in Braga! :)
I have to admit that I don't see what other people see in Coimbra. It presents quite a lovely view from across th…
I'm with you in finding Braga charming. That was my original plan for where to move. I think that's why Julie suggested I stay with her instead, so I could come to my senses and realize I'm still too young to live in Braga! :)
I have to admit that I don't see what other people see in Coimbra. It presents quite a lovely view from across the river and it's nice to visit, but it's quite quiet for a college town. The people I know there complain that there's a surprising lack of cultural events. The downtown has been hollowed out as tourists moved in and locals left for the suburbs. Just like our neighborhood has the worst version of every grocery store, since few of our neighbors cook or clean for themselves (although your minipreco is vastly superior to mine!), the shops in downtown Coimbra are convenience stops for people who drive out to the suburbs to do their shopping. You won't regret going for a visit, though.
Have you considered Caldas da Rainha? It's been one of the few cities here where the downtown feels truly lived in. It's compact enough that the new houses on the edge of town are still a 15 minute walk from the city center. There's a daily farmers market and an abundance of grocery stores in town, not way out in the suburbs, along with practical things Coimbra and Braga lack (like a good pet supply store!). It has a nice expat community and a friend mentioned going to a board game night recently. They're always organizing something and there have been events whenever I've gone. I appreciate that it's fairly flat and is another a college town. There are lots of nearby villages and destinations that are reachable by transit as a day trip, which includes lots of hiking trails, the lagoon, and the beach. It's an hour away from Lisbon with frequent train and bus service, both stations being right downtown (unlike Coimbra, which requires a bus, cab, or a good 15 minute walk).
We met many of the expats in Braga, and yes, they are not your age group. So Julie has that right. But you're also not the average person of your age, so there's that.
Thank you so much for your take on Coimbra. Will definitely keep that in mind when we stop by.
Calda da Rainha is just far enough away to be hard to get into Lisbon, and doesn't have enough of its own specialists in the medical field to work for us, otherwise it would be on the list!
Thank you so much, Cori, for your thoughtful reply!
I'm with you in finding Braga charming. That was my original plan for where to move. I think that's why Julie suggested I stay with her instead, so I could come to my senses and realize I'm still too young to live in Braga! :)
I have to admit that I don't see what other people see in Coimbra. It presents quite a lovely view from across the river and it's nice to visit, but it's quite quiet for a college town. The people I know there complain that there's a surprising lack of cultural events. The downtown has been hollowed out as tourists moved in and locals left for the suburbs. Just like our neighborhood has the worst version of every grocery store, since few of our neighbors cook or clean for themselves (although your minipreco is vastly superior to mine!), the shops in downtown Coimbra are convenience stops for people who drive out to the suburbs to do their shopping. You won't regret going for a visit, though.
Have you considered Caldas da Rainha? It's been one of the few cities here where the downtown feels truly lived in. It's compact enough that the new houses on the edge of town are still a 15 minute walk from the city center. There's a daily farmers market and an abundance of grocery stores in town, not way out in the suburbs, along with practical things Coimbra and Braga lack (like a good pet supply store!). It has a nice expat community and a friend mentioned going to a board game night recently. They're always organizing something and there have been events whenever I've gone. I appreciate that it's fairly flat and is another a college town. There are lots of nearby villages and destinations that are reachable by transit as a day trip, which includes lots of hiking trails, the lagoon, and the beach. It's an hour away from Lisbon with frequent train and bus service, both stations being right downtown (unlike Coimbra, which requires a bus, cab, or a good 15 minute walk).
We met many of the expats in Braga, and yes, they are not your age group. So Julie has that right. But you're also not the average person of your age, so there's that.
Thank you so much for your take on Coimbra. Will definitely keep that in mind when we stop by.
Calda da Rainha is just far enough away to be hard to get into Lisbon, and doesn't have enough of its own specialists in the medical field to work for us, otherwise it would be on the list!
Thank you so much, Cori, for your thoughtful reply!