Joch Woodruff is living the beach life she always imagined, and she says northern Portugal delivered on every item of her retirement wish list. After speaking at the Live and Invest Overseas Beachfront Living Event with Europe Editor Kat Kalashian and fellow expats, she reflected on what first drew her and her husband Jeff abroad: life by the sea.
In 2019, the couple chose Portugal after exploring coastal communities from the Algarve to Porto. Today their condo sits three blocks from Praia do Cabo do Mundo, a certified Blue Flag beach known for excellent water quality, safety standards, and environmental education. Portugal holds 438 Blue Flag awards, placing it among Europe’s top beach destinations.
Woodruff describes daily walks along a boardwalk that links seaside villages to old Porto, sightings of Camino pilgrims, and Sunday markets by the water. Cafes, a private hospital, bakeries, and even a seaside soccer field sit within blocks of home.
She says the neighborhood in Perafita offers village charm with easy airport access and city connections. Six years in, she calls it simple and satisfying: ocean air, fresh seafood, friendly neighbors, and the sea always in view.
My Take…
Joch Woodruff is living the beach fantasy the rest of us keep pinned to vision boards, and she swears northern Portugal checked every retirement box. Six years on, she calls it simple and satisfying. Ocean air, seafood, neighbors who wave. Hard to argue with that.
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https://www.liveandinvestoverseas.com/countries/portugal/a-taste-of-daily-expat-life-in-portugal/
