What It's Like to Live in Portugal as a Writer
People are often curious about what it’s like to live in Portugal as a writer. I feel so very fortunate to be able to split my time between my apartment in NYC and my beachside hideaway in Portugal. What’s also interesting is that fellow writer, Ian Fleming, lived nearby, and he took inspiration from the local casino for his James Bond novels. I imagine him strolling along the boardwalk and dreaming up plot points, just like I do!
Read on for more about my experience as a digital nomad and working writer living outside of Lisbon.
Picture-Perfect Portugal
Portugal is ridiculously photogenic. I’m not someone who likes to catalog every moment of my existence; I prefer living in the moment––but, to be fair, I’m a “words” person. However, whenever I’m out of the house, I find myself clicking the camera shutter much more often. Even the most ordinary spaces are extraordinary in Portugal. The sidewalks are tiled in intricate patterns. Absolutely stunning detail everywhere and in everything.
Fairytales are Real
On Monday night I had a hankering to stop by the local palace (yes, there’s a local palace). I bought tickets online and went over to Pena Palace on Tuesday for a long walk. Because of Covid, tourist traffic is down to only 5-10% of the normal highs. I arrived just as the castle gates opened, and I was able to walk through the palace almost on my own for half an hour. I had breakfast al fresco on a palace terrace, overlooking the lush landscape and foggy mountain tops. There’s no shortage of inspiration here.
99 Problems, But the Beach Ain’t One
The area where I live is known as the Portuguese Riviera. It’s west of Lisbon, situated on the Atlantic Coast. This stretch of sandy beaches has always been a hot spot for European travelers. The Portuguese Royal family summered here in the late 1800s, which enticed the Royals from Spain and Italy to settle in as well. During the the Second World War, Portugal stayed neutral, so the Costa do Sol, as this area is also known, was absolutely stuffed with spies on both sides of the fight. The 1940s was also the time when Ian Fleming lived here, mingling with the jet-set and double agents alike.
Color That Carries You Away
This is a photo my wife captured on Pink Street in Lisbon, just today! I absolutely love bold color, and Portugal never disappoints on that front. Looking out my window right now, I see the deep blue of the Atlantic, cut by the silhouette of a pink house with a terracotta tiled roof. There are tall palms, leafy, weepy trees and crumbling stone structures. Every day when I wake, I roll up the metal shutters on my apartment window, pop open the French doors and survey the weather by looking out at the horizon. My favorite days are the sunny ones, where a crisp line separates sea from sky.
Nobody’s Home
There are quite a few abandoned houses where I live. I fantasize about living in one some day, renovating it, planting a spectacular garden. I also look to these houses for inspiration. I try to imagine the shadowy secrets hiding behind the iron gates.
A Desk of One’s Own
Is the scenery distracting, you might wonder? Not really. As you can tell by my walls gridded with sticky notes outlining my W plot structure, I’m pretty organized. I work off of a tight release schedule, so that dictates which portion of my day is spent on freelance and how much time I have for writing and editing. Freelance work as a creative director and copywriter allows me to make enough money to maintain two apartments (NYC and here) and still live a comfortable life. I follow a monthly budget and track my day-to-day expenses. While I do not make a living from my books yet, I will one day. Until then, I carefully manage my time and my finances, because I’m playing to win the long game.
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