Silver Coast Life - Lost in Translation!

I moved to Portugal almost 5 years ago and now definitely consider the Silver Coast my home. It is such a great place to live and has so much to offer me and my family.

Since moving to the Silver Coast I have tried my hardest to learn Portuguese and can now make myself understood in most situations, although I am very far from fluent. Our five year old son has managed to pick up the language with no trouble at all speaking fluently to his teacher and school friends with a perfect Portuguese accent.

Learning Portuguese has been a great source of entertainment to both myself and my husband, with many translations causing no end of amusement. For instance, the word for dog in Portuguese is ‘Cao’, which is pronounced ‘cow’. The word for turkey (as in Christmas) is ‘peru’, apparently this is because the Portuguese assumed the bird originated from Peru just as us Brits thought it came from Turkey!

The Silver Coast has many little towns and villages with highly amusing names, such as Cabeça Gorda, which in English translates to ‘Fat Head’, Manteigas which means ‘Butters’ and I have noticed several villages with the name of Chaos! The more I learn of this Latin based, romantic language and this wonderful country the more I love it.

Welcome to Portugal, Bem Vindo a Portugal!


By Stephanie Johnson

Silver Coast Golf Courses

Here on the Silver Coast of Portugal we are becoming known as something of a destination for golfers.

The area south west of the Obidos Lagoon is emerging as the heart of the Silver Coast golfing world with the world famous award winning course at Praia D’el Rey now being accompanied by several others.

The course at Praia D’el Rey opened in 1997 and was designed by Cabell B. Robinson as part of a five star luxury resort in a stunning cliff top setting.

The neighbouring course at Bom Sucesso Design Resort opened in 2008 and offers an alternative course for golf mad holiday makers, with fabulous views over the Obidos Lagoon, the sea and the surrounding countryside.

Pinhal Village is part of the Perola Da Lagoa resort which is soon to be home to yet another golf course. It is a select development of 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom luxury villas in a contemporary style with excellent high quality finishes, private gardens and pools.

So if golf is your ‘thing’, head to the Silver Coast of Portugal and enjoy a variety of top golf courses in a superb setting.


By Stephanie Johnson

The Silver Coast, a Property Hot Spot in Europe

It has been said, in recent years that the Silver Coast of Portugal is a new European property hotspot, and that buying in this beautiful part of the country will offer the financial rewards enjoyed by buyers in the Algarve region over the last fifteen or so years.

Portugal has an incredibly successful property market, largely based on overseas buyers snapping up stunning homes on the Algarve causing a significant rise in prices.

The Silver Coast is now feeling a ripple effect of this demand with buyers impressed at the quality and value for money that this part of the country offers.

The Silver Coast has long been popular as a holiday destination with the Portuguese, and has only recently started to become more widely known throughout Europe and the rest of the world as a fantastic holiday area.

And this hardly comes as a surprise when you consider how much the Silver Coast has to offer, award winning golf courses, perfect sandy beaches, plentiful high quality restaurants and historical sites in picturesque towns - all of course, made perfect by the glorious sunny weather.

Investing in property on the Silver Coast has got to be a guaranteed winner, what are you waiting for?


By Stephanie Johnson

Sao Martinho do Porto Has Some Great Restaurants

Sao Martinho do Porto is an excellent place to visit for an evening out on the Silver Coast. The pretty seaside town is home to a wide variety of cafes, bars and restaurants, a lot of which are along the sea front and enjoy fabulous views of the bay.

One of my favourite restaurants in Sao Martinho do Porto is Portobello. Situated at the quay end of the bay, this stylish Italian restaurant is open just about all year round and offers an alternative to the usual Portuguese fair.

The lovely location means that you can enjoy watching the local Portuguese fishermen hauling in the day’s catch while you sample the culinary delights of Italy – how very international!

The extensive menu includes delicious garlic prawns, homemade pizzas, lasagna and pepper steaks, and with excellent service and prices from €8 this is a great place to take the family.

Next time you are visiting Sao Martinho do Porto pop in to Portobello for a little taste of Italy on the Silver Coast!


By Stephanie Johnson

Life's Little Pleasures on the Silver Coast

It is uplifting to count ones blessings from time to time and when I think about life here on the Silver Coast and add up all the little pleasures, it never fails to lift my spirits.

The most obvious benefit of living in this part of Portugal of course is the fabulous Silver Coast weather. The blue sky and sunshine that we enjoy most of the year really is enough to make you glad to be alive.

The indigenous people of the Silver Coast, in fact from all over Portugal, are friendly and welcoming and love nothing more than offering generous hospitality at every opportunity.

I look out of my kitchen window at a garden full of orange trees and never tire of the view. Juicy oranges ripe and ready to eat hang from the trees along with a hammock that proves a great source of fun for our little boy.

A favourite place for a family visit is the beach at Sao Martinho do Porto where we can spend all day for free surrounded by stunning scenery and fantastic fresh air. Sao Martinho is our nearest beach, but there are many more within a short drive any one of which I would highly recommend.

Life on the Silver Coast of Portugal is full of things to make you smile. . .


By Stephanie Johnson

Obidos on the Silver Coast is Hosting the International Chocolate Festival

I was in Obidos this morning and found the town buzzing with excitement in anticipation of the International Chocolate Festival which starts later today.

Obidos is a very picturesque medieval walled town on the Silver Coast which plays host to several events throughout the year.

Overlooked by an imposing Moorish castle the town is full of charm and character - a photographer’s paradise - and is a delightful place to visit at any time of year.

The Chocolate Festival is a very popular annual event attended by around 200,000 drooling visitors from all over the Silver Coast, who come to sample the wares of the stall holders, watch expert demonstrations and gaze at the enormous amazing chocolate sculptures on display.

The Obidos International Chocolate Festival runs from 4th - 14th March and is well worth a visit.

Prestige Portugal Property has some stunning villas for sale very close to Obidos, several beaches and a choice of fabulous golf courses.


By Stephanie Johnson

Nazare, a Silver Coast Town Full of Character and Characters!

Here on the Silver Coast we have an amazing friend from Nazare called Silvino who is a very talented musician. He writes and plays the most delightful guitar music imaginable in almost any style, some of which will bring tears to your eyes.

Silvino is Nazare born and bred and would not dream of living anywhere else, following closely in his father’s footsteps. He is known by everyone in the town and is full of enchanting stories from the past that conjure up vivid images of times gone by.

We first met Silvino at a concert in which he performed some traditional Portuguese guitar music held at the little theatre in Sitio, Nazare’s neighbouring town, perched high up on the cliff top at the top of the funicular railway.

Nazare is a lovely town, full of characters such as Silvino and is a great place to own a holiday apartment to which you can return again and again and really begin to feel part of the place.
Prestige Property Portugal has fabulous apartments for sale in a development nearing completion right in the heart of Nazare. Colina da Nazare offers high quality finish, imaginative design, outstanding views and ideal location all of which add up to a great investment, and ensure great holidays for you and your family for many years to come.


By Stephanie Johnson