Description
We have a newly restored traditional house with pool and seperate, comfortable self contained rustic barn conversion. Both properties have two double bedrooms with tiled ground floors and in the main house, wooden floors on the first floor. They are built to traditional standards incorporating original thick whitewashed walls and high wooden ceilings with attractive wooden/metal shuttered windows inside/outside for coolness & security.
The main house has a large lounge with a wood burning stove (glass door), stereo, satellite TV including all UK channels, DVD player. Seperate dining room and 'office' with ADSL internet access and Skype phone for cheap calls worldwide. A modern kitchen with granite tops, washing machine, fridge, freezer, dishwasher, microwave. Air conditioning, storage heaters & mobile heaters/fans ensure a home for modern living with the best of Portuguese country style! Cool inside in the summer, lovely and warm in the winter.
There is a sheltered terrace area running along one side of the house accessed from the upstairs lounge of the main house with wooden dining furniture and lovely views along the valley and towards the distant hills and sunsets. Perfect for evening dining. Shaded tiled patios outside the barn annexe and the kitchen of the main house, both with garden furniture are great for breakfast in the morning sunshine or for evening dining by the pool. There is always a welcoming spot for sunbathing, shade or snoozing!
The two properties are ideal for a large or small family or for a family with friends as the barn annexe has two double bedrooms. One bedroom is a bedsitting room (22m square) with twin beds, sofa, DVD player. Comfortably equipped, this annexe has been designed by us to fully accommodate guests. This annexe also has a shower room with bidet, toilet and washbasin and a modern conservatory style kitchen with small dining area. Both properties face out onto a private outdoor pool: 6m x 4m x 1.5m and garden.
Neighborhood
We are tucked away in a pretty working village surrounded by the traditions of Portuguese country living little changed by the modern world yet only 10 minutes from a motorway junction. Our neighbours (pop.22) are friendly, interested in and welcoming to all our guests. They are always giving us fruit and vegetables, eggs and the honey is the best we (and our guests) have ever tasted. The scenery is amazing, terraced hills criss crossed by paths with walking for all abilities. Griffon vultures and eagles soar overhead. Walk for hours but not see a soul in the hills. 20 minutes drive to natural swimming at a clean, safe and lovely river beach. The sky at night shimmers with stars and in summer it's warm enough to swim at midnight gazing at the milky way! A paradise for walkers, painters (lovely scenery, tumbledown barns, quirky little village roads and houses), photographers and lovers of nature and flowers especially in the Spring with the incredible mix of alpine and mediterranean species. All flowering prolifically thanks to the lack of pollution. We are in a UNESCO Geopark, designated as an area of important geological, archaeological, ecological, historical and cultural interest.
All this and only 2 hours from Lisbon by car on quiet motorway or train ride partly along the Rio Tejo (25 euros/£20 return). Lisbon, one of the most beautiful and historic European cities - a wonderful day out. Or, why not pop over to Spain and explore some of the historic towns just across the border that is, after passing through one of the border towns like Marvao, a World heritage site with a fantastic castle to explore.
Going north, 20 minutes drive, our nearest big town is Castelo Branco. The major town for the region and with the best example of an old park in Portugal plus a modern city park. Castelo Branco has supermarkets on the outskirts, designer shops and old winding streets to explore. From our village the nearest shops and cafes are 3 - 10 kms away.
About Us
Hi, we are both retired or 'reformado' as they say in portuguese and have left our home in UK to make a new life in Portugal.
We now love this country and especially our village and hills. We get great pleasure from sharing it with our family and friends and now hopefully, others on this home exchange!
My husband has worked in the packaging industry and I worked as a PA in the NHS, so taking a leap into the unknown and seizing a chance to buy an old property and restore as a home for our retirement was a huge step and a fascinating challenge. We have however, managed to make a modern and comfortable home in a place of great natural beauty, friendly people and sunshine!
We love to explore this country either on foot just walking about the hills around our home, noting all the changes of the seasons and admiring the views or going farther afield to historic border towns, roman towns like Evora, or other pretty villages. Painting, photography, history and languages are our main interests. We also enjoy meeting people and travel.
English is our first language and we also now speak Portuguese, a little French and some German.
Destination
Enjoy some winter sunshine and get away from the rain in UK! In December 2008 we are looking for a home in Bristol, UK or nearby, over the Xmas period as we wish to visit family/friends and will be staying with them for some of the time. We also visit Bristol throughout the year and are open to exchanges for any time in the future. We can exchange cars. We have a gentle cat. The garden needs minimal maintenance as mainly gravel with pots and shrubs.
For 2009 - we would dearly love to explore southwest France around Carcassone. Also, open to offers anywhere. Come and see us - it's beautiful here!
Outside of our busy holiday period from May - September, we can offer non-simultaneous exchange on our fully self-contained barn conversion. This property shares the garden and pool with our main house and is designed to be comfortable for our guests. We would however, not be able to offer car exchange.
