#8: Tales from the Continent - A Founder's Journey from Amsterdam to the Algarve
Cultivating a haven for remote workers on the Atlantic coast in Portugal
We’ve gathered tales from some of the people who casually said ‘No Gracias’ to only living the good life on vacation. Get inspired as you hear how they made Europe their full time home.
‘Magic Habitat’ is on a mission to inspire remote workers who are curious about relocating. From Ibiza to Lisbon and Marseille to Tbilisi, every other Tuesday we deliver interviews with tastemakers, adventurers and the wild-at-hearts who have chosen to live (and work) in some of the most interesting and colourful places in the world.
From the Editor:
Since launching this newsletter in September 2020, we now have thousands of location curious subscribers all over the world, so to each one of you who has signed up - thank you so much! I really hope that in a year that has seen most of us unable to travel, it’s provided you with some light relief and a large dose of inspiration.
For those of you who are new subscribers, or if you need instant access to people who’ve already done it whilst trying to sell your relocation dream over the holidays (!) - here’s our 2020 highlights reel:
🇵🇹 In Issue 1, we met Digital Strategist Kate, who left Brooklyn to relocate to Ericiera, Portugal’s surfing capital.
🇪🇸 In Issue 2, we met Coralie and Adam, who moved from Rome to magnificent Granada in Spain, in pursuit of a better work/life balance.
🇪🇸 In Issue 3, writer Sally Fox told us how she left London and her job in the fashion industry, to create a new life in Galicia on Spain’s rugged and wild northwestern coast.
🌍 In Issue 4, Ben and Emily gave us a glimpse into their life after they decided to swap terra firma for sailing the worlds oceans, working remotely from their boat.
🇫🇷 In Issue 5, we met Amy and Marc who left the Caribbean island of Montserrat to buy a stunning Château in rural France.
🇨🇷 In Issue 6, Nataliya gave us the low down on relocating from Manhattan to Costa Rica, working remotely in one of the worlds most beautiful landscapes.
🇵🇹 In Issue 7, we met Creative Director and traveller extraordinaire Eliot, who swapped Los Angeles for Lisbon - Portugal’s startup capital.
And in today’s eighth issue we meet Michelle, who traded life in Amsterdam for the Algarve. Thanks to all of our contributors who shared their inspiring stories - we’ll be back in the New Year showcasing more remote workers who have made the leap.
Happy Holidays,
Hayley
The Mini Interview: Getting Acquainted in the Algarve
For this issue, we caught up with Michelle the founder of The Nomad Escape, a company that helps remote workers and digital nomads to connect with each other through events, retreats and co-living. After spending almost a decade living overseas and experiencing how lonely remote work can be, Michelle designed a program to help people find a community while traveling.
What did your “pre-relocation” life look like?
Before I moved abroad I lived in Amsterdam, in a small apartment in the city. I worked as a social worker and waitress and dreamed of moving abroad. Prior to this during my studies, I went on an internship in Suriname, South America and after I graduated I moved back there for 6 years, working in a variety of different industries.
I eventually returned to The Netherlands, but within 6 months I was done with it - so I upped sticks again and moved to Australia. After spending a year there and some time in Bali - I landed in Portugal 18 months ago and The Nomad Escape was born.
What attracted you to Portugal?
First of all, the capital Lisbon is the digital nomad hub in Europe. It’s packed full of co-working spaces, events and has a huge remote working community. Besides that, the weather is amazing, with about 300 days of sunshine a year and about 9 months of nice weather! The landscape is just stunning, with cliffs and endless beaches. You can camp, surf and do some amazing road trips across the country.
How did you make the transition to working remotely?
I initially developed my digital skills and offered my services as a freelancer to small local businesses. It was a paid way to practice, and fun to work directly with clients.
How do your property and living costs per month compare with your pre relocation life?
In The Netherlands everything more expensive but people also make more money so it’s difficult to compare. Typically the rent for a room is around 400 Euros and an apartment is around 1000 Euros per month.
What are your insider's tips for the Algarve?
Praia da Amoreira is a beach in Aljezur, in the Algarve. It has it all with stunning cliffs, sand dunes and a natural park - it’s perfect for camping in a van!
