Is Portugal a SAFE country to live? | PORTUGAL FARM LIFE

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PORTUGUESE A1 & A2 LANGUAGE COURSE - Portuguese Host Language (PLA) classes
Website: www.esfundao.pt/
Email: [e-mail]
In this weeks vlog we tackle the questions - Is Portugal a Safe country to live in? Do we feel safe living on a farm here?
I give my thoughts and opinions on the issue and we also hear from one of our friends who is travelling around Portugal on her own in a camper van.
Reolink gave me an amazing security camera called the Argus 4 pro, and I show how its features really help give us peace of mind living rurally on a farm.
Its the middle of Summer and we still have green grasses on our fields! Its been a very wet Spring and we have even had a bit of rain in the Summer!
Fortunately we have Joaquim's sheep to tackle these grasses to prevent any wildfires.
The Summer heat is on the way so this week I finally fill up the pool to get ready for swimming season!
We have just completed our A1 & A2 Portuguese language course at a school in Fundão. Its a free course that gives you a qualification that can be used when applying for Portuguese citizenship.
I can highly recommend the course and our teacher Joanna Dinis who is such a character and made it a lot of fun!
Hope you enjoy the video, let us know in the comments :)
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[@OKportugal]

*Buy your REOLINK ARGUS 4 PRO security camera here:* Reolink Amazon store: amzn.to/3Whju6I Reolink Website store: store.reolink.com/?aff=114 Reolink Argus 4 Pro: reolink.com/product/argus-4-pro/?aff=114 *PORTUGUESE A1 & A2 LANGUAGE COURSE - Portuguese Host Language (PLA) classes* Website: www.esfundao.pt/ Email: [e-mail]

[@TheDbcoliveira]

I’ve been watching your channel for around 4 years now. Myself and family are Portuguese but we lived for almost 15 years as expats in many other countries, Europe and Middle East. Your videos made us remind how amazing is Portugal country side. Thank you for show that to your audience. Our children never lived in Portugal are excited with the idea to live in the country side because of your videos. We bought a farm now close to Penamacor, castelo branco and in a couple of years we will be moving there after some work on the buildings. You don’t know us but we see you guys every weekend and you made us close to our roots. Once again thank you for loving our country. All the best

[@OKportugal]

Hey thats really awesome to hear! I am sure that you are your kids will be very happy coming ack here and living on a farm. Its such a slow and relaxing pace out here and very healing if you are stressed out :)

[@ambykp8940]

❤

[@barbarapeirson843]

Congrats, you two on passing your Portuguese exams ...very proud Mum here! The farm is looking gorgeous 💖🐑🌻

[@OKportugal]

Yay, thanks Mom! Lots of love to you and Jem :)

[@STICKlaPISSSE]

Na minha opinião, a primeira é "Lúcia-Lima", a segunda é "Poejo" (florido ou com flores) e a terceira é "Erva-Cidreira".

[@OKportugal]

Obrigado :)

[@amgrossenteich]

Hi! From left to right: lemon balm, meadow sage, lemon verbena

[@OKportugal]

Thank you! :)

[@michelebushnik2874]

Congratulations Ken and Gina for passing your A1 and A2 portugese language course! Cheers!❤❤🎉🎉 Great video! Love seeing the sheep on the farm! Hi Joquine! Spelling? I wonder if that would be Jack in English? He is a life saver for your farm, do blessed to have such a good relationship ❤

[@petervermeer.4904]

It is from the Hebrew name Joachim. Joaquin in Spanish, Joaquim in Portuguese. (also in some Spanish regions). In German (i think) it is Joachim, in Dutch Jochem. Jack comes from Jacob.

[@victorlima9373]

Joaquim and your are rigth its Jack

[@OKportugal]

Thank you Michele.

[@hunnybunny4u259]

I love your clouds..so,so, beautiful.

[@larskristiansen9158]

Corn also have very deep roots witch helps next season grassgrowing. Thats a winwin for you mate!!

[@OKportugal]

Perfect! :)

[@sarahnd]

Parabéns!! 🥳🎉 It's so important to speak the language of the country you live in. 👍

[@mariajoseguerreiro9119]

Love Lucia Lima Tea. The other 2 i have no idea. Enjoy weekend. Take care.❤

[@OKportugal]

Thanks Maria! :)

[@michelebushnik2874]

Pausing! Hi Gina! Your new worktop is wonderful! A frw years back training at Roche Diagnostics, all their employees had a treadmill computer they could work at, with a gloriuos glassed in view to outside ponds, and beautiful landscaped properties, such an amazing company to work for. Nice to see you doing the same at your home!❤

[@OKportugal]

Wow that sounds amazing! Hopefully the treadmill will arrive this week! Exciting :)

[@fearedlegend]

I’m Portuguese living in Canada since very young and I visit Portugal every summer. Portugal is definitely very safe, especially for violent crimes. It’s safer than Canada. This year it’s ranked # 7 in the world which is its lowest ranking I’ve seen. It was as high as #2 not long ago. Overall it’s very safe.Common sense and precaution is still a good practice because there are still the occasional opportunistic crime . When you go to the city, beach or any other crowded place , don’t leave valuables showing visible inside your parked car. Don’t go to the metro with a big gold chain around your neck. Overall , Portugal is a very safe country, one of the safest in the world time after time.

[@OliviaMmmm]

That sheep dog is soooo cuuuuute! 😭

[@OKportugal]

@@OliviaMmmm Rapazote... means "little boy". Joaquim named him like our cat Boytjie ❤️😊

[@PalmersinPortugal]

very cool video, the dipping pool will be essential for this summer. us zaffers don't get mugged here lol

[@audreysuter4315]

The first tea plant looks like lemon verbena, or Lucia Lima in Portuguese.

[@OKportugal]

Awesome thanks! It smells amazing!

[@productivitybydesign9368]

From South Africa and I always wanted a farm around Montagu but as you say it is not worth the risk.

[@moniquetavares9259]

Muito bonito ver o progresso de vocês. Fico feliz de saber que vocês estão aprendendo o português. Sejam felizes e cuidem do Nosso Portugal. Parabéns.

[@OKportugal]

Obrigado Monique :)

[@OliviaMmmm]

Wow I can't believe that full colour night vision!!

[@MrSHG66]

Congratulations on gaining your language qualifications. Definitely a moment to celebrate. Saude! The herbal plants you were given look a bit like lemon verbena and lemon balm while the purple-flowered one might be a hyssop or a similar mint relative?

[@OKportugal]

Thank you very much :)

[@chica2000ok]

I missed a few months but alway great to see you filling the pool again! Total happy chappy 😄

[@OKportugal]

I sure am! Welcome back :)

[@Feelalive1009]

Yeah I think I move Portugal next 1 year first I search work permit before I purchase house in Portugal

[@elizabethmcgovern9731]

A great episode i loved it thank you all what a beautiful farm you have .

[@OKportugal]

Thanks Elizabeth :)

[@suzannemarshall5328]

Congrats on passing your A1 and A2 exams. Love the bikes.

[@OKportugal]

Thanks Suzanne! :)

[@WhiteRvssian2023]

Congats on completing your language requirements! Ken, does this mean we'll hear you speaking Portugese fluently to Joaquim 😜 ?

[@OKportugal]

Thanks 😁👍

[@davidgoulding5600]

Nice to hear a Scops Owl calling when you were discussing the camera. Portugal is wonderful for birds, mammals etc etc

[@OKportugal]

Oh nice, I hear the owls a lot coming from the forest at night. I just wish they would help out a bit more with our rat problem in the barns! Maybe i should leave the doors open at night :)

[@joannebedford2695]

And I have heard that the people are friendly and helpful

[@kristinmcclary7194]

Congratulations on passing your language testing!!!! A huge accomplishment, I take lessons in the Algarve and its not easy.

[@OKportugal]

Thank you! 😁

[@kiwish2003]

Our friend left her purse in a public toilet in Lisbon. Went back an hour later, her purse was put away in a lock box by the cleaning lady. So sne got it back with all her cards and 500 euros still in it. 💯 agree Portugal is a safe place to live!

[@cinemaparadiso7]

it looks like lemon balm--great soothing tea

[@nickcox6556]

That's a really cool security camera!

[@OKportugal]

@@nickcox6556 and they keep getting better and better!! This one's my fave so far! 😁

[@mktwatcher]

Excellent Video, Thank you for sharing. You guys have done really well in Portugal. Congrats on passing your A1 & A2 language courses.

[@OKportugal]

Thank you :)

The first plant is Lucia Lima (Aloysia citrodora) not esteva (Cistus Ladanifer), the second one it seems ir is Poejo (Mentha pulegium) the third one seems Hortela vulgar (Mentha spicata) the one you can use in Mojito instead o tea 😏

[@OKportugal]

Oh wow thats for the info! :)

[@carlosdejesus123]

I would say that the third is not "hortelã", but "erva-cidreira", Melissa officinalis

@@carlosdejesus123 Yes can be.

[@noelleclemens7057]

Super news, both. Great to know your citizenship is safe! Lovely to see the sheep around this year. If you've got lemon verbena it's awesome in drinks, cakes and egg custards. See you next week.

[@OKportugal]

Thanks Noelle :)

[@anadossantos1429]

Congrats ❤ Beautiful sky 💙

[@OKportugal]

Thanks! :)

[@hunnybunny4u259]

It’s just so beautiful.

[@containyourlife]

Interesting statistic, Portugal was rated the third safest country in the world to live and now that has dropped down to the seventh, but everyone says Portugal is extremely safe. I believe Iceland has now been deemed the safest country to live.

[@OKportugal]

Wow I wonder what made it drop so many positions?

[@containyourlife]

@@OKportugal I follow, Travel With Kristin, an American living abroad. Very informative, think you’d enjoy watching as well, she provides all kinds of great info for people looking to move abroad.

[@costasworldofmusicmemories5792]

Farm Life at its best . Currently we are traveling to rural Rhode Island for a wedding. All the best.❤. Jim and Harriet

[@OKportugal]

Oh nice, enjoy the break guys :)

[@truusvdkraats3260]

Been living in castelo branco for 4 years, been robbed myself, myneighbour twice in the same periode and many people around me. And we all lived in the countryside. As long you got a high fence, a dog and a security camera it will be safe, but if you live a more simple life the chance of being robbed is very high...and notably in castelo branco, friends around tomar can also absolutely not leaving anything outside if they go into town, it will get stolen as soon they are gone. So I'll guess its like everything, if you got enough money to have a fence and secure camera and so on you are safe, but people with low income will be victims for robbery.

[@kreshenahill5344]

Well done on passing your language tests. ❤

[@OKportugal]

Thanks! :)

[@cindyblair1283]

I have been missing your awesome videos ❤

[@OKportugal]

Thanks, we were a bit busy with Portuguese lessons and doing private property tours for people, but i am trying to fit in a couple of "farm life" vlogs every month too :)

[@maureenbrophy7852]

Congratulations to both of you & well done. What an achievement. ⚡️☀️⚡️🍸🍸

[@OKportugal]

Thanks Maureen :)

[@farhazahmed4155]

I am from India but after watching your videos for sometime now something in me is pushing me to relocate to portugal and buy a farm

[@bertiew6771]

Ha! Where in Porto are you going to find your car on bricks? I know there are a few rough places up there but generally it's very calm. The farm is looking great, Ken, it would be great if you could put another video of the wildlife you have around using your night cameras. Enjoy the rest of the weekend though every day must be like a weekend on the farm.😉 Congratulations on the exam results! Parabéns!

[@OKportugal]

I think it was very close to the airport. Cant remember the exact name, but our friends told us to park inside the building as cars were getting their wheels stolen and there were lots of break ins into cars every night too. Our friend is a policeman so he probably knows that area well.

[@lisacraig4585]

As an Australian who’s lived in Portugal 34 years (Porto most of that time), I can say that petty crime is on the rise. Friends have had bikes stolen and cars broken in to. I sleep with my front door open, but have 3 dogs. Wouldn’t swap living in this beautiful country for quids. Moving to the interior soon though.

[@OKportugal]

@@lisacraig4585 thanks for your insight. I can only really say what its like in Central Portugal and from my brief time spent in the cities.

[@davesbikelife]

Great video buddy! 👍🏽

[@OKportugal]

Cheers Dave :)

[@altheatizzard7697]

Well done for your Portuguese language test.

[@OKportugal]

Thanks!

[@todoterrenopt]

Security is partly a feeling we have about our surroundings. Portugal is safe, but it depends on what you consider to be insecurity. In the last 20 or 30 years the rural world has changed a lot, I can't say whether for the better or worse, but things that weren't stolen today are, and the fault lies not with the “criminals” but with those who buy from the criminals. Scrap metal, tools, telecommunications cables, agricultural equipment, fuel... It doesn't happen every day, it's worse in some regions than others, but definitely nowadays in the rural world we have to be more careful than we were a while ago.

[@OKportugal]

@@todoterrenopt for me it's a bit different. I lived in South Africa and was a victim of many crimes. Some not so bad, and others i was in danger of losing my life, staring down the barrel of a gun, or being stabbed to death with a knife. I feel very safe in portugal because those threats are not here. Safety isn't just a feeling for me here.

[@todoterrenopt]

@@OKportugal i agree with you, and i don't imagine myself living in a country with all those dangers you experienced. Anyway, just look at Portugal from a "bit of distance". Many rural areas, specially in the the south are turning to right wing of our political spectrum, not because Portuguese are a racist people, but due to a crescent sentiment of insecurity and injustice and the people is searching for solutions in more radical views (just look at the incredible Chega political party rise). Our main media doesn't speak about it, but go and have a look at the small newspapers or radios and you will find plenty of news about these "small problems". Look, don't get me wrong, i love my country, i know the good things we have here, but there also some bad ones I do understant that for someone like you that had the life in danger , those problems could look small, but imagine a farmer that day after day finds his machinery brokend down, batery removed, the electrical equipment destroy (Copper cables of parts are specially targeted) , the watering system damaged, the produce robed, their tools robed, tractors, etc etc. Sometime the burglers even put in danger the work of a full year, when damaging vital equipment that can't be used for watering or spray pesticides/fertilizers in the fields and can't be replaced/repaired in time. Where i live the rural areas have a "no go" restriction starting from 7pm on public roads. After this time on you can't go with your car for this areas until next morning, and this is all due to the persistent problems due to people stealling all kind of stuff from the farms. You can find many of this restrictions in Ribatejo and Alentejo. As for more "personal" problems, the burglers enter in our houses, searching for money, gold and small valuable they can take, specially in house of older people. There are no killings here, or they are very rare, and most of the time no one is poiting a gun to the head of anyone else, in our rural portugal you can walk without problems with your phone and camera on your hand, talk to people, and if you forget some of your personal belongins somewhere, probably someone will save it and return it to you or deliver to the police, but like i told in my previous reply, this is a kind of "sentiment" and here many people "feel" that insecurity. If you want, someday in the future i can show you in person what i'm telling you and present you to some people that do experienced this type of "rural insecurity" in Ribatejo and Alentejo where these problems exist and we all wish to see erradicated. And let me make clear this: my comment is not to prove you wrong or enter in a "typical internet fight", it's just to show the point of view of a local, that loves his country and want's to make it better, for the ones that live here and the others that come to visit. And i enjoy a lot your videos and many others from foreing people that live here. Due to some work i'm doing i follow a lot of people that talk about Portugal. Most of the time i keep my self silent, but since i really like what you are doing, this time i came "out of the shadows".

[@OKportugal]

@@todoterrenopt thanks for taking the time to comment. I had no idea that parts of portugal had issues like this. Its always interesting to hear other people's points of view, especially when they know what they are talking about.

[@Taylor47]

Hi KEn and Gina, where in Portugal can you still buy "cheap" property (under 100K euros)? How do you have internet on the farm? Is it broadband? I want to move from the UK but I work from home so a good internet connection would be very important. Thank you, Balazs

[@OKportugal]

Hi Balazs, the internet in Portugal is very good. All of the cities and towns have superfast fibreoptic broadband, and a lot of the smaller villages are getting it too. We get 1gigabit fibreoptic on our farm and can even upgrade to 10 gigabit if we wanted to! Its amazing! If you cant get fibre you can also use a mobile internet simcard that uses the same network as your mobile phone. We used this 4G simcard in a router before we got fibre and I got speeds of around 50mbps. Cheaper properties are usually found in Central Portugal and around the Serra da Estrela mountains. Have a look at different websites like Idealista and Pure Portugal for property adverts. Good luck for your property search :)

[@Roosmarijn035]

I used to live up North near Viana do Castelo, there I had fiber (Meo, the Portuguese BT I guess, drew a cable to our house). I am now living in a tiny town near Évora, no fiber available here so I got Starlink installed. The equipment itself not expensive at all, the installation however. Muito caro. But I think had I used a Portuguese company instead of a british owned company from the Algarve aimed at rich expat clientele, it probably would have been way cheaper. I needed it solved quickly so didn't do my due diligence.

[@OKportugal]

@@Roosmarijn035 Nice I hear that it works really well and has decent speeds too.

[@Roosmarijn035]

@@OKportugal Now working from the terrace I have 293 Mbps so I guess it's decent. :) Faster than Meo and cheaper too.

[@manzoorahmed-rb1bl]

Good information

[@mariajoseguerreiro9119]

Congratulations you have passed.❤

[@OKportugal]

Obrigado! :)

[@alittleheavenonearth]

❤❤❤

[@accornudle]

Cloud look bizarre this year, I wonder how many metric they offloading?

[@xTrengo]

people will steal pine trees, those are worth something! grats on passing the exam, welcome citizens :)

[@OKportugal]

@@xTrengo oh wow that's crazy 😅 thanks dude 👍

[@louiseupton3363]

Hi Ken and Gina. You have made me really miss farm living, but it just became too dangerous and we had to move.... Ken, do you know whether one could rent a farm or small holding in any of the rural areas as an immigrant, or do you have to buy the land?

[@OKportugal]

Hi Louise. Sorry to hear it. Was your farm in South Africa? I am not sure about farm rentals but I know you can find short and long term rentals on a website called "Pure Portugal Holidays", and I have seen some rural properties on there in the past.

[@louiseupton3363]

​@@OKportugalyes, our farm was outside of Nelspruit in Mpumalanga. We moved to the Western Cape three years ago, but still feel unsafe and anxious. We need to decompress and be able to live. Thank you for that information, I'm definitely going to look into it. 🙏🏻 😊

[@OKportugal]

​@@louiseupton3363 You're welcome. It took me a long time to "relax" after leaving SA in 2003. I was pretty stressed out in the UK but Portugal has been a very healing and stress free place for me. Good luck for your plans :)

[@loraypruitt5922]

😊😊

[@dreamstarworld1]

What kind of financial investment would be required to have the kind of farm you are "BLESSED" to own with #OliveGroves #GrapeVines #FruitTrees & the land space to develop potential business opportunities??? My wife & I live in Britain & we have been looking at Costa Rica as "PERMACULTURE" is huge there & that is ideally what we want but we have also looked at the Caribbean given the weather & the beach is extremely attractive options as well but also the other natural facets, as well... Next year, we are hoping to make the move, so we are in the "PLANNING" stages... I would appreciate your feedback... Be blessed

[@OKportugal]

Have a look on websites like "pure portugal" or "idealista" to get an idea of what sort of properties you can buy in your budget. Being part of Western Europe means that its a safe and secure place to live, but it gets very hot in the summer, and can get very cold in the winter, depending on where you live. There are many different visa options for foreigners who do not have EU passports. Just google for "Portugal Visas". After living in Portugal for 5 years you can apply for citizenship, which gets you an EU passport, allowing you to travel, live and work anywhere in the European Union. We have a lot of water in the Winter and Spring months, and things grow really well, but in the summer there is no rain, and its very hot and dry for growing things. If you do buy a farm here, make sure you have a solid water supply for your land, as some wells and springs can run dry in the summer months. Theres not really any dangerous animals here, only wild boar (but they are very afraid of humans) and only 2 venomous snakes (but they are very unlikely to kill a person if they bite you). Another bonus is that you are not far away from the UK, should you wish to travel back to visit friends or family. Hope this helps, good luck for your moving plans :)

[@dreamstarworld1]

@@OKportugal I really the advice & I will have a look at your website for ideas around what kind of investment we would like to make... One of things I wanted to ask you was in regards to "CRYPTO-CURRENCY" in Portugal - are the option there & what is its viability??? Again, thank you, I'll keep in touch once we have done our due diligence, homework & research!!! Be blessed...

[@partista77]

Hi. It's me again. Can't u get just one sheep for the grass?

[@OKportugal]

I am not sure to be honest. I think they are herding animals that like to be in flocks so I think you'd need a couple. I may be wrong.

[@Roosmarijn035]

@@OKportugal sheep are herding animals and you'd need at least a couple. Wouldn't be fair to have only one. Same with goats, cattle and horses. (not that it stops people from having only one though)

[@daffs0]

❤️😁

[@alunjprice]

Bollocks like a satchel.

[@OKportugal]

Haha :D

[@gluco55555]

no is not, is very danger.

[@portugal1969]

I recognise the friend, can't think where

[@porlhargz]

You have a great farm and congratulations on your language class 👌🏼 does Emma have a channel I remember her building a van with another KZbinr

[@OKportugal]

Thank you. Emma dosent have a KZbin but she is on instagram