Exploring Alentejo - Road trip 2017- UPDATED
Finally I got to explore SW Portugal for a couple of months and I am more than keen to go back!
Since I have ruled out Spain for good, Portugal was really the only place left and It had to be the South West, south because of the weather and west because of the proximity to the coast.
I have now decided where I want to stay, my happy triangle....somewhere between the villages of Cercal do Alentejo, Vila Nova de Milfontes and Odemira!
Location
On my trip I managed to see quite a bit of Alentejo, mainly the coastal area though.
When it comes to location, I realised very quickly that the Algarve is not for me at all.
So keeping in mind that agriculture, eco-tourism and having animals is a priority to me, the country side is way to arid, water is not that accessible, it can get somewhat hilly
(lesson I have learned from Galicia- I can very much live without serpentine roads that take ages to drive through) and they have very fewand mainly small beaches down there!
Also, the fire hazard, I'd rather not...
People
In my first week I attended a meeting with about 20 people, all interested in community.
As we all took our turn to state our vision, two things became very clear.
First of all, we actually really want more or less the same thing...hurray!
And second, people have a veeery idealistic approach to the whole thing...damn!
In the following weeks I visited a few more communities, all of them still starting out, even though they might have been working actively on their project for up to two years, in my books they were still in their baby shoes, with all the potential in the world, but still not "there".
What I have observed is that in most cases, only a couple of founders have remained from the original core group, fending for themselves whilst eager to find more people who are willing to commit to them and their community vision.
And then there are the ones who are searching for the right place. They go and stay with a community for a while to feel it out, only to then move on again....
No wonder that those young communities do not get off the ground, there are just not enough people who are willing to commit and do what it takes to make it work.
All in all, I met three types of people:
And then there is this small fraction of community nomads, people who want to keep moving in between communities, for various reasons.
Some to learn more, to share skills and knowledge, to network or to simply live life in different communities, having many homes from home.
I have seen a few people now who were interested in the same place that I have decided to make my new future home, but most of them were not realistic at all when it came to what they have to offer.
Starting up a community, I can now say it boils down to this: you either have some kick ass skills, work like a maniac or you have money.
Nothing else will get this project off the ground.
Don’t get me wrong, I cannot wait to get my teeth stuck into this new and hopefully very last project, but I am painfully aware of the many challenges of joining or founding a community, and I do not want to rush into things.
Finding the right place or people is one thing, but that is only the tip of the iceberg.
I mean, the rules and regulations in this country can be hair-raising sometimes, but there are also many opportunities for those who understand the law...
So I forked out some money to go and see one of the few lawyers that one can apparently trust- and I tell you what, after meeting with him I can only urge you to do the same!
Do NOT believe for one second, that you can go it alone, without legal advise.
A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.
Since I have ruled out Spain for good, Portugal was really the only place left and It had to be the South West, south because of the weather and west because of the proximity to the coast.
I have now decided where I want to stay, my happy triangle....somewhere between the villages of Cercal do Alentejo, Vila Nova de Milfontes and Odemira!
Location
On my trip I managed to see quite a bit of Alentejo, mainly the coastal area though.
- beautiful unspoiled beaches and also some lovely big lakes
- the countryside consists of stunning rolling hills with cork trees, the odd lush hidden valley and fertile fields
- there is no shortage of subterranean water nor lakes or small rivers, which was a wonderful surprise
- Its is pretty much an hour and half from two major airports, Lisbon (airlines and destinations) and Faro (airlines and destinations)
- coastal Alentejo is still wild an unspoiled in many places, and apart from high season at the beach resorts, it is very quiet
- oh and have I mentioned it is not too far from Lisbon, a major city which I absolutely adore
- When it comes to regulations, permits etc, Alentejo is a lot more relaxed than the Algarve, as in A LOT
When it comes to location, I realised very quickly that the Algarve is not for me at all.
So keeping in mind that agriculture, eco-tourism and having animals is a priority to me, the country side is way to arid, water is not that accessible, it can get somewhat hilly
(lesson I have learned from Galicia- I can very much live without serpentine roads that take ages to drive through) and they have very fewand mainly small beaches down there!
Also, the fire hazard, I'd rather not...
People
In my first week I attended a meeting with about 20 people, all interested in community.
As we all took our turn to state our vision, two things became very clear.
First of all, we actually really want more or less the same thing...hurray!
And second, people have a veeery idealistic approach to the whole thing...damn!
In the following weeks I visited a few more communities, all of them still starting out, even though they might have been working actively on their project for up to two years, in my books they were still in their baby shoes, with all the potential in the world, but still not "there".
What I have observed is that in most cases, only a couple of founders have remained from the original core group, fending for themselves whilst eager to find more people who are willing to commit to them and their community vision.
And then there are the ones who are searching for the right place. They go and stay with a community for a while to feel it out, only to then move on again....
No wonder that those young communities do not get off the ground, there are just not enough people who are willing to commit and do what it takes to make it work.
All in all, I met three types of people:
- the ones who already have the land and are searching for people to join- might I say, somewhat desperately?!
- The people who really want to find the right place or community to settle into, many as soon as possible, but they are still searching- with quite a longing...
And then there is this small fraction of community nomads, people who want to keep moving in between communities, for various reasons.
Some to learn more, to share skills and knowledge, to network or to simply live life in different communities, having many homes from home.
I have seen a few people now who were interested in the same place that I have decided to make my new future home, but most of them were not realistic at all when it came to what they have to offer.
Starting up a community, I can now say it boils down to this: you either have some kick ass skills, work like a maniac or you have money.
Nothing else will get this project off the ground.
Don’t get me wrong, I cannot wait to get my teeth stuck into this new and hopefully very last project, but I am painfully aware of the many challenges of joining or founding a community, and I do not want to rush into things.
Finding the right place or people is one thing, but that is only the tip of the iceberg.
I mean, the rules and regulations in this country can be hair-raising sometimes, but there are also many opportunities for those who understand the law...
So I forked out some money to go and see one of the few lawyers that one can apparently trust- and I tell you what, after meeting with him I can only urge you to do the same!
Do NOT believe for one second, that you can go it alone, without legal advise.
A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.