Five Years in the Algarve: Our move from Edinburgh to a new life in the sun

Five years ago, we packed up our life in Edinburgh, said some our goodbyes to family and friends, and set off on the long journey south to Lagos, Portugal. Somehow, and we can't quite believe it.....five years have passed already!

When we first arrived in the Algarve, we knew we were making a huge change. Leaving behind the familiar - our family, friends, routines and the UK life we had always known. We also knew that we wanted something different: more sunshine, a slower pace of life and the chance to embrace a new adventure together.

Five years on, we can honestly say it has been the best leap we have ever taken and we are so happy we did it when we did, when we are still young enough to enjoy it. We've embraced our new home, learned to love the Portuguese way of life, and made a whole bunch of wonderful new friends along the way.

Life here has evolved in ways we couldn't have imagined when we first made that journey south. Between the two of us, we're now managing our own rental properties; working in real estate, cycling at least 5 days a week; enjoying spending the majority of our time outdoors in beautiful weather, and most importantly taking the pace down a peg or two compared with life in the UK.

There have been challenges, of course, but the rewards have far outweighed them.

When you can have a beach walk on Christmas Day in the sunshine, you know you have it made.

Five years ago, Portugal was the beginning of a new chapter. Today, it feels like home.

Here's to the friendships we've made, the memories we've created, the places we've discovered and all the adventures still to come. Five years in, and we wouldn't change a thing. 🇵🇹☀️🚲