Our Journey to Aveiro
From 1991 to 2017
Building a Life in Cambodia
During this period, we were in Cambodia, building our life and dealing with life’s urgencies.
Working in construction, we have built some of the most beautiful and iconic hotels in Cambodia and Asia.
Life was good, yet we felt a call for something more, some other place, although we weren’t sure what we were looking for.
From 2017 to 2018
Looking for Something new
We knew we wanted a different climate, and we also love the sea. We felt that Europe was the right continent.
This took us to Biarritz, France, where we maintain one of our refuges, as this is what Europe is: a refuge.
At the same time, we felt the need for a new challenge! That’s when the idea of coming to Portugal came to us.
April 2018
Discovering Portugal
Arriving in Portugal, we were enchanted by the city of Lisbon. The cuisine, architecture, climate, and lively atmosphere were appealing, and Portugal is a country strongly connected to the sea. However, Lisbon is a cosmopolitan city, quite international. We heard several people say that the “real Portugal” was further north.
May 2018
Monte Estoril
During our time in “greater Lisbon,” we discovered Cascais, Sintra, Estoril, and Monte Estoril, which captivated us for being a residential neighborhood with good houses and located by the sea. But the desire to go further north told us that our search hadn’t ended yet.
June 2018
Heading North
So, we decided to get in the car and start heading north. We visited several interesting cities: Leiria, Coimbra, Braga – which enchanted us – and, of course, Porto. Everywhere we went, people recommended visiting the city of Aveiro. A city completely turned towards the sea, in one of the richest municipalities in Portugal.
July 2018
Descovering Aveiro
Upon arriving in Aveiro, we immediately realized there was no exaggeration. The city was truly different and very close to what we were looking for. Immediately, you feel a genuine culture and rhythm, where life isn’t lived for social media but to be truly enjoyed. We saw that it’s a city with everything we could want: a flat city, with sea and beaches, a strong and genuine culture, with the perfect balance between modern and traditional. We immediately started looking for a property.
December 2018
Building the House
We found Dr. Gamelas’ House, which was being sold by his niece. Although we knew we would completely renovate it, expanding the areas with light and space, redoing the entire garden, and using materials of modern quality, we immediately felt that it had a special aura. This was the place we were looking for.
2019 until now
Living Happily and Peacefully
Since then, we’ve been living here in Aveiro, where we have no hurry to leave. The spirit that brought us here is manifesting, and eventually, we want to continue our journey further north in Portugal. This will only happen if and when we find someone seeking the same cosmic energy – the one we were looking for and who wants to settle in this place.
Then we’ll know that the cycle is complete and what we leave behind here can be enjoyed by others who can be as happy as we have been in this fantastic place.