5 Weird Things About Our Portuguese Home (That We Didn’t Expect)

Hey everyone! Welcome back to Track Us Down! If you’re new here, we’re Monique and Doug, and we share our journey of early retirement, moving abroad, and living what we call the “better second half of life.” We now call Madeira, Portugal, home, and while we love it here, there are a few things about our Portuguese house that were definitely a surprise.

So, for all of you from North America (and maybe elsewhere too), let us share some of the quirks and unique features of our new home that we didn’t expect. Let’s dive in!

1. No Screens on the Windows

This one was a big shock for us. Coming from North America, where it’s almost unheard of to have windows without screens, this was totally different. Every window in our Portuguese home—big, small, it doesn’t matter—is completely openable, with no screens to keep out the bugs. Now, we don’t have a ton of bugs here, but the occasional fly or mosquito can sneak in, and let me tell you, one mosquito in the middle of the night can ruin everything!

We decided to get some screens after a while, and even our neighbors here have screens on their windows. It’s just one of those things you don’t think about until it starts affecting your sleep!

2. Locks and Keys Everywhere!

If you’re used to the convenience of modern door locks back in North America, you might find the door locking system here a bit… strange. In Portugal, it feels like there’s a key for everything. From gates, bathroom doors, bedroom doors, to even the front door, each one comes with its own key.

The real kicker? The front door lock actually has a key on both the inside and outside. So, at night, we’re locking ourselves in with a key. Imagine being in a panic during an emergency, fumbling for that key! We just couldn’t get used to that.

To make things safer and more convenient, we replaced the main door lock with a cylinder that has a knob on the inside. Now we can lock the door easily without hunting for keys at night. I mean, who thought this was a good idea?

3. Cooking in Celsius and Grams

For those of you who’ve spent time in Europe or other parts of the world using the metric system, this might seem normal. But for us, cooking in Portugal is a little tricky. We’re used to Fahrenheit for temperatures and cups for measurements. Here, everything is in Celsius and grams, and let’s just say, it has caused a lot of confusion in the kitchen!

When I want to bake something at 350°F, I have to Google the equivalent in Celsius, which is around 176°C. Our oven here only goes up to 250°C, so I have to keep that in mind every time I want to bake something. And don’t even get me started on the measuring cups, which come in decaliters instead of cups or ounces. I just want to bake cookies, not do math!

4. Camera Restrictions in Portugal

This one is really different from what we’re used to back in North America. You see, in Portugal, the laws around security cameras are very strict. It’s illegal to have cameras facing public streets or capturing any part of your neighbor’s property. So, if you’re trying to monitor your car or your property, you’re only allowed to capture footage of your own space—not the public street or your neighbor’s house.

Coming from a place where security cameras are everywhere (you can’t walk a block without being on camera), this is a huge adjustment for us. If something happens, like someone hits your car or breaks into your property, the footage might not even be usable in court if it captures anything outside your property boundaries. That’s a bit mind-boggling to us.

5. The 27-Setting Washing Machine

Now, this one’s a bit silly, but still weird. Our washing machine here has a whopping 27 settings! Yes, you heard that right. There’s a setting for every possible thing—baby clothes, sports gear, even painting! (Although I’m not sure how that one works.) It takes forever to figure out which setting we should use for our laundry.

We mostly use the quick 30-minute cycle, but there’s also a super long cycle that can last up to 3.5 hours. Who has time for that? The laundry comes out clean, but the whole process of choosing the right setting can feel a little overwhelming at times.

Bonus: The Compact Fridge

One last thing we found weird—and this one’s a bit trivial compared to the others—is the size of the fridge. In North America, we’re used to big fridges with large freezer sections, but here in Portugal, our fridge is much smaller and more compact. It looks more like a cupboard than a fridge!

It’s not a problem per se; it just encourages us to go to the market more often for fresh produce. But coming from the land of giant fridges, it took a bit of getting used to!

Wrapping It Up

While we absolutely love living here in Portugal and have made so many wonderful adjustments, there are definitely some things that have taken us by surprise. These little quirks and differences are what make life abroad so interesting. We didn’t expect all of them, but we’ve definitely had a good laugh along the way.

Have you experienced any quirky things in your home abroad? And if you’re interested in learning more about early retirement or moving abroad, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and check out our Patreon if you are interested in supporting our channel.

Thanks for reading, and as always, Track Us Down!