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20 Mar 2024
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Description
We co-directed arts holidays from our base on the Silver Coast in Portugal, near Sao Martinho do Porto, from 2013 to 2017 and welcomed many work-aways. Between 2017 to 2022, we left to go back to the UK for family reasons. But now we are back and residents of this amazing country! Kit and I (native Brits) are a married couple with a cat and a kitten.
About our place: We live in a small slice of paradise near Sao Martinho do Porto on the Silver Coast of Portugal. Our cottage and studio are in a rural spot in a lovely setting just 5 mins from coastal walks and 10 mins from the calm bay of S M de Porto. Our cottage has a double bedroom for guests, where a single volunteer is welcome, with a sofa bed, own wash basin, desk, mini fridge and oven and a shower room , with washing machine just a short walk away. Abundantly pretty gardens surround in about 4,000 sq meters.
About us: We are a fun, open-minded Christian married couple in their 50's. We eat everything as long as it's good, tasty, and healthy. We enjoy most activities, walking, eating out, and socialising. arts and design, particularly photography and film. Samantha is a RAD dance lecturer. Kit semi-retired telecoms.
Because the work is physical, we require someone with practical skills, who doesn't mind painting walls, rolling up sleeves and may have to go up a step ladder. So anyone with practical and physical skills is an asset. It would be easiest for us to prepare fish, veg salads and dairy. 1 cooked a meal a day is provided, accommodation and breakfast (for some days) supplied in mini fridge (no meals provided on rest days) two rest days a week 4-5 hours work, no outdoor work when weather bad, indoor work can be arranged. Pick up and drop off from Sao Martinho do Porto and use of bike as well as trips out. Happy to take you out in the car when we go out. 1 week or 2 week stays, preferably these dates specified above.Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco ProjectsGardeningDIY and building projectsGeneral MaintenanceCultural exchange and learning opportunities
1 The benefits of speaking English, and being with a native British, ( Samantha is a qualified online English Teacher ) who knows about Portugal, the culture and living in this beautiful country
2 Learn more about our characters and culturally how we live and how we relate to others, and we will learn more about you too.
3. You will observe and maybe learn something about our creative skills as you see our paintings and mixed media displayed in the house and studio.
5. You will understand something about the daily necessities of running an eco-environment
6. No doubt you will see potential here and wish to share and offer your views.
7. You will enjoy staying in a relaxed environment, only 1.5 hours from Lisbon, and discover the real rustic Portugal.
8. Where hours are free, you are welcome to join any free local groups and benefit from walking groups
9 There are plenty of places you should go to on your afternoons or weekend days offs and the beach is only 3km awayHelp
Months May June and July
We are looking for a solid practical type who is good fun, strong, and happy to be hands-on.
Best if you are practical, can paint walls and happy to go on a step ladder.
Practical decorating help and gardening. Happy to use a step ladder. Paint walls. Put up simple fencing. Happy with a hammer. Carrying wood, clearing bamboo making fires etc.Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Portuguese: Intermediate
German: Beginner
French: Beginner
Italian: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
English in exchange for PortugueseAccommodation
You may have your own van. Or a sofa bed in a double bedroom in a cottage. Currently, it has one bed, a book study area and a wash basin in the room, a mini fridge plus strong Wifi connection and a small microwave oven. An independent toilet and shower room, is at the top end of the garden for your sole use, just 50 metres walk away with washing machine. You will have some outdoor seating to enjoy, too. Min 7 days Max 21 days
Meals One main meal each day cooked in the evening/ or lunch TBA cooked by you, or the hosts. The room board, very comfortable conditions nice bathroom and bedroom, sofa bed. There will be a food box on arrival to keep you going for breakfast for a few days. We can also give you a lift to the supermarket since that is about 2-3 km away. A bike is available, if required, for you to get around. We can pick you up from the S M de Porto bus stop and bring you to the property and likewise return at the end of your stay. Many buses, Rede Expresso runs from Lisbon to S M de Porto.What else ...
We are based near the seaside resort of Sao Martinho do Porto 3km, on the silver coast about 45 minutes north of Lisbon. Many historic towns nearby include the medieval walled town of Obidos and Alcobaca. It's a great area for water sports, golf, walking, cycling etc. The Silver coast is less discovered than the Algarve so it makes for a more authentic Portuguese experience.
You will be situated in a beautiful and unspoiled part of Portugal, where the climate and environment is very pleasant. You will be working in an eco and creative environment, so if this appeals then this would make for a great workaway experience. It does not have great access to public transport
We can where necessary take you out if we are going somewhere, especially when we are making our journeys to the supermarket, beaches etc. We can pick you up and drop you at the bus or train station which is near the local supermarket.
The coach from Lisbon to Sao Martinho do Porto Rede express is a fairly regular one and very popular as only takes just over an hour, and we pick you up and drop you off at the bus station, when it arrives here in Sao Martinho only. Cost return about 12 to 15 Euros. The train is very slow indeed, btw from Lisbon to S M de P but its scenic!A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
Yes we have lots of land, and you can use a single bathroom shower room
Can possibly accept pets
A dog that remains outside or in your camper van is OK but not inside the accommodation
How many Workawayers can stay?
One
Hours expected
4 hours a day 5 days a week
Feedback (3)
We planned the WA activities and I still had plenty of free time to explore the area.
The artistic environment is contagious and the atmosphere is truly relaxing.
I wish them all the best with their blossoming art retreat and it was a pleasure to be part of that… read more
Feedback
We planned the WA activities and I still had plenty of free time to explore the area.
The artistic environment is contagious and the atmosphere is truly relaxing.
I wish them all the best with their blossoming art retreat and it was a pleasure to be part of that… read more
Thanks Samantha and Kit x