Welcoming volunteers in Alvares, Portugal

Details

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  Description

  We are Sally and David a retired English couple of 58 and 69, and have been living in Portugal for eight years.
  
  We are located in central Portugal, near the river Zêzere, and 19km from the town of Pedrogão Grande, an hour and a half from Coimbra and two hours from Figueira da Foz on the coast.
  
  We are renovating an old house and live in a small village which we love very much, the people are very kind and friendly, and the community hub of the village is the local café where they serve good food and wine.
  
  When not working on the renovation Sally is a keen walker and artist, and David likes playing his harmonica and tinkers with old classic cars which he is currently renovating.
  
  We are both hands on people and especially David, he was a plumber and electrician, however he developed Rheumatoid Arthritis about 14 years ago and we are now finding it difficult for just the two of us.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Central Portugal is a world apart from Lisbon or the Algarve, the lifestyle is simple and rustic, with the majority of people living off the land and enjoying a community based café culture.

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  Help

  We are looking for workawayers who are flexible and willing to turn their hand to a variety of tasks.
  
  We need help with installing two bathrooms, outside blockwork, painting and decorating, sanding floors, installing a staircase to our attic area, stud walling, laying slate for outside patio areas, so any experience in blockwork or bricklaying, carpentry, plumbing, painting or general labouring are most welcome BUT mainly the willingness to have a go.
  
  We would like workawayers who are looking for length of stay of two weeks.
  
  We are open to either couples (friends or partners) or single workawayers, but prefer no children.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  German: Beginner
  French: Beginner
  Portuguese: Beginner

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  Accommodation

  You will have a bedroom with shared bathroom facilities. You will be provided with 3 meals a day 7 days a week, self-serve breakfast of cereal or toast, rolls for lunch, and a cooked dinner in the evening generally served between 6pm and 7pm. Occasionally we may ask you to cook your own dinner if we are out for any reason, other than that Sally will cook evening meals and you will be expected to help with washing up on a rota basis.

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  What else ...

  Activities – for summer swimming we are 3km, 6km and 10km from the nearest river beaches all with café bars (see photos). If you’re a walker/hiker then there are some lovely walks and I can suggest different routes. If you’re into cycling then likewise there are good routes and roads for cycling. We are in the schist villages’ area with museums and villages to visit. Depending on the time of year there is kayaking and different water sports available not too far away, and river boat trips.
  
  Nearby amenities – the nearest main town is Pedrogão Grande which is a 20 min drive or 40 min bus journey (it goes around the villages). In this town are the normal amenities such as supermarket, banks, post office, library, cinema, cafes, general shops, and a mainline bus station. We are only an hour and a half away from Coimbra, and two hours from the coast, Figueira da Foz.
  
  In the village – we have a cafe/restaurant/shop which is open Tuesday to Sunday and is only a five minute walk from the house. There is also a little supermarket in the next village which is 3km.
  
  In the house – we have fiber optic WiFi.
  
  TRANSPORT: You can travel by bus from our village to the towns of Pedrogão Grande, Coimbra, Gois, and Lousã – HOWEVER – there is only one service a day, which leaves the village at 7.15am and returns late afternoon – and it is only a Monday to Friday service. If you wish to go further afield then once you have reached these larger towns you can take Rede Expressos buses which go all over Portugal at a very reasonable cost, also in Coimbra you can get a train. At present I am not sure of bus timetables due to Covid-19.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Space for parking camper vans

  Small campervan

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  Can possibly accept pets

  1 dog, not too big.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  Hours expected

  Five hours a day, five days a week.

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