After a few misadventures, chaotic viewings (see: roast chicken in the oven kind of chaos), and borderline spiritual moments of “Will we ever find a home?”, we finally secured a rental in the charming seaside town of Cascais, Portugal — exactly where we wanted to be.
Our new place? A small house in a gated condominium.
From Solitude to Shared Fences: A Big Shift
Now, we’ve never lived in a condominium before. In fact, we actively avoided it. We’re the kind of family that thrives on space, silence, and the absence of neighbours peeking over the fence. Back in Cyprus, we lovingly renovated a beautiful stone house with a 180-degree sea view and not a single house in sight. Just us, the wind, and the occasional goat.
Now?
We went from rustic solitude to neighbours on three sides. And — because why stop at emotionally scarring — our new concrete cube features floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, including… wait for it… in the bathrooms.
So unless you remember to hit the electric blinds before hopping in the shower, you might just give the entire complex a morning show they definitely didn’t ask for. You’re welcome, Sandra in 2C.
Oh, and speaking of neighbours…
Every single day, I watch my across-the-balcony neighbour — owner of what is almost certainly a surgically-enhanced bum — wake up at midday (refreshed, obviously), and strut across her glass palace in a body-hugging dress so tight I’m surprised physics allows it. Meanwhile, I’m dodging dog poop landmines, wrestling my kid into shoes, and wondering how I became background scenery in someone else’s Instagram Reel.
But don’t worry — there’s an entire post coming on the fake peachy butts of Portugal and the unexpected body image identity crisis that comes with moving to a beach town. Stay tuned. It’s a juicy one. 🍑
But yes, there are perks — and I don’t mean the gravity-defying kind!
Despite the lack of mystery in our morning routines, the condo comes with real advantages. It’s gated, has security, and is super quiet (unless our dogs spot a suspicious-looking leaf!). There’s a playground and even a basketball court for the kids. Best of all? A mini forest right inside the complex where the children can build nests, pitch tents, and run free like little forest elves.
Since moving in, our son has been cycling around solo, playing outdoors more than ever, and loving the freedom.
Of course, being the over-prepared, slightly neurotic mother I am, I couldn’t help myself. So we got walkie-talkies— and let me tell you, those things work like a dream. We’re living our own version of Mission Impossible: Playground Edition.
A Built-In Village (Minus the Childbirth)
Another perk? Built-in playdates. The condo is filled with young families, which means our son has new buddies calling out to him through fences, coming over uninvited (but welcome), and basically treating our house like their second home. I feel like I’ve suddenly gained three extra kids without the labour.
It’s a lovely sense of community — one we didn’t expect but genuinely enjoy.
And when things go sideways — like, say, a nationwide blackout — that community really shows up. Our sweet Spanish neighbours came knocking with candles and flashlights, asking if we needed anything. People were walking around the complex checking in on each other. It was very sweet…
Meanwhile, we were lounging on the couch like seasoned blackout pros — Cyprus trained us well. Power outages, water shortages — we’d seen it all before, stocked up on spare water containers, and had plenty of candles ready to light up the night.
The “Big Brother” Clause
Now, here’s the flip side. Because every fairy tale needs its dragon.
Living in a condominium means you’re always being watched. Not in a creepy way (okay, maybe a little), but in a condo board, rules, and nosy email threads kind of way.
We get regular emails about all sorts of drama:
- “Dog poop found near the olive tree.”
- “Resident parked 12cm over the designated line.”
- There’s even a neighbour who records barking dogs and sends the audio files to management. I mean… dedication.
And don’t get me started on the garden rules. You’re only allowed to plant condo-approved shrubs. Someone tried to give themselves a bit of privacy with some extra hedge work — the result? They were ordered to rip it out.
So unless you’re the size of an ant, you’ll be in full view of your neighbours breakfast table for at least the next five years.
Rubbish Adventures: Portugal Style
Ready for the kicker? Garbage trucks aren’t allowed inside our complex. Nope. Too disruptive for the vibe, apparently. This means you either load your stinky trash into your car like a true eco-gladiator or go for a nice romantic stroll while dragging your bin behind you like a reluctant toddler on a sugar crash.
Yes, you read that right: your rubbish gets to go on a little outing. A scenic drive or walk to the communal bins, where it can finally mingle with its fellow garbage and discuss decomposition techniques.
And oh boy, the bins? They’re the social battleground of the entire condominium.
Some residents — let’s call them “bin-averse minimalists” — lovingly place their unflattened cardboard boxes next to the bins instead of actually putting them in the bins. Scandalous.
This sends the lady who lives across from the condo gates into a full-blown nightly rage spiral. Every evening, like clockwork, she storms out on a vigilante mission, grabs the offending boxes, and throws them back through the condominium fence in protest.
But wait, it gets better.
One of the other residents — let’s call him the Sherlock Holmes of Sanitation — then sneaks out, photographs the evidence (box labels and all), and posts it in the condo group chat with a dramatic caption and finger-point emoji, trying to name and shame the criminal mastermind who dared to disrespect bin etiquette!
And honestly? I have to admit… I’ve joined the detective squad a few times myself. It’s surprisingly fun to watch the group chat spiral into chaos — plus, let’s be real, I really don’t want to get out of the car to move someone else’s cardboard mountain just to get through the gates. Priorities.
So… Is It Worth It?
It depends. If you don’t mind a bit of daily surveillance, surprise visits from kids, and planning your rubbish’s weekly road trip, then sure, it might be your vibe. For us, the safety, kid-friendliness, and sense of community outweigh the downsides — at least for now.
But will we live in a condominium forever? Unlikely. We’re dreaming of a place that blends the best of both worlds: a little more privacy, a lot of greenery, and maybe a rubbish bin that doesn’t need a GPS.
Until then, we’re here — waving through windows, dodging HOA emails, and loving the fact that our son is happier, freer, and has a forest to call his own.
Final Thoughts
If you’re moving to Portugal and considering a condo, keep your eyes open and your trash bags light. There’s a lot of love and life behind these gates — and also a fair bit of passive-aggressive rule enforcement.
We’re embracing the chaos, the kindness, the laughter, and even the weird blinds situation.
That said… stay tuned, because I’ll be sharing why I’m no longer the biggest fan of condo life — including one utterly unbelievable incident that ended with a trip to the local hospital and the sudden need for legal help. Yep, it’s about to get dramatic.
And as always, I’ll keep sharing the ups, downs, and sideways of expat life in Portugal.
Stick around, and bring your flashlight — we might lose power again. 😉
Até já ! 💛
Curious why we packed up our lives and moved to Portugal? Click here to find out 👉https://fullhouseportugal.com/why-we-moved-to-portugal-school-stress-new-beginnings/