In this episode, Nicole Curcio shares her journey moving from Portland, Oregon, to Salgueiro, a small village on Portugal’s Silver Coast. Motivated by dreams of starting an artist residency and enjoying more affordable healthcare and property options, Nicole and her husband moved with their two dogs 8 months ago.
Nicole, a ceramic artist, chose Portugal after visiting in 2019 and connecting with local artist Mariana Sampaio through a podcast. This connection led to a pivotal visit during the pandemic, solidifying their plans. They now live in a quiet village of 450 residents, where Nicole is developing a guesthouse and community art studio.
She discusses the charming and frustrating cultural adjustments, including the slower pace of life, language barriers, and infrastructure quirks. Despite initial concerns about local attitudes toward immigrants, Nicole describes a welcoming village with a growing immigrant community from the UK, Canada, South Africa, and Belgium.
Food and lifestyle also feature prominently—while fresh produce is abundant, variety is limited due to clay-heavy soil. She raves about local pastries, wine, and café culture. Nicole also explains the challenges of navigating the visa process (D7 visa), setting up utilities, and managing repairs in a system that values improvisation over precision.
Nicole’s advice to those considering a move abroad is to visit for an extended period beyond the “honeymoon” phase, connect with locals, and prepare for a different pace of life. Her artist residency program is already hosting its first guests, and she looks forward to expanding it in collaboration with local creatives.
Resources Mentioned:
DeepL (app for translating from English to continental Portuguese)
Facebook Group: Americans & Friends PT (search for expat resources)
If you’ve ever dreamed of living abroad, starting a creative retreat, or embracing a slower lifestyle, this episode is packed with real talk and inspiration!
🎧 Click on the above link to listen to the interview or listen on “Mixtape Travels” on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Meet Nicole Curcio
Nicole Curcio is a ceramic artist and the founder of Well Traveled Wares, her line of handmade pottery inspired by a love of travel and global design. Though she always dreamed of a creative life, Nicole spent decades building a career in retail management, marketing, and public relations within the design and decor world. That winding path turned out to be the perfect foundation for launching her own business—and ultimately, for becoming a full-time working artist.
Her work is deeply influenced by wanderlust, and she’s long held a vision of living abroad and creating a space where creativity and community could thrive. In September 2024, after years of dreaming and planning, Nicole and her husband Nick—along with their two Australian Shepherds—relocated from Portland, OR to a sunny yellow house on a hilltop in rural Portugal. There, they’re building a studio, farm, and guest house designed to host artist residencies, retreats, and workshops starting in 2025. Since arriving, they've been working nonstop to bring that vision to life—and now, it’s all beginning to take shape.
Follow Nicole:
🔗 Instagram: @well.traveled.wares
✍️ Substack:
Thank you Nicole for sharing your inspiring journey about moving and living abroad in Portugal!
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