We always try to combine our vacations with something meaningful. Last year we went to Nepal and visited several orthopedic hospitals, in Malaysia we searched for visas for foreigners and did lots of research on living there (we didn’t like it...). Well, this summer life took us to Madeira, a magic island in the west coast of Portugal. After many hours of internet search we knew everything about it, we just had to see it now. I’ll tell how our house search went. We left Addis Ababa through Cairo and stopped in Madrid to meet my sweet cousin Lucia. Lucia was the name of my grandma, Lucio is the name of her 4th son (I think he is the 4th… not sure), and Lucios and Lucias are really loved in our family. We had a lovely time with Lu, an evening to be remembered!! PI And here we are, finally, in stunning Madeira Island. As soon as we got there we bought piles of newspapers, a phone card and started calling. Weekends are quiet and people really relax, so we had to wait to start seeing properties on Monday, and here we go to Money Pit number 1…2…3…4…5… hahahaha Money Pit #1 – a huge building downtown which has been closed for the past 20 years. It used to be a butter factory. Lots of potential, Marc wanted to build a parking in lot, I wanted to make a wonderful pathway with restaurants, so many ideas. Cost – € 1,150,000.00. He must be joking... Anyhow the owner gave us a butter container and wonderful restaurant tips. Money Pit #2 – the conversation: Connie: Oh My Love, a 3 bedroom flat for € 85,000.00? Let’s go for it! Doesn’t matter the clothes are all hanging outside, we will talk to everybody and change it… Marc: Hummm I think this building will be desappropriated soon, there are 8 flats for sale here Connie: Hummm do you really think so? But we can go for walks next door in the beautiful centenary golf club… Marc: But the bus map says it is 28 stops until we get up here, we will never be able to rent it. Connie: hummmm Money Pit #3 – the conversation Connie: That’s it my love, I can feel it, it is a wonderful and green property, near this upscale golf course, we can open a guest house !!!! or a restaurant !!!! Marc: It costs € 160,000.00 and another € 100,000.00 to fix the tiny house.. Connie: I will help, we can do it together, I ll clean the whooooooooooooole garden Marc: It is raining… Money Pit #4 – Connie: It is too far up, and I hate the house, it has no charm at all, I want Money Pitt #3 Marc: Money Pitt #3??? Money Pit #5 – Marc: We can spend the rest of our lives planting potatoes Connie: Not me!!!!!!!!!!!!! Marc: The windows are very small Connie: I am claustrophobic, let’s get out of here And then… we decided life in the countryside is not for us, and moved our search to Funchal, the Capital, where you can find internet, plenty of supermarkets, shopping malls, excellent restaurants and everything a basic simple life requires… Keep tuned… This story continues… |
