We were in Viseu a few weeks ago. When we got back Leo got sick and then I got sick right afterwards. I think I’m finally on the mend. It feels like winter has been kicking our butts this year. Poor Leo has been sick more than anyone else.
I first heard of Viseu when some friends we met in Leiria moved there a few years ago. Kyle and I were curious, so we looked into Viseu as a potential place to live. We originally ruled it out because it feels a bit secluded. I don’t love Leiria, but I do love the easy access we have to other places, like Caldas, Obidos, and Nazare. Guimaraes also gives a lot of access to other places, including Braga. So that’s a big negative against Viseu that can be hard to let go of.
Unfortunately it was rainy our first two days there. The first day we got a little bit of a break in the rain, so we went downtown with our friends. There is a nice pedestrian only area and we got to see a bit of it. The second day the forecast was rain all day long and we didn’t want to sit in the hotel, so we drove to Porto. The drive wasn’t bad and we went to a really nice mall there. The kids played for hours in the indoor playgrounds there. The third day there was another break in the weather, so we ventured out a bit more.
Viseu has two malls- one of them is massive and has an ice skating rink and a gym with indoor pools. I thought that I would love that mall and, to be fair, I really didn’t get to see much of it. We went before opening because we were looking for an indoor playground. The mall seemed okay, but I really need to see it when it’s open. I actually liked the second mall a lot, even though people say it’s nothing special. I liked the setting because it’s part indoor, part outdoor, which reminds me of the mall in Aveiro. Plus it’s on a river, so it’s fairly unique.
We went to what I think is the main city park and it was big. There are some hiking trails and there were moments when I felt really alone, even though I knew there were people nearby. It feels really peaceful there and I would love to visit that park again.
One big drawback of Viseu was the driving. People say that drivers in Portugal are aggressive, but luckily that hasn’t really been our experience. Sometimes, sure, but usually it’s on the toll roads or highways. In Viseu they felt a lot more aggressive and it was stressful. I usually enjoy driving, but not in Viseu.
We have managed to narrow down where we want to live to Guimaraes and Viseu. We’re not in a hurry to move, but we also don’t want to stay in Leiria indefinitely. We do really love our apartment here and our landlord, so it makes it hard to move. I know we would love the north though. I love Guimaraes in itself, but I also love the access it gives to so many other places. I love that it’s an easy train or bus ride into Braga. I could definitely see us taking the bus into Braga for some events so we don’t have to try to find parking.
Even though I love Guimaraes, Viseu definitely has some positives. We both agree that it’s a better fit for us than Leiria is. We’re tired of moving and want our next move to be a long term one, so I’m not sure if “better than Leiria” will cut it. The only way to decide is to visit both places. We have only gone to Guimaraes for day trips- we have never stayed the night. When I went to Viseu it was rainy and ugly out, so I didn’t really get to see what it has to offer.
We’re planning on staying at an apartment for a week in each place. Somewhere with a kitchen and hopefully within walking distance of the city center. That’s the only fair way to make a good decision. Sofia’s classes end in the end of June, so I think we are going to try to schedule these trips for 1 week in July and 1 week in August. Lots of things close in August though, so I’m not sure that will work either. We might have to do two one week trips in July.
For now we’re just back to work and back to school- hoping that no one else gets sick this winter.
Growing Up Expat 