I really enjoy your writing Cody. You have a gift for it, not only in style but also substance. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences with us. I remember you and Ashley from Durham. CityWell, I think?
Hey Karen! Yes, we remember you well. We took one of your classes at Citywell. So nice to connect again. Thank you so much for reading and for your kind words. It means a lot!
This is the second piece I’ve read from you and really appreciate your writing and candor. I’m from NC, went to Chapel Hill, and lived in Charlotte for most of my life. I’m now in San Francisco, and the green space usage is so different and much friendlier to adults. I think we’d all be better off if we created more space for our inner child :)
Thanks so much for reading and for your kind words, Molly! That’s great to hear you’ve had a better experience in green spaces in San Fran. Our inner child should never be neglected.
Hey Cody, I’m just curious as to whether you’ve made local or other European friends (as opposed to US expats), and discussed with them how they feel about your experiences. Many Europeans actually still have the American dream etched deeply into their hearts, believe it or not. They take what they have and what you’ve just discovered for granted and let themselves be fooled by the greener grass.
We have! We’ve met and had conversations with people from all over Europe. Made several friends from Brazil as well. It’s usually the people who have also spent time in the U.S. that understand our reasons for leaving. Those who only know the U.S. from movies tend to be more confused by us and dream of visiting or living in NY or LA. Although everyone over here seems to be pretty perplexed by the state of American politics right now.
Thank you for taking us on that journey to the Portuguese park—your words painted such a vivid picture, I felt like I was walking through Jardim da Estrela right beside you. I originally joined Substack for the independent journalism, but it’s pieces like yours—thoughtful, honest, and beautifully written—that keep me coming back. I’ve been craving more writing that speaks to the soul, and yours does just that. Please keep them coming—your voice truly matters.
I LOVE Jardim da Estrela. I lived just 8 minutes walking from it for about 2 years and often went.
While not huge, I could easily spend an hour strolling along its meandering paths and marveling at the big old trees. I still miss it now that I live a 20-minute drive away.
It’s such a special place. At least you’re not too far away but yeah, being within walking distance makes all the difference. We’re trying to stay in Campo de Ourique long term so we can always be close, but that might be a challenge given the rising rent.
My husband & I were in Lisbon in 2021. We were scheduled to fly home, tested positive for Covid, and were required to stay 9 extra days. One of the doctors suggested leaving our hotel and booking an apartment with a balcony to get some fresh air. I pulled up a map on my phone and looked for large green spaces. Found an apartment with a rooftop terrace in Campo de Ourique and we enjoyed a blissful 10 days between the apartment & Jardim da Estrella. This is now my go-to strategy on choosing a place to settle for a few days. We are on day 37 of 89 days to figure out which country and which visa. Currently in Toulouse, France (which I’m admiring for their parks & green spaces!) and will close out our scouting in Porto.
Being able to walk there does make all the difference. I used to live right by the Rato metro but wanted to buy and that area was just not possible for me if I took into account both my wants and my budget :) You also have Tapada near you! I heard it’s closed now due to storm damage but I love that park as well.
I loved this piece on Parks and “Parklife”. Now Im headed over to Duke Park with my dog to hang in the sunshine. Thanks for the reminder that it is there!
I think it’s the quiosques in the park that are key. They are the gateway to the multigenerational hang. We watched one Portugal’s Euro matches at one of the Jardim de Estrela’s quiosques last year-super fun!
I agree! There are few places that integrate public and commercial spaces as well in the US. Love how the quiosques transform into mini sports bars when football is on!
Adults (including child-free adults) definitely deserve access to parks and playgrounds! As a mom of two little ones, I appreciated hearing your perspective about how most American playground don’t cater to or make space for families without young children. You’ve made me consider which of the parks/playgrounds in my city (Orlando, FL) accommodate people of all ages; most of them do cater to families with young kids. A notable exception, though, is Lake Eola Park, which does have a playground but also a loop around the lake, numerous patches of grasses and open spaces, and so many park benches. It’s the one green space in the city that I reliably see adults without kids, college students, and older people all out together. Maybe lots of urban city centers have something similar, but I wish more suburban and rural communities had access to something like this too. Thanks for offering your reflections!
Thanks for reading, Lissa! It wasn’t something I really noticed or was aware of either until I traveled abroad. Nice to hear there is a park in Orlando that is a communal space for everyone. The best public spaces bring us all together.
As a European who has spent many hours as an adults in around parks, I brought that same mindset with me to Canada. My Canadian husband was truly confused by the idea of sitting on a blanket in a park with some snacks and a sneaky glass of wine. But we did it anyways. And now that we live in Germany, we do it almost every day in the summer. And so does everyone else.
Thanks for reading, Katharina! Park culture really is the best. Back when we lived in North Carolina, people commonly identified as mountain people or beach people. I preferred the beach while my wife preferred the mountains, so we could never agree on where to spend our time off work. When we came to Europe, though, we discovered a third category: park people! The relaxation for me, the greenery and calm for her. The park is where we meet in the middle.
Such a great article! It seems like people who want to move abroad (especially Americans) are seen as trying to “run away” from your problems. But what if living overseas provides you with the opportunity to live differently and in ways that are truly enriching? I can’t wait to follow more of your writing on life in Portugal!
You definitely should! Although there are several really lovely parks in Lisbon so you may find another that speaks to you more. Hope to see you around town when you make the move.
I really enjoy your writing Cody. You have a gift for it, not only in style but also substance. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences with us. I remember you and Ashley from Durham. CityWell, I think?
Hey Karen! Yes, we remember you well. We took one of your classes at Citywell. So nice to connect again. Thank you so much for reading and for your kind words. It means a lot!
This is the second piece I’ve read from you and really appreciate your writing and candor. I’m from NC, went to Chapel Hill, and lived in Charlotte for most of my life. I’m now in San Francisco, and the green space usage is so different and much friendlier to adults. I think we’d all be better off if we created more space for our inner child :)
Thanks so much for reading and for your kind words, Molly! That’s great to hear you’ve had a better experience in green spaces in San Fran. Our inner child should never be neglected.
Lovely writing. Thanks for inviting us into the park with you.
Thanks for reading, Jack!
Hey Cody, I’m just curious as to whether you’ve made local or other European friends (as opposed to US expats), and discussed with them how they feel about your experiences. Many Europeans actually still have the American dream etched deeply into their hearts, believe it or not. They take what they have and what you’ve just discovered for granted and let themselves be fooled by the greener grass.
We have! We’ve met and had conversations with people from all over Europe. Made several friends from Brazil as well. It’s usually the people who have also spent time in the U.S. that understand our reasons for leaving. Those who only know the U.S. from movies tend to be more confused by us and dream of visiting or living in NY or LA. Although everyone over here seems to be pretty perplexed by the state of American politics right now.
Thank you for taking us on that journey to the Portuguese park—your words painted such a vivid picture, I felt like I was walking through Jardim da Estrela right beside you. I originally joined Substack for the independent journalism, but it’s pieces like yours—thoughtful, honest, and beautifully written—that keep me coming back. I’ve been craving more writing that speaks to the soul, and yours does just that. Please keep them coming—your voice truly matters.
That’s so encouraging to hear! Thank you so much for reading and for your support. You’ve encouraged me to keep writing and telling stories.
I LOVE Jardim da Estrela. I lived just 8 minutes walking from it for about 2 years and often went.
While not huge, I could easily spend an hour strolling along its meandering paths and marveling at the big old trees. I still miss it now that I live a 20-minute drive away.
It’s such a special place. At least you’re not too far away but yeah, being within walking distance makes all the difference. We’re trying to stay in Campo de Ourique long term so we can always be close, but that might be a challenge given the rising rent.
My husband & I were in Lisbon in 2021. We were scheduled to fly home, tested positive for Covid, and were required to stay 9 extra days. One of the doctors suggested leaving our hotel and booking an apartment with a balcony to get some fresh air. I pulled up a map on my phone and looked for large green spaces. Found an apartment with a rooftop terrace in Campo de Ourique and we enjoyed a blissful 10 days between the apartment & Jardim da Estrella. This is now my go-to strategy on choosing a place to settle for a few days. We are on day 37 of 89 days to figure out which country and which visa. Currently in Toulouse, France (which I’m admiring for their parks & green spaces!) and will close out our scouting in Porto.
Being able to walk there does make all the difference. I used to live right by the Rato metro but wanted to buy and that area was just not possible for me if I took into account both my wants and my budget :) You also have Tapada near you! I heard it’s closed now due to storm damage but I love that park as well.
Yes! We tried to go but it was closed after the storm. Can’t wait to check it out.
I loved this piece on Parks and “Parklife”. Now Im headed over to Duke Park with my dog to hang in the sunshine. Thanks for the reminder that it is there!
Aw love that! It really is a beautiful park that should be utilized more. Glad you’re doing just that :)
I think it’s the quiosques in the park that are key. They are the gateway to the multigenerational hang. We watched one Portugal’s Euro matches at one of the Jardim de Estrela’s quiosques last year-super fun!
I agree! There are few places that integrate public and commercial spaces as well in the US. Love how the quiosques transform into mini sports bars when football is on!
Adults (including child-free adults) definitely deserve access to parks and playgrounds! As a mom of two little ones, I appreciated hearing your perspective about how most American playground don’t cater to or make space for families without young children. You’ve made me consider which of the parks/playgrounds in my city (Orlando, FL) accommodate people of all ages; most of them do cater to families with young kids. A notable exception, though, is Lake Eola Park, which does have a playground but also a loop around the lake, numerous patches of grasses and open spaces, and so many park benches. It’s the one green space in the city that I reliably see adults without kids, college students, and older people all out together. Maybe lots of urban city centers have something similar, but I wish more suburban and rural communities had access to something like this too. Thanks for offering your reflections!
Thanks for reading, Lissa! It wasn’t something I really noticed or was aware of either until I traveled abroad. Nice to hear there is a park in Orlando that is a communal space for everyone. The best public spaces bring us all together.
As a European who has spent many hours as an adults in around parks, I brought that same mindset with me to Canada. My Canadian husband was truly confused by the idea of sitting on a blanket in a park with some snacks and a sneaky glass of wine. But we did it anyways. And now that we live in Germany, we do it almost every day in the summer. And so does everyone else.
Thanks for reading, Katharina! Park culture really is the best. Back when we lived in North Carolina, people commonly identified as mountain people or beach people. I preferred the beach while my wife preferred the mountains, so we could never agree on where to spend our time off work. When we came to Europe, though, we discovered a third category: park people! The relaxation for me, the greenery and calm for her. The park is where we meet in the middle.
Park people!! I am all of the above - beach, mountain and park.
I have never seen 'quiosque' spelled like that before - it was a treat, along with the rest of the article.
Thanks for reading, Katie!
Such a great article! It seems like people who want to move abroad (especially Americans) are seen as trying to “run away” from your problems. But what if living overseas provides you with the opportunity to live differently and in ways that are truly enriching? I can’t wait to follow more of your writing on life in Portugal!
Thank you! And well said! We felt as though we were running to a culture that better suited our lifestyle and values, not running away.
Awesome Cody! Can’t wait to be in Lisbon and check out this park. I appreciate your observations about the differences between parks here and there.
You definitely should! Although there are several really lovely parks in Lisbon so you may find another that speaks to you more. Hope to see you around town when you make the move.
thank you cody! :)