This 52-year-old retiree left the U.S. for Portugal. Here's how he spends his weekend—on less than $40

In 2015, my household and I took a vacation to Lisbon, Portugal. We instantly fell successful emotion with the beauteous weather, the rattle of cablegram cars, and the welcoming locals.

Just 2 days in, we decided to permission the U.S. and discontinue successful Portugal — and it was 1 of the champion decisions we've made. We walk acold little wealth connected necessities successful Lisbon than we did successful Washington, D.C. We've besides recovered that amusive leisure and nutrient experiences are conscionable as, if not more, affordable.

On weekends erstwhile I'm retired and about, I walk little than $40 a day:

Price per person: $6.31

Lisbon is paradise for meal lovers. When my woman and I are successful the temper for thing light, our favourite spot is the Copenhagen Coffee Lab successful Principé Real, a lively vicinity successful Lisbon.

For a bigger breakfast, we spell to the adjacent Seagull Method Café, wherever we bid cottage food and effect pancakes for $6.31 a plate.

Price per person: $11.34

A one-hour bid thrust from Lisbon's historical Cais bash Sodré presumption to the sportfishing colony of Cascais costs $4.92 (round trip).

Cascais is picturesque, with tiled buildings and achromatic and achromatic cobblestone plazas. It's a gorgeous spot to walk the morning.

Near the halfway of municipality is the Jardim dos Frangos (translated to the "chicken garden") wherever peacocks, roosters and hens, followed by their chicks, rotation freely done the conifer and shaggy eucalyptus trees. 

After walking around, my woman and I rent bicycles for $6.42 and thrust alongside the ocean.

The motorcycle way is comparatively level and takes america past the scenic cliffs of Boca bash Inferno and a postulation of shops and restaurants to the unsmooth waters of Guincho Beach.

From there, we hike done the dunes and rocky cliffs, oregon beryllium and work a book. We mightiness besides battalion nutrient and person a picnic.   

Price per person: Free

Once an aged concern analyzable for textiles, LX Factory is present a postulation of shops, restaurants and open-air kiosks. We similar to halt by connected weekends, and it is conveniently located connected the bid thrust backmost from Cascais.

You won't find marque sanction items astatine LX. From covering to furniture, astir things for merchantability are designed and produced successful Portugal. 

Our girl loves bargain hunting astatine the Feira da Ladra, a fashionable flea marketplace located wrong the Alfama territory of Lisbon. The country is built connected a steep elevation filled with narrow, winding cobblestone streets, and it's the cleanable spot to store for antiques.

Price per person: $19.04

My woman and I emotion to cook. We find gourmet ingredients astatine the Comida Independente outdoor market, which is unfastened connected Saturdays, and the Time Out Mercado.

Both are located adjacent Lisbon's Cais Sodre bid station.

For a speedy and casual repast of gourmet mushrooms and eggs, I buy:

• A 4th kilo of freshly picked chanterelle mushrooms: $7.49
• Farm caller integrated eggs: $3.19
• A spray of truffle oil: $3.19
• Seaweed caviar: $4.28

I'll service the repast with a loaf of caller breadstuff from Gleba, a adjacent bakery. Their loaves are made with home-grown heirloom strains of wheat for $5.29 per loaf.

For an absorbing twist, I'll make a peculiar breadstuff topping. I premix food ($2.30) with achromatic miso paste ($5.23) and seaweed crisps ($1.60).

And a vessel of Portuguese achromatic vino for $4.80 goes good with virtually immoderate meal.

Price per person: $3.21

Our favourite dessert spot, the Gelateria Nannarella, is simply a abbreviated locomotion from our apartment. It is well-known for its exceptional sorbets and gelatos. A tiny serving costs $3.21, with flavors similar citrus and basil, stracciatella and, of course, chocolate. 

In Lisbon, gelato is eaten passim the time arsenic a snack arsenic good arsenic a dessert, truthful determination is astir ever a line. But, similar astir bully things successful life, it's good worthy the wait.

Alex Trias is a retired attorney. He and his woman and girl person been surviving successful Portugal since 2015. He is the writer of the "Investment Pancake" bid on SeekingAlpha.com and has published astir 500 articles astir taxation planning, investing, aboriginal retirement, and wherever to find the champion meals successful Lisbon.

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