Why on earth would anyone sell everything and buy a mountain in Portugal?

In this episode of The Van Table, I tell the story of how Alison and I went looking for a small piece of land with a few trees… and somehow came home with around 100 acres of Portuguese mountainside stretching all the way down to the river.

It wasn’t the plan.

We talk about:

• 🌿 Why Portugal beat Italy
• 🏔️ The moment we knew we’d found the place
• 🚙 The terrifying 4x4 drive to the property
• 💰 How we actually afforded it
• 🌳 Olive trees, springs, wildlife and the reality of owning so much land
• 🤕 Breaking five ribs while clearing an olive tree
• 🚐 Why we’re still living in a van four years later
• ☕ The long-term dream of creating a simple retreat where people can slow down and reconnect with nature

This isn’t an expert guide to buying property overseas. It’s simply our story, mistakes included. If you’re dreaming about escaping the rat race, curious about rural Portugal, or wondering what possesses someone to buy a mountain, pull up a chair.

Welcome to The Van Table.

🌍 Website: https://thevantable.me
📖 Articles, photos and the free Van Guide: https://davidstanley.me

Dave’s Accuracy Notice

These podcasts are recorded without a script, usually with coffee. Measurements are approximate, stories occasionally wander, and the facts don’t always arrive in the correct order… but they’re all true as far as I remember them!