Portugal is the best country in the world to live in after the Covid-19 pandemic and the only possible choice within Europe. The guarantee is given by the American publication "Forbes", which elects the Algarve, in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, as the quietest, safest and most pleasant place, both to live a retirement, to restart a new active life, or even to diversify investments. It is also the best place on the map to take care of your health and to live immune to loneliness. In addition, most Portuguese people speak fluent English and the people are, as is well known, legendarily known for their hospitality. No less important, Portugal is the European country that has shown the best performance in relation to the pandemic, with residual numbers and maximum political and social cohesion.
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The closest place to these virtues is on a distant and unstable continent in America. It is a small town in the state of Sinaloa, Mexico. Nevertheless, while Portugal has been consistently considered, year after year, as one of the three safest countries in the world, Mexico, on the contrary, is one of the most violent nations in the globe. The other possible hypothesis, according to the economic magazine, would be to go down about 2500 kilometres and stop in Cayo, a district of Belize with less than one hundred thousand inhabitants. So nice to live in, but terrible to socialize.
In the long list of compliments to the Algarve coast, which stretches for 160 kilometres of beaches with crystal clear water, "Forbes" highlights the sunlight every day of the year (it's one of the most stable climates in the world, with 3300 hours of heat per year and no month of bad weather); security, which is revealed by the near absence of violent or even light crime; the quality and extent of infrastructure, with air and road connections to all parts of the world; the free of charge and responsive capacity of the National Health Service, as was clearly demonstrated by the reaction to the coronavirus; the coveted collection of golf resorts (there are more than 40 courses in less than 160 km); the excellent water quality of the paradise beaches, as well as the strict compliance with environmental standards, which ensures 88 blue flags awarded by the European Blue Flag Association; the affordable cost of living, one of the lowest in Western Europe, about 30% lower than in any other country of the same size (with 2000 euros per month, a couple is rich in Portugal, the magazine points out); and solidarity. Recently, Portugal has once again proved this by regularizing the situation of immigrants during the Covid-19, so that they would not be deprived of health services.
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The publication also highlights the language, as the English language is largely spoken by the majority, and the quality of life. "The Portuguese are the largest consumers of fish per capita in Europe," Forbes notes. "Fish of great variety, and freshly caught, are sold every day in the markets. The region's fertile land also provides an abundance of fresh produce, from vegetables to fruit. At the same time, pollution rates are low. The streets, the cities and the beaches are always clean".
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Finally, “Forbes” reminds that Portugal offers the friendliest option of residence in the Euro Zone, by simply proving a fixed monthly income of 1200 euros. Moreover, the Government also offers tax advantages to those who adopt the country to reside or invest.
In fact, the corollary of Portugal's attributes, which is not limited to the south of the country, since Porto and the North are also successively the object of praise in all parts of the world, was already well-known. Over many years, tourists have contributed to this, as well as entrepreneurs, investors, retired people and scientist/students, who rarely give up a stopover in Portugal during their academic period.
What is new now is not exactly the consensus around national qualities, but the unanimous understanding of Portugal’s prominent position in the world. Portugal is no longer just part of a short list of elected representatives, it leads that list in all the key points for our lives. That's why it's no longer surprising to read in the American newspaper "The New York Times" that "Portugal is an example to follow"; or to find Portugal ranked in a glorious seventh place in the Swedish institute V-Dem's ranking of the best democracies in the world; or to see the unsuspected German magazine "Der Spiegel" talking about the "Portuguese miracle"; or to hear the Belgian channel "RTBF" praising the "discipline" and "good behaviour" of the Portuguese; or to confirm the passion of the Spaniards for the neighbouring territory, when they defend in their reference daily, "El País", that "the Portuguese are the Swedes of southern Europe".
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The paper concludes: "Although the world is made easier for British, Swiss, Dutch and Germans, the best we can all do is to learn something from Portugal". The future, if it is to be long and happy, definitely passes through here.
