The House in Evora

This is the intimate account of a middle-aged American couple who ventured to Europe to buy a second house. Their search, their encounters with a foreign people, legal system, lawyers, tax codes, and customs, and their decisions to carry on with, or walk away from, difficult projects are all narrated in an easy-to-read style. This is more an adventure book that a travelogue, but it provides a handy toolbox for all who might wish to follow our lead and purchase a house in a foreign land. The book is an attempt to preserve the stories of the people who we have encountered in our journey. In the end, it was not the house but the experience of knowing these people that made the journey worthwhile. To make the narrative helpful to fellow travelers (those who are not interested in owning a house but still want to get to know Evora and Alentejo), I have solicited the help an archeologist by training and a native of Evora. She provided help where it was most needed: a wealth of practical information on where to go and what to do and on Portuguese history, culture, and language.