Clash of the Cars

Our family of five has gone from an 8-seater mini van in Canada, to a 2 door hatchback in Portugal.

Our Portuguese Pony

Our Canadian Stallion

PROs:

• FUEL EFFICIENCY: with gas prices at ~$2.50/L here versus $1.25/L in Canada, it's nice to be in a fuel efficient car with a small tank. 
• PARKING: here you park wherever you find space: half up on a curb, behind other parked cars with your hazard lights on, in an opening Canadians would leave as a courtesy space around their car. A small car is key.



Road vs Sidewalk: which is which?

• ABILITY TO GET AROUND: especially in the heart of downtowns, the cobblestone laneways were designed for people and carts/horses/ox, not cars. A small car allows us to get around...ultimately the point of having a vehicle! 
• CONVENIENCE: my uncle is lending us his vehicle for our stay here: obrigada tio!

Fun fact: For the first few days our kids were in constant danger of being run over because they could not tell when/where the cobblestone laneways were for pedestrians or cars!

A Typical Delivery Vehicle -- fits anywhere!

CONs:

• Now our kids' shoulders touch when they're in the car. Need I say more? 
• There are only 2 window seats for 3 kids. This requires CONSTANT mediation.

However, as we can walk to school, library, groceries, activities, beach, restaurants, pharmacy, post-office etc, we only incur car drama on weekends when we go sightseeing and traveling. 

And no, we will not be trading in our mini-van when we get back.

SO close together...