Escape Artist
  • Features
    • Interviews
    • News
    • Field Notes
    • Trending
  • Your Escape Plan
    • Finance
    • Real Estate
    • Second Citizenship
    • Events
    • Shop
  • Destinations
    • Europe
      • France
      • Germany
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Scandinavia
      • Spain
      • United Kingdom
      • Rest of Europe
    • Central America
      • Belize
      • Costa Rica
      • El Salvador
      • Guatemala
      • Honduras
      • Nicaragua
      • Panama
    • Others
      • Africa
      • Asia
      • Australia
      • North America
      • South America
  • Travel Tips
    • Know Before You Go
    • Packing List
    • Food + Culture
    • Health + Wellness
  • Subscribe
Escape Artist
  • Features
    • Interviews
    • News
    • Field Notes
    • Trending
  • Your Escape Plan
    • Finance
    • Real Estate
    • Second Citizenship
    • Events
    • Shop
  • Destinations
    • Europe
      • France
      • Germany
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Scandinavia
      • Spain
      • United Kingdom
      • Rest of Europe
    • Central America
      • Belize
      • Costa Rica
      • El Salvador
      • Guatemala
      • Honduras
      • Nicaragua
      • Panama
    • Others
      • Africa
      • Asia
      • Australia
      • North America
      • South America
  • Travel Tips
    • Know Before You Go
    • Packing List
    • Food + Culture
    • Health + Wellness
  • Subscribe
👤

THE NUMBER ONE SOURCE FOR EXPATS, DIGITAL NOMADS, AND DREAMERS.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • Your Escape Plan

Human Desire for Happiness

  • BY Charlotte Tweed
  • December 16, 2022
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0

Ribeira Grande – An Interesting History Lesson on Azorean Emigration

Come along as I share more of the Azores, today’s adventure is in Ribeira Grande!

Today was the last day we had a rental car to tour São Miguel, so we headed to Ribeira Grande, the second-biggest town on the island. One monument in Ribeira was of particular interest.

Praça do Emigrante

The Praça do Emigrante, a large, outdoor space with a globe four metres in diameter is covered with Portuguese pavement of white and black limestone from the Portuguese mainland. The square was built for everyone to feel the pride and affection Azorians have for their emigrants.

How ironic.

Here in the town is a beautiful monument to the people who have left. And here I am investigating the benefits of moving to the Azores.
Wander Wisely Emigration and emigrants have always been part of Ribeira Grande. Aware of this phenomenon, the municipality wants to live arm in arm with those who left by choice or necessity but do not forget their homeland. They left for their children and generations of grandchildren.

These people loved their families and their homeland. Times change, and sometimes that means you need to change, too.

My great-grandparents emigrated to Canada from Europe. Likely yours emigrated also. What would they think of the country now? What would they think of the world now?

The Emigration Museum is Worth a Visit

Many of the reasons people left the Azores are similar to why people now want to leave Canada or the United States. Threats to a way of life are not new.

We began by visiting the Emigration Museum to get some history before seeing the monument.  This is a small but well-researched and organized museum in a historic building on a main road in Ribeira Grande (so quite straight forward to find and with adequate parking on site). Some of the personal stories are affecting, and many of the photographs are very moving as they record people leaving the islands to try and find a ‘better’ life in USA , Brazil, and Canada.

The epic story of Azorean emigration involves a combination of emotions. The desire for change and hope for a better life was the catalyst. Fear of the unknown, heartbreak, and longing overwhelmed the minds and hearts of those who took the leap and emigrated. Courage and resilience prevailed in their attitudes giving them the power to follow their dreams.

Times were different then. They didn’t have zoom or the internet. When your loved one left, you may never see them again. Outdoor masses were celebrated to pray for the good fortune of those leaving, perhaps it would have been like a dirge to some.

Over the millennia, people haven’t changed all that much. Staring out at the rolling waves of the Atlantic Ocean with the cliffs alongside and the mist-covered green mountainous region behind makes one wonder why anyone would want to leave. The Azoreans had their reasons.

Fear of pirates and natural disasters. Fear of family being sent to fight in the bloody conflict of the Colonial War in Africa. Families felt the urgent need to protect their sons from military service. These fears were fueled by news of deplorable conditions in the War in Africa and the many deaths of the Portuguese military. Emigration became a way to protect their offspring.

Some left for better living conditions. The Azoreans are humble people, and many used to live in impoverished conditions.

Seeing the names of the people and families who emigrated etched into bricks was a stirring moment. Some dates were not even that long ago, only a few decades had passed since these people had left.

 

Human Desire for Happiness

For what reasons do you want to leave your country?

Climate? Cost of living? Political clown shows? It all sums up a quest for a better life.

Those who do leave make sacrifices and settle elsewhere. It’s not an easy decision and one that you should not take lightly.

You are not alone in wanting to leave your country for a better life. Your fears (and maybe even shame) of doing so are not new. Generations before you from all walks of life have suffered the same feelings.
What is holding you back? Are you still too comfortably numb to finally say enough is enough?

Let our team walk you through the fear and pain. With good people on your side, you can make the best choices for what you plan for your future to be. Hope is on the horizon.

Consider a new life in the Azores. Times have changed from what they were when people left in fear. Tides are shifting. Countries that were beacons of light for freedom and a great life are dimming.

Fix your gaze on a new frontier, and let us help you get there.

Talk soon,

Charlotte

P.S. If you want access to our knowledge-packed writers to help you set your Plan B Escape Route in motion, subscribe to the monthly Escape Artist Insiders magazine today!

All photos by Charlotte Tweed

Find Your Freedom

You can read more about my adventures in the Azores

Furnas, The Azores

Lagoa das Sete Cidades

If you’re interested in buying a home abroad and want to weigh up your options, visit ECI Developments, who specialize in creating exceptional residence and resort communities across the world.

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Previous Article
Corporate and Legal Ownership Structures for Owning Foreign Property
  • Real Estate

Corporate and Legal Ownership Structures for Owning Foreign Property

  • BY Joel Nagel
  • December 15, 2022
View Post
Next Article
  • Your Escape Plan

The Partridge in the Pear Tree

  • BY Jack Wheeler
  • December 19, 2022
View Post
You May Also Like
Top 10 Best Places to Live in Mexico – Discover Your Ideal City
View Post
  • Mexico
Top 10 Best Places to Live in Mexico – Discover Your Ideal City
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • October 8, 2025
Buying a Property abroad
View Post
  • Your Escape Plan
Why More Investors Are Buying Homes Offshore
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • October 8, 2025
Best Places to Live in Spain: A City-by-City Guide for 2025
View Post
  • Spain
Best Places to Live in Spain: A City-by-City Guide for 2025
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • October 8, 2025
Hungarian Citizenship by Descent Journey from Amercia
View Post
  • Second Citizenship
Our Journey from America to Hungarian Citizenship
  • BY Ethan Cohen & Learn Hungarian Anywhere
  • October 1, 2025
The Tale of the Tael - A timeless store of value across centuries
View Post
  • Finance
The Tale of the Tael’s: A Hard Lesson about Hard Money
  • BY Michael Checkan
  • September 24, 2025
Craggy cliffs and quiet harbors frame life in the Isle of Man
View Post
  • Your Escape Plan
Life and Opportunity on the Isle of Man
  • BY Aneesa Marufu
  • September 19, 2025
Central America’s strategic position is reshaping the global offshore banking map
View Post
  • Plan B
The Future of Global Finance Runs Through Central America
  • BY Luigi Wewege
  • September 17, 2025
Tokyo's infamous cherry blossoms.
View Post
  • Japan
How I Built a Life in Tokyo in 3 Months
  • BY Annie Nagel
  • September 8, 2025
Trending Posts
  • 1
    • Mexico
    Top 10 Things to Know if You’re Moving to Mexico
    • September 26, 2025
  • Hungarian Citizenship by Descent Journey from Amercia 2
    • Second Citizenship
    Our Journey from America to Hungarian Citizenship
    • October 1, 2025
  • Abkhazia jewel of Soviet summer escapes 3
    • Field Notes
    Secrets of the Soviet Riviera
    • October 3, 2025
  • Summer in Lapland: Lapland’s wild landscapes glow under the endless Arctic sun 4
    • Field Notes
    Before the Snow Falls in Lapland
    • September 29, 2025
  • Onu building with flags under a blue sky in New York 5
    • News
    Latest News: Fault Lines, Flotillas & Frontiers
    • September 25, 2025
Advertise
Know Before You Go
  • Top 10 Best Places to Live in Mexico – Discover Your Ideal City 1
    • Mexico
    Top 10 Best Places to Live in Mexico – Discover Your Ideal City
    • October 8, 2025
  • Best Places to Live in Spain: A City-by-City Guide for 2025 2
    • Spain
    Best Places to Live in Spain: A City-by-City Guide for 2025
    • October 8, 2025
  • Expat Child Syndrome 3
    • Wellness
    The Untold Story of Expat Kids
    • October 6, 2025
  • Abkhazia jewel of Soviet summer escapes 4
    • Field Notes
    Secrets of the Soviet Riviera
    • October 3, 2025
  • Hungarian Citizenship by Descent Journey from Amercia 5
    • Second Citizenship
    Our Journey from America to Hungarian Citizenship
    • October 1, 2025
Learn More
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
Why Subscribe

The newly imagined Escape Artist brings you fresh content with a global focus, and sharp, up-to-the-minute coverage of the joys, challenges, and opportunities of life abroad.

For a limited time, we’re offering a special discount on all subscription deals, so be sure to lock-in these incredible savings and start receiving top-notch travel and expat content today!

Sign up for the EA Newsletter

Get important news delivered directly to your inbox and stay connected!

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Escape Artist
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Disclaimer

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

Newsletter Subscription
Our Spring Sale Has Started

You can see how this popup was set up in our step-by-step guide: https://wppopupmaker.com/guides/auto-opening-announcement-popups/