A Glittering Landscape in an Unfamiliar City: Living in Portugal for a Month After Retirement
The real side of Portugal that tourists don't know about, and the thrilling moments that only those who have experienced it know!

《The End of the World, the Breath of Portugal》 is a record of a month-long stay in Portugal by a couple of travel enthusiasts who chose the adventure of 'living' instead of a rigid retirement life.
Having traveled to 100 countries and lived abroad for 30 years, the author shops and cooks like a local, meets unexpected connections while walking pilgrimage routes, and discovers the "breath of life" in the small details of everyday life.

This book goes beyond simple travel information and landscape sketches; it conveys a strong sense of romance and courage to readers contemplating a new way of life after retirement: "I want to live like that, too."
As readers follow Portugal's sunny streets, vibrant markets, and warm smiles, they will soon find themselves embracing the profound resonance of "living, not traveling."

If you're a middle-aged reader nearing retirement, a person dreaming of living for a month, or a reader looking for new inspiration at a turning point in your life, read this book.
You will be gifted with the freedom, courage, and imagination to fill the second half of your life.

As I was finishing the first act of my life after retirement, I needed new inspiration and comfort.
Rather than simply traveling, I wanted to fully experience the breath of an unfamiliar land, so I planned to live there for a month.
The biggest reason I chose Portugal was because of a long-held, vague attraction and longing for the ends of the earth that could no longer be reached.
--- From "Author Interview"

To put it simply, the Camino de Santiago was an 'emptiness', and living in Portugal for a month was a 'filling'.
The pilgrimage to Santiago was an experience of accumulating time through daily steps.
After all the unnecessary things were removed, what I faced was ‘myself.’
It was truly a soul-stirring time.
Living in Portugal for a month was a bit different.
The feeling of 'living' was really special.
I went to the market like a local resident, sat in the same cafe drinking coffee, and walked down the same alley every day.
I felt like that country was entering me.
It was a time when my inner emptiness was filled and I became enriched.
--- From "Author Interview"

Traveling to an unfamiliar place for a long time is still not an easy task for most people.
For us, ‘living for a month’ has become a romantic dream.
How much can we truly understand and experience the local life in a month? Perhaps it's not enough time to simply remain as a passing stranger.
--- From the "Prologue"

Nevertheless, we chose the end of the world, Portugal.
I shed my familiarity and quietly walked into an unfamiliar world, into new scenery, an unfamiliar language, and slowly flowing time.
This journey began with curiosity and excitement about a world I had yet to experience, and a vague but deep longing for another way of life I had always wanted to experience.
--- From the "Prologue"

It may have been inevitable with the crowds of people rushing in to take pictures, but the sight of culture being swept away by the strong waves of industry left a bittersweet feeling, like a poem being blown away by the wind.
In any case, Lello Bookstore is not just a place that sells books, but it has become one of Porto's landmarks with its unique architectural style and artistic atmosphere.
--- p.96

I heard a group chanting along with a loud noise from one side of the street, so I went over to take a look.
College students wearing cloaks formed a large circle, and students in uniforms at the center were moving in unison while chanting slogans.
About 100 students were chanting slogans to the lead of a senior wearing a cloak.
(…) I heard that this event is a long-standing tradition at the University of Porto Sciences, where senior students discipline the newly admitted freshmen.
I smiled slightly as I remembered the time when I was a freshman in college and was disciplined by my seniors.
Although there are differences, these types of traditions and customs are similar in both the East and the West.
--- p.167

On the coastal road leading to the Isposend accommodation, the dazzling red sky unfolded like a painting, as if one were watching the sun's last breath sinking into the western sea.
The road from Isposend to Castelo do Neiva is filled with villages with their own unique stories and houses, reminiscent of a scene from a movie, and you won't be able to forget it for a long time.
Approaching Viana do Castelo, the view of the Lima River and the city along the coastline from the Eiffel Bridge was like a work of art, and the Sanctuary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Santa Luzia, the city's landmark, was worth the climb on sore knees and exuded a unique charm.
For some reason, I started to feel a secret affection for Portugal, a country located at the tip of the Iberian Peninsula.
--- p.198

Having spearheaded the reconstruction of Lisbon, which suffered the destruction of nearly a third of its surface in a devastating earthquake, what does he think of the city he sees today? One wonders whether he feels proud of his accomplishments, or whether he still feels regret.
That's why I came back today after seeing his statue that I passed by in my car yesterday.
--- p.344

Now it's time to pack your bags.
I must also capture the beautiful memories of this place that are deeply engraved in my heart.
On the other side of the globe, in this place called the 'end of the world', my last day in Portugal slowly draws to a close, leaving behind only a small sense of longing.
The sunset paints the sky crimson, leaving a lingering aftertaste as if regretting our departure.
I hope that the scenery and memories here will remain in my heart long into the future, and that they will one day lead me back to the sea of ​​fond memories.
--- p.371

When you first set foot in a new travel destination, everything unfamiliar approaches you like a sparkling jewel.
Even a single stone on the street, or the silence beneath the shade of a tree, takes on a special meaning, and every sight that catches your eye presents something new.
But if that destination is Porto, simple admiration quickly turns into a deep emotion that resonates deeply in the heart.
Porto is, in a word, a quietly beautiful city.
The orange rooftops spread out in all directions against the backdrop of a bright blue sky and the sparkling waves of the Douro River flowing in front of the old town are enough to steal your heart.
This city, with its traditional European atmosphere, exudes a subtle leisure and charming charm, and is small but brimming with leisurely beauty.

--- From "Epilogue"