BAZARE: You arrived in Portugal under circumstances that no one should ever have to face. Looking back at that journey from the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine to today, how did you find the strength to start over in a completely new country?
Anna: When I arrived in Portugal with just my daughter and a suitcase, I didn’t see a “dream destination”—I saw a blank canvas of survival. Being a single mother in a foreign land without knowing the language forces you to adapt very fast. At first, it was about finding shelter and stability. But there is a point when you stop just surviving and start building. That move from “refugee” to “resident” happened when I decided I would no longer be a guest in someone else’s house. I chose to be the one who builds.
BAZARE: Your path led you to real estate, which is a traditionally local and quite conservative industry in Portugal. What was it like navigating that world?
Anna: Real estate was my masterclass in Portuguese culture. I didn’t just want to sell homes; I wanted to understand the rhythm of this country. I learned that in Portugal, business isn’t done with contracts alone—it’s done with relationships and trust. By working as a marketing manager in real estate agency, I cracked the code of the market. I realized that the locals are guarding a lifestyle, not just properties. Once you understand that, everything changes.
BAZARE: The story of your home—the “ruin” you transformed—has become a symbol of your journey. Why choose a ruin instead of a turnkey luxury villa?
Anna: Luxury villas are easy and shallow; ruins have soul. I didn’t want a house that someone else had already “designed” for me. I wanted a space that reflected my own resilience. When I found that ruin in Loulé, it wasn’t a building; it was a promise. I poured every bit of my savings and my energy into it, stone by stone. Rebuilding that house was a metaphor for rebuilding my life. It’s not just four walls—it’s my independence.
BAZARE: Today, you’ve become a voice for expats looking to move to Portugal. What is the one thing people get wrong about living here?
Anna: People come here for the Instagram views, but they don’t prepare for the “Portguese pace.” They expect the efficiency of a metropolis, but they get the “amanhã” (tomorrow) culture. My role is to bridge that gap. I explain expats that you don’t come to Portugal to change it; you come here to be changed by it. You have to learn how to communicate, how to navigate the local bureaucracy, and most importantly, how to appreciate the slow beauty of the Algarve without losing your edge.
BAZARE: What is the most important lesson you want other women—and mothers—to take from your experience?
Anna: Don’t wait for the “perfect conditions” to start building your life. I didn’t have a safety net, a local language, or a massive budget. I had a vision and the will to work harder than anyone else in the room. Whatever your “ruin” is—whether it’s your career, your home, or your confidence—you have the power to rebuild it into something that belongs entirely to you.
Photo: https://www.instagram.com/natalia_diukova
Talent: https://www.instagram.com/not.your.algarve
