Life Abroad in Portugal with Bob Tapper 🇵🇹
Hosted by American expat Bob Tapper, Life Abroad in Portugal is your go-to resource for navigating life in one of Europe’s most welcoming countries. Each episode dives into the real questions people ask when considering the move:
— How do immigration laws and residency options work?
— What’s the process of starting a business in Portugal?
— How do you handle insurance, banking, and taxes as a foreigner?
— What are the cultural traditions, local events, and hidden gems worth exploring?
Whether you're actively planning your move or just curious about the expat experience, this podcast offers practical advice, up-to-date information, and the occasional fun story from life on the ground in Porto.
Life Abroad in Portugal with Bob Tapper 🇵🇹
S6:Ep3 - From Porto to Tirana: A Visa Pause & a Whole Lot of Flying
MARCH 2025
Hey everyone—checking in from Albania! This month’s been a bit of a whirlwind. I finally moved into my new place in Porto (which felt amazing), but then had to leave Portugal until my visa is approved. Cue the Great Travel Shuffle: Porto > Madrid > Tirana > Frankfurt > US > Frankfurt > Porto. So. Many. Flights.
But you know what? Tirana—and especially the Blloku neighborhood—continues to surprise me. It's my third time here and there's always more history to discover. From strong espressos and people-watching to powerful pieces of history tucked around every corner, it’s been a unique little chapter.
In this episode, I’m talking about the highs, the hectic moments, the history, and what it’s like living out of a suitcase while craving a little stillness. If you’ve ever felt that mix of wanderlust and wanting to just hang your clothes up for once—you’ll get it.
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Email: actorbobtapper@gmail.com
In this episode:
- Moving into my Porto Apartment (for a quick minute)
- Pack, Unpack, Repack and back to Tirana
- Enver Hoxha's Home: 40 years of communist rule
- Postbllok Memorial
- Looking forward to my return to Porto
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Former Residence of Enver Hoxha
Right in the heart of Tirana is a quiet villa that once belonged to Enver Hoxha, Albania’s longtime communist leader. For decades, the entire area around it—now known as Blloku—was completely off-limits, guarded by police and secret agents. It was basically a wall-less fortress for the regime’s elite, hidden in plain sight. Today, it’s one of the city’s liveliest neighborhoods, but that history still lingers.
One of the most powerful spots in Tirana is the Postbllok Memorial—a small but impactful installation created by former political prisoner Fatos Lubonja and artist Ardian Isufi. It features concrete beams from Spaç Prison, part of a military bunker, and a piece of the Berlin Wall gifted by the city of Berlin. Each element tells a story of Albania’s past under dictatorship and its long road to freedom.