Séverine von Kaenel: From Switzerland to Portugal in a rusty old camper

Living by the sea was a long-cherished dream for Séverine von Kaenel. Last year, the 38-year-old finally decided to take the plunge and move to Portugal. Thanks to a career change she is now able to live her dream in a small fishing village, but it’s not always easy. swissinfo.ch: When and why did you leave Switzerland? Séverine von Kaenel: I had been thinking about emigrating for more than ten years. I have done water sports since I was young, and a few years ago I discovered surfing. Living by the sea was not just a dream, I always knew that I would live there one day. Like most people who procrastinate making a decision, I could never find the right time. But let’s cut a long story short. After a few significant events in my life, I finally decided to make the move, and the rest is history. It all happened a lot more quickly than I had expected. In the summer of 2016, I packed all my belongings into my rusty old camper van and drove to Portugal. At the time, I didn’t know ...