by theflower » Mon 31 Jul 2006 15:07 GMT
Hi , sorry for not responding earlier.
In terms of what you need to know for living here.
Rents are very very high for what you would expect to be a palace however turns out to be very basic. Water and electricity are a problem too and so you will need to ensure you get a place with a generator and and a large water tank. If most apartment blocks, the lifts do not work so ensure you check this first.
Food is now more available than it used to be. There are several supermarkets which import food from south africa, portugal, brazil, italy and france and so you actually get most things, however it is expensive. Alot of fruit and veg is imported and therefore can be very expensive. For example, brocolli can cost around $8, carrots around $6 etc. Sometimes you find things are cheaper, particularly if there has been a local production of a vegetable, e.g. peppers and tomatos can be cheaper. you can also buy veg on the street however if you do then it must be sterlised before using. If you are fond of a particular food, or have special diet requirements then you are advised to bring your own food. The supermarkets do not really cater for gluten free, diabetic etc. Althogh, some soya based products are now available.
Household products are less common and very expensive. Do not expect to buy furniture here, it is very very expensive. I would also advise to bring lamps, rugs etc if you need those. Room fragrance, vases etc also not really available.
Personal items and cosmetics are available but not much choice, therefore bring your own.
Clothes - there are some boutiques with imported clothes, however very very expensive. Don't expect to shop here.
Children and pets - i don't have either so not sure, however i have seen many toy shops around. I would advise you pack nappies though as everyone i know always brings with their shipment as they are very expensive here.
Security - don't believe everything you read! You have to take sensible precautions, e.g. dont walk on the street with your mobile phone etc but in most cases you will be fine.
If you have a maid (which you will), then you need to lock away your valuables and potentially your clothes as well. Take this on a case by case basis once you have spent a bit of time with the maid.
Traffic in Luanda is a nightmare, and it can take you ages and ages to travel a very short distance. There is an area just south of the city called Luanda Sul which is has loads of new compounds with beautiful houses with swimming pools, security etc. If you decide to live there and need to commute to town for work then this can take ages and so be warned!
Entertainment - can be limited, however a large expat community so there is always something on. There are quite a few restaurants with different cusines, along the beachfront which is good fun. You can also do day trips and weekends away to some other beaches.
Portuguese - get some lessons or get a phrase book, you definately need to speak at least the basics as not many people speak English.
What else do people need to know?? Please ask.
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