- ”Going barefoot on the beach is not something I take for granted,” says Oddrun. In1999, she was diagnosed as having psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, and is currently on sick benefit. They live in the countryside in Frei outside Kristiansund and have always been fond of the outdoors.

Cheaper than Spain

Oddrun Lillerud is the head of the Møre og Romsdal regional branch of the Norwegian Psoriasis Association. She knows that warmth, sunshine and salt water helps the symptoms of the illness. At Christmas, the couple had a nice holiday in the Canary Islands. The pains in her hands disappeared along with the wounds underfoot, and she enjoyed the beneficial effects until the end of January.

“But it was too dear and you didn’t get the consistent temperatures that you get here in Brazil!” says Oddrun. Spain is not a cheap country any more. But Brazil still is. We spent less money in three weeks in Brazil than in two weeks in Canary Islands – including the airfare! We have travelled a lot around the world for various reasons; New Zealand, Hawaii – and Waikiki Beach was best for me until we found our new paradise on the beach in Brazil.”

Oddrun Lillerud explains that everything is much cheaper “where we will spend a lot of time in the future: that is Brazil!”

“We live well at home and we didn’t want to lower our standards when we started to look at what Sol do Atlantico could offer. We decided on a bungalow with a garden and a swimming pool close to the beach. It is a house with a living room, kitchen, two kitchens, two bathrooms, three bedrooms and is fully-equipped for six people, including white goods and air-conditioning in all bedrooms. All for a great price!”

At the Brazil holiday places, it is very easy to get extra help if you would like to have the days completely free: Gardener/“handyman” and a househelp/cook for around 400 kroner a month! And that is very well paid in relation to local conditions, so you don’t have to feel guilty.

You don’t have to go for a bungalow to live in good style at Sol do Atlantico: There are also high-quality apartments in different price levels, right down to NOK 570,000 including furniture!

 Today you can compare investing in property in Brazil with investing in holiday apartments in Spain in the1980s. An excellent investment indeed!

For Oddrun Lillerud and the ailments she suffers from, her health is what counts.

“There is no doubt that sun, warmth, a dry climate and salt water helps my problems. When we were in Brazil, my husband and I could walk barefoot for more than 10 kilometres along the beach without it hurting. The wounds under my feet healed, the pains in my hands disappeared and I thrived in every way. My husband is very pleased about it too. He gets the present of a “new woman” every time we go out to the sun and the sea. And not only that, but the benefits can be felt for weeks and months afterwards. This it something that should be experienced!

 The family’s bungalow will be ready within the year. Oddrun and Kristian will still spend the whole summer holiday (July) near their dream holiday destination. Then it will actually be “winter” in Brazil. Natal is actually at a latitude of 6 degrees south, that is south of the equator. Brazil’s summer weather and warm winds last all year round with a constant temperature of 29 degrees.

The couple will spend Christmas in the apartment. They will rent it out for the rest of the year and with constantly increasing pressure on the holiday market, not least from the rest of Europe and the US, this may indeed lead to a good rental income for the couple.

If you need summer sunshine with pleasant temperatures all year round, Natal is the place for you!

 Interview by Knut Bjørnsen.