Portugal is 900 years old, and even though it has a relatively small area, it played a crucial role in world history During the 15th and 16th centuries Portugal started a major chapter in world history with the New World Discoveries "Descobrimentos" It established a sea route to India, and colonized areas in Africa Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, South America Brazil, Asia Macau,, and Oceania East-Timor, creating an empire The Portuguese language continues to be the biggest connection between these countries
In 1910, the Republic was established, abolishing the Monarchy However, this Republic was fragile and a military dictatorship was implemented, which lasted for 40 years, plunging the country into a marked stagnation In 1974, Portugal became a free democracy, and in 1986 it joined the current European Union, quickly approaching European standards of development
Portugal is one of the warmest European countries In mainland Portugal, yearly temperature averages are about 15°C 55°F in the north and 18°C 64°F in the south Madeira and Azores have a narrower temperature range as expected given their insularity, with the former having low precipitation in most of the archipelago and the latter being wet and rainy Spring and Summer months are usually sunny and temperature maximum are very high during July and August, with maximums averaging between 35°C and 40°C 86°F - 95°F in the interior of the country, 30°C and 35°C in the north, and occasionally reaching 45°C 113°F in the south Autumn and Winter are typically rainy and windy, yet sunny days are not rare either Temperatures rarely fall below 5°C 41°F nearer to the sea, averaging 10°C 50°F, but can reach several degrees below 0°C 32°F further inland Snow is common in winter in the mountainous areas of the north, especially in Serra da Estrela but melts quickly once the season is over Portugal's climate can be classified as Mediterranean particularly the southern parts of the Algarve and Alentejo, though technically on Atlantic shore
Bear in mind that Portugal is in the UTC time zone which is one hour behind Spain and most other Western European Countries When crossing the border with Spain you will have to change your watch accordingly
The official language of Portugal is Portuguese Portuguese is today one of the world's major languages, ranked 6th according to number of native speakers approximately 240 million It is the language with the largest number of speakers in South America, spoken by almost all of Brazil's population It is also the official language in Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe, Guinea-Bissau, East Timor and Macau
Portuguese is a Romance Language Although it may be mutually intelligible with Spanish to a wide extent, with about 90% of lexical similarity both in vocabulary and grammar, it is far from identical Portuguese are proud people and are uneasy when foreigners from non-Spanish speaking countries speak that language when traveling in Portugal While many words may be spelled almost the same as in Spanish or Italian, the pronunciation differs considerably This is because Portuguese has several nasal diphthongs not present in those languages Spanish is widely understood, but it's not always the best language to use unless you're from a Spanish-speaking country
It is also worth mentioning that pronunciation in Portugal differs significantly from that in Brazil The difference is basically in pronunciation and a few vocabulary differences, which make it tricky even for Brazilians to understand the European Portuguese accent, although not vice versa because Brazilian pop culture soap opera and pop music, for instance is very popular in Portugal Nevertheless, the current media has made these difficulties in understanding each other's accent irrelevant
English is spoken in many tourist areas, but it is far from ubiquitous Portuguese often watch American movies with the original English soundtrack and Portuguese subtitles so many are quite well versed with English due to this exposure Younger Portuguese will speak at least some English, and many speak English fluently due to English classes in school In the main tourist areas you will almost always find someone who can speak the main European languages Hotel personnel are required to speak English, even if sketchily French has almost disappeared as a second language, except possibly among older people German or Spanish speakers are rare Approximately 32% of Portuguese people can speak and understand English, while 24% can speak and understand French Despite Spanish being mutually intelligible in a sense that most Portuguese understand it written and/or spoken, only 9% of the Portuguese population can speak it fluently If you're a Spanish speaker, chances are you'll understand each other very well without an interpreter for the most part
Portuguese people are of generally excellent humor when they are talking with someone who cannot speak their language This means that all types of shop owners, sales-folk, and people curious about you will take time to try to carve out any means of communication, often with funny and unexpected results Helping a foreigner is considered a pleasant and rewarding occasion and experience If you attempt to speak correct Portuguese, especially if slightly beyond the trivial, with locals, you will be treated with respect and often the locals will apologize for how "difficult" it is to learn Portuguese, or how "hard" the language is, and will almost adopt you This might encourage travelers to learn the very basics of Portuguese, such as daily greetings and the routine "please-thank you" exchanges
In Miranda do Douro, a town in the North East, and its vicinity some people speak a regional language called Mirandese, in addition to Portuguese, although rarely in front of people they do not know
If you are into visiting beautiful monuments and enjoy remarkable views, then Lisbon, Sintra, and Porto are the top three places, and all of them are well worth a visit But don't overlook Viana do Castelo, Braga, Guimarães, Coimbra, Tomar, Aveiro, Amarante, Braga, Bragança, Chaves, Lamego, Viseu, Vila Real, Lagos, Silves, Évora, Angra as they also have wonderful monuments and places of interest
The most popular beaches are in the Algarve, which has stunning coastlines and gobs of natural beauty The water along the southern coast tends to be warmer and calmer than the water along the west coast, which is definitely Atlantic and doesn't benefit of the Gulf Stream For surfing, or just playing in the surf there are great beaches all along the west coast, near Lisbon and Peniche
For nightlife Lisbon, Porto and Albufeira, Algarve are the best choices as you have major places of entertainment
If you want to spend your holidays in the countryside, you might want to visit Viana do Castelo, Chaves, Miranda do Douro, Douro Valley, Lamego, Tomar, Leiria, Castelo Branco, Guarda, Portalegre, Évora, Elvas or even Viseu
And even if you wish to observe wild life in its natural state, Madeira and Azores Islands are places to remember, not forgetting of course the Natural Reserve of Peneda-Gerês, the Douro Valley and Serra da Estrela
Beaches: Surrounded by sea in almost its entirety, the Portuguese beaches are well worth visiting A lot of activities are offered, from surfing, to kite-surfing, and during the summer months the most frequented beaches offer sand based activities such as aerobics If you're not the type of breaking into a sweat during holidays, almost every single public beach will have a bar where locals sit Some of the most popular beaches are from north to south:
Golf: The climate, combined with investments in the golfing infrastructure in recent years, has turned the country into a golfing haven Portugal was recently named "Best Golf Destination 2006" by readers of Golfers Today, a British publication Fourteen of Portugal's courses are rated in the top 100 best in Europe Portugal is also a great location to learn the game and perfect technique Many resorts offer classes with the pros Courses can satisfy the most demanding golfer, while newcomers won't be intimidated, unless they find the beautiful landscapes and stunning vistas distracting to their game Locals have mixed feelings about golf courses, namely due to the huge amounts of water required to maintain them and their apparent pointlessness
The countryside also offers a great deal of possibilities, although you will have to incite the travel agent's advice a little more than usual, as they tend to just sell beach holidays Cycling through the mountainous terrain of Geres or white-water rafting in the affluents of river Douro is an exhilirating experience
There are several Fairs, specially in the Summer months, particularly in Northern Portugal During the summer, music festivals are also very common In the north of the country two of the oldest festivals such as Paredes de Coura and Vilar de Mouros The regions chosen for the festivals are most of the time surrounded by beautiful landscapes and pleasant villages In the south, the most famous one is Festival do Sudoeste, in the west part of the south cost with a summer landscape and never ending beaches
Major events of the year are listed at tourist board's official site, 9
Portugal is part of the Eurozone and uses the euro as its currency symbol: € ATMs accepting international cards can be found everywhere, and currency conversion booths spring up wherever there is a steady flow of tourists although the closer they are to tourist attractions, the worse the rates they offer
To authorize your payment with a credit card, you are frequently presented a device with a keypad where you should type PIN code and also confirm amount--even for Visa Classic or MasterCard This is different from many other countries in Europe where a card is taken , and tends to be safer as the card doesn't go out of your sight and there's therefore no chance that its magnetic strip will be copied and someone steal your money months later
In smaller non-high-street shops you can try some haggling, especially if you offer to buy multiple items You might want to check your change, though: although not a widespread practice, some shopkeepers might "accidentally" overcharge tourists
Tipping in restaurants is optional - if you are not too happy with the service, don't tip 10% is a good value tip, although most people would just round up the total bill to the next euro In expensive restaurants tipping is expected and the percentage is about the same as it is in the US, 10-15%, the difference being that you will not be too frown upon if you do not tip Keep in mind that whilst tipping, many Portuguese just simply leave the coin portion of their change, not considering actual percentages Waiters are viewed as professionals in Portugal A 'tip' is considered a note of appreciation, not a means to make up for a tiny salary
If at all, a taxi driver should be tipped 10%, less could be seen as being offensive
Designer clothes Altough not widely known internationally, Portugal has several independent fashion designers The list includes: Fátima Lopes 10, Maria Gambina 11 Some of them have dedicated shops in Lisbon There is an amazing number of other things you can buy, either at sophisticated commercial facilities or at fairs and more popular places Handicraft is a good example Handmade leather purses or clothes, toys, home utensils, glass items, decoration, etc You can find them at popular touristic places or at better prices in fairs and popular parties in small towns Almost all major brands can be bought in major cities, all luxury articles are available, but there is not a clear advantage in buying them here as prices are equivalent to all other places
Regional specials Dolls in Nazaré
This is potentially the most varied experience to have in the country and is clearly a favorite local hobby
Portuguese cuisine evolved from hearty peasant food drawn from the land, the seafood of the country's abundant coast and the cows, pigs and goats raised on the limited grazing land of its interior From these humble origins, spices brought back to the country during the exploration and colonisation of the East Indies and the Far East helped shape what is regarded as 'typical' Portuguese cuisine which, conversely, also helped shape the cuisine in the regions under Portuguese influence, from Cape Verde to Japan
Soup is the essential first course of any Portuguese meal The most popular is the Minho specialty, caldo verde, made from kale, potatoes and spiced, smoked sausage It's here in the Minho that you can sample the best vinho verde, which rarely is bottled In many places, especially near the seashore, you can have a delightful and always varied fish soup, sometimes so thick it has to be eaten with the help of a fork
You will see another Portuguese staple bacalhau dried codfish everywhere Locals will tell you that there are as many ways to cook this revered dish as there are days in the year, or even more
The most common of Portugal's delicious fish peixe dishes revolve around sole linguado and sardines sardinha although salmon salmão and trout truta are also featured heavily, not mentioning the more traditional mackerel carapau, whiting pescada, rock bass robalo, frog fish tamboril and a variety of turbot cherne These are boiled, fried, grilled or served in a variety of sauces
There are many varieties of rice-based specialties, such as frog fish rice, octopus rice, duck rice and seafood rice
In most places you will easily find fresh seafood: lobster lagosta, lavagante, mussel mexilhão, oysters ostras, clam amêijoas, goose barnacle perceves
Depending on how touristic the area you are in, you'll see grills, thick with the smoke of charring meat, in front of many restaurants during your stay Other than traditional sardines, Portuguese grilled chicken -- marinated in chilli, garlic and olive oil -- is world famous, although people tired of tasteless industrial poultry farm produce might opt for a tasty veal cutlet costeleta de novilho instead, or simply grilled pork
In the North, you can find many manners of kid, and in the Alentejo, lamb ensopado and many types of pork meat, including the tastier black pork; the best considered parts of pork being the secretos and the plumas In the Alentejo, you are likely to be served pork instead of veal if you ask for the ubiquitous bitoque small fried beef, fried potatoes, egg A widely found traditional dish is pork and clam, Carne de Porco à Alentejana, as well as fried, bread-covered cuttlefish slices tiras de choco frito Sometimes you can also find wild boar dishes
Definitely a major specialty is Mealhada's near Coimbra suckling pig roast leitão with the local sparkling wine and bread Much like the pastel de nata, you shouldn't miss it
Vegetarians may have a tough time of it in Portugal, at least in traditional Portuguese restaurants In most restaurants, vegetables usually boiled or fried potatoes are simply a garnish to the main meat dish Even 'vegetarian' salads and dishes may just substitute tuna which locals don't seem to regard as a 'meat' for ham or sausage Usually, a salad is just lettuce and tomato with salt, vinegar and olive oil However, the Portuguese really like their choose-5-items salad bars, and restaurants serving Indian, Chinese, Mexican, or Italian fare can be found in most cities At any rate, just mention you're vegetarian, and something can be found that meets your preference although in the long run you might be unable to thrive on it
In many Portuguese restaurants, if you order a salad it will come sprinkled with salt - if you are watching your salt intake, or just do not like this idea, you can ask for it "sem sal" without salt or more radically "sem tempêro" no conditioning
A few restaurants, particularly in non-tourist areas, do not have a menu; you have to go in and ask and they will list a few items for you to choose from It is wise to get the price written down when you do this so as to avoid any nasty surprises when the bill comes However, in this type of restaurants, the price for each one of the options is very similar, varying around from €5 to €10 per person
Most restaurants bring you a selection of snacks at the start of your meal - bread, butter, cheese, olives and other small bites - invariably there is a cover charge on these items, around €5 Do not be afraid to ask how much the cover charge is, and get them to take the items away if it is too much or if you are not planning to eat as much It can be quite reasonable, but occasionally you will get ripped off If you send them away, still, you should check your bill at the end Better restaurants can bring you more surprising, nicely prepared and delicious small dishes and bites and charge you more than €5 for each of them; you can usually choose those you want or want not, as in these cases the list is longer; and if the price is this high and you make an acceptable expense, opt for not ordering a main course
If you have kitchen facilities, Portuguese grocery stores are surprisingly well-stocked with items such as lentils, veggie burgers, couscous, and inexpensive fruits, vegetables, and cheeses If you like hard cheese, try "Queijo da Serra", if you prefer soft cheese,try requeijao Unfortunately, the success of the "Queijo da Serra" also allowed the proliferation of industrial and taste-devoid varieties, unrelated to the real thing On larger shops mostly found in the principal cities, you can also find many unusual items such as exotic fruits or drinks
In some grocery stores and most supermarkets the scales are in the produce section, not at the checkout If you don't weigh your produce and go to the checkout, you will probably be told Tem que os pesar or Tem que pesar,"tem que ser pesado" "You have to weigh them"/itthey must be weighed
Portugal is famous for its wide variety of amazing pastries, or pastéissingular: pastel The best-loved pastry, pastéis de nata called just natas further north, is a flaky pastry with custard filling topped with powdered sugar açúcar and cinnamon canela Make sure you try them, in any "pastelaria" The best place is still the old Confeitaria dos 'Pastéis de Belém' in Belém, although most "pastelarias" make a point of excelling at their "pastéis" For once, all the guide books are right You may have to queue for a short time, but it'll be worth it Some people like them piping hot and some don't
Also nice, if dryish, are the bolo de arroz literally, "rice cake" and the orange or carrot cakes
From the more egg-oriented North to almond-ruled South, Portuguese pastry and sweet desserts are excellent and often surprising, even after many years
On October/November, roasted chestnuts castanhas are sold on the streets of cities from vendors sporting fingerless gloves tending their motorcycle driven stoves: a treat!
The Portuguese love madly their thick, black expresso coffee bica, and miss it sorely when abroad
When traveling in Portugal, the drink of choice is wine Red wine is the favorite among the locals, but white wine is also popular Also Portugal along with Spain have a variation of the white wine that is actually green Vinho Verde Its a very crisp wine served cold and goes best with many of the fish dishes Drinking wine during a meal is very common in Portugal, and also after the meal is finished people will tend to drink and talk while letting their food digest Don't let yourself be bullied into drinking if you're driving, though!
Port wine may be an aperetif or dessert Alentejo wine may not be worldwide known as Porto, but is quite as good Portugal as also other defined wine regions regiões vinhateiras which make also some of the very best of wines like Madeira, Sado or Douro
Folks might find it a bit difficult to refrain from drinking, even if there are very good reasons to do so such as the above mentioned driving Nowadays the "I have to drive" excuse works ok The easiest way is to explain that one can't for health reasons The Portuguese aren't as easily insulted as others when it comes to refusing the obvious hospitality of a drink, but a lie such as "I'm allergic" might make clear a situation where one would have to otherwise repeatedly explain a preference in some regions of Portugal; but it won't work in other regions where obviously made-up excuses will tag you as unreliable "I don't want to, thanks" might then work Drinking is considered almost socially intimate
Be careful of 1920 and Agua Ardente burning water, both pack a mighty punch
Portugal is well known as the home of Port wines
Porto is famous for the eponymous port wine, a fortified wine 20% made by adding brandy to the wine before fermentation is complete The end product is strong, sweet, complex in taste and if properly stored will last 40 years or more
There are many, many grades of port, but the basic varieties are:
The youth hostel network has a great number of hostels around the country 12 There are also many camping places 'Wild camping' camping outside camping parks is not allowed, unless you have the land owner's agreement
There's a wide and abundant hotel offering all through Portugal
If budget is a concern, and you want a true 'typical-portuguese' experience, gather your courage and try one Residencial, the home-like hostels ubiquitous in cities and most towns In most places you can get a double room for €25-€35 Oct 2006 Be sure, however, of the quality of the rooms
On the luxury side, you might try the 'Pousadas de Portugal', a network of hotels managed by the Pestana Group remarkable for using very beautiful ancient buildings like Palaces and Castles and also for having excellent service, consistent all over the country You will do well in eating out eventually, as the cuisine of Pousadas is frequently both expensive and boring, although it appears the trend is changing for the better mid-2008
The "Casas de Campo" Turismo de Habitação, Turismo Rural, Agro-Turismo, when traveling through the countryside, are also an affordable, picturesque and comfortable B&Bs Don't expect them to be open all year round, and try to contact them beforehand if your itinerary depends on them
At the moment Poland is one of the best places around the world to find a job as an English teacher TEFL courses that's Teaching English as a Foreign Language are run in many cities across Poland The demand for TEFL teachers is enormous and teaching language is a brilliant way to fund your travel and earn as you go
| Meal in inexpensive restaurant | 6.53 EUR |
| 3-course meal in restaurant (for 2) | 33.21 EUR |
| McDonalds meal | 6.08 EUR |
| Local beer (0.5 draft) | 1.66 EUR |
| Foreign beer (0.33 bottle) | 1.53 EUR |
| Cappuccino | 1.09 EUR |
| Pepsi/Coke (0.33 bottle) | 1.13 EUR |
| Water (0.33 bottle) | 0.8 EUR |
| Milk (1l) | 0.6 EUR |
| Fresh bread (500g) | 0.99 EUR |
| White Rice (1kg) | 0.87 EUR |
| Eggs (12) | 1.86 EUR |
| Local Cheese (1kg) | 6.35 EUR |
| Chicken Breast (1kg) | 5.06 EUR |
| Apples (1kg) | 1.43 EUR |
| Oranges (1kg) | 0.98 EUR |
| Tomato (1kg) | 1.08 EUR |
| Potato (1kg) | 0.85 EUR |
| Lettuce (1 head) | 0.73 EUR |
| Water (1.5l) | 0.52 EUR |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 4.41 EUR |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 bottle) | 1.01 EUR |
| Foreign beer (0.33 bottle) | 1.3 EUR |
| Cigarettes | 3.87 EUR |
| One way local bus ticket | 1.77 EUR |
| Monthly pass for bus | 32.49 EUR |
| Taxi start | 3.59 EUR |
| Taxi 1km | 0.62 EUR |
| Taxi 1hour waiting | 17.28 EUR |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | 1.41 EUR |
| Utilities for a "normal" apartment | 96.69 EUR |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) | 11.11 EUR |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre | 399.25 EUR |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre | 284.05 EUR |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre | 661.35 EUR |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre | 551.96 EUR |
