Second month with Remote Year, so second country – Portugal.  My usage of Portuguese so far is limited to saying obrigada (thank you), and ordering a pastel de nata (a local custard tart.) You know – the necessities! Here are some other initial thoughts about this comfortable place:

Where is it?  Nearby is the westernmost point of continental Europe.  Portugal’s history of wandering the globe from this launching point is making a lot more sense.  (Reminder: They had created quite an empire with a presence all over, including Indonesia, Brazil, Mozambique, and Macau.)

What does it look like?  Tiles.  Tiles.  Tiles.  Everywhere.  On the ground, on the facades, even as street art.  It is also hilly, which has partially been addressed with a variety of cable trolleys.  It also has very thin streets, which are partially addressed by public transportation looking more like minivans than buses in some neighbourhoods.  There are lots and lots of beautiful parks.  Some are small squares and some are large grand gestures of urban planning.  All are meticulous, with plenty of benches, a kiosk for coffee (or a glass of port), and plenty of flowers and greenery, even in November.  It mostly looks like a bustling city with lots of history behind every door and statue.

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Is there a major ‘claim to fame’?  Not sure how major this is to anyone else, but I’ve discovered vinho verde for the first time.  It translates to green wine, but more aptly young wine.  From what I’ve gathered, it is a wine that is produced and available within six months of the grapes being harvested. I don’t know how or why this is specifically a Portuguese thing.  I just know that I am happily enjoying it, perhaps more than my previous standby of Pinot Grigio (which isn’t available anyway.)  If you like dry white, then perhaps check the Portugal section of your local wine store. And note that it will be a corked bottle given that trees in Portugal are a MAJOR source of the world’s cork!

What else is it known for?  The Portuguese have a tradition of Fado music.  I was told that it can make the audience very sad.  Perhaps the tear-jerking was lost on me because I didn’t understand any lyrics, but I was quite blown away by the pure tone of the singer filling the room without a microphone, and the richness of the guitar playing.  Fado was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2011.  (I admit I had no idea this kind of list existed!)  In hindsight, we all did declare low energy and a desire to call it a night and go to bed, so maybe the ‘resignation, fatefulness, and melancholia’ did hit us?!  

More on Lisbon and Portugal as we keep exploring!

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