Portugal
"Europe's Port"
Western Europe’s outpost, blessed with a very long coastline. No wonder that, as early as 1415, the Portuguese hoisted the sails for epic journeys. To be the first to discover the ocean routes to India, Brazil, China and Japan. And to the eastern and western coasts of Africa as well. Outcome? A rich heritage of 850 years of encounters with distant cultures and peoples (Celts, Visigoths, Romans and Arabs). The result? A great number of artistic and archaeological treasures. Just as in Spain, a portion of the coastal regions – especially the Algarve – is sacrificed to mass tourism. And to the turbulent urbanization that goes with it. The counterbalance to this is the abundance of natural beauty and delightful cities. Along with the sunny climate and the great geographical diversity. And so, Portugal is an ideal destination for scores of tourists. Golf and water sports, in particular, are busily practiced there. From popular Porto to Moorish Evora de la Sintra, a green city dotted with gardens and villas. Even to the vineyards of the Douro. The demanding tourist finds numerous dwellings with character everywhere. Like the ‘turismo de habitaçao’ (private residences, from the authentic farm to the luxurious country estate), ‘hotéis de charme’ or ‘Pousadas’.
Eating and Drinking
Portuguese cooking is made up of quite filling, seasoned dishes, made with a base of olive oil and lots of herbs and spices. It is authentic, rustic cooking. We strongly advise you to try the meat, fish and seafood specialities. Breakfast tends to be rather small in comparison to lunch and evening meal, which tend to be substantial. Lunch is served at around midday and rarely after 1pm, the evening meal is served at around 8pm and rarely after 9pm. As well as the regional specialities, you must try one of the national dishes, “cozido a portuguesa”, which is a soup made of vegetables and different meats and is served all over the country. To accompany a meal, we recommend you try a good Portuguese wine from the north of the country, e.g. from the Douro Valley or Dao Valley. Portuguese wines are exported throughout the entire world and are becoming more and more popular.
Travelling by Car
If you are driving from central Europe, the route will often be via France and Northern Spain, according to different routes. The largest part of the journey is motorway. In Portugal, the motorway and main road network is quite extensive. However, as in other large European towns, you will often need patience when driving on the outskirts of Lisbon, Porto, etc., as the traffic can be very heavy. If you decide to plan your journey to avoid large towns and main roads, make sure you get a good road map as sometimes the sign posting can be lacking. The motorways are more often than not, payable by toll (in cash or Portuguese credit card). In the built up areas, the maximum legal speed limit is 50km/hr, 90km/hr in fast lanes and 120km/hr on the motorways. The alcohol limit is 0.5 per mille. Otherwise the same laws apply as in the rest of Europe.
