The adventure of being Portuguese #Portugal
Portugal, Portugal, Portugal … this distant European country, located at the end of the continent, or as it was believed in the past – is the end of the world. I would have never guessed that fate would bring me here to create memories and emotions in this Pyrenean idyll for five months.
It all started with my ambition that once I study a master’s degree, I will do it to only participate in the Erasmus + program. Thanks to this program, I ended up in my previous 5 unforgettable months in Italy, where my home was Florence.
I have to admit that I did not know anything about the country before I go, except that Lisbon is the capital city, Porto is the second largest city, and in 2017 they won the Eurovision. So, I moved to the sunny Lisbon or as the Portuguese call it – Lijboa.
The city is spread over 7 hills that believe me … will keep you in excellent physical shape if you are commuting like me – without any public transport. They have the affectionate Tagus River, which makes good company for all residents and visitors of the city, and if you decide to ride a boat along the river, you will enjoy the most beautiful sunsets over the Atlantic Ocean. But let’s stop talking about this unique city, I will give the right attention in the following publications.
What did I learn from living in the Portuguese capital and traveling around 12 more cities and 2 islands? The answer is, I really do not know how to do it right, because after so many new things I realized, I met interesting and ambitious people, just the whole experience was indispensable! But with all my diligence and enthusiasm, I will try to infect you with the lightness and love of life that the Portuguese have brought me to.
So, what can you expecte from the “The adventure of being Portuguese” cycle? Well, I will be spamming with a lot of ocean photos, museums, nature, history, pasteis de nata (a typical Portuguese dessert), more pasteis de nata, a little bit of fado (typical Portuguese music), incredible panoramic views to amazing cities, Portuguese tiles, curious facts, and have I already mentioned a lot of pasteis de nata?
I hope you will be interested because I can guarantee that the history of Portugal is extremely complex, as they are at the edge of the continent, they are the entrance door to Europe. As one of the most furious colonists in history, they are now leading the world rankings as the most hospitable and pacifist nations. Different type of cultures and religions have passed through their small territory, from the Romans, through the Arabs to the creation and proclamation of an independent state, have survived one of the fiercest dictatorships (of which little is known) and have reached today’s Portugal.
The Portuguese are very interesting people with even more interesting views on life and the world. Everyone is infected with this sweet and depressing saudade, but exactly this makes them different and unique.
That’s why I accepted the mission to spread their advice, which they repeated to me many times, “Where are you hurrying to? Look at the view in front of you, the colorful buildings and the endless blue of the ocean, nestled in the beautiful sun… isn’t it perfect and at the same time so simple and beautiful? Just like our lives! “.
My question is … Who is ready to explore Portugal with me?
