Everything you need to know about Portugal: 10 little-known facts

Many of you enjoyed the article “Discovering Portugal: 10 things you didn’t know”. The aim of this article was to help you discover things you didn’t know about this beautiful Iberian country. A goal that seems to have been achieved, since the majority of you have told me that you’ve learned new things about Portugal thanks to this article, and I’m delighted. So I’d like to offer you a little RAB with this new article. You’ll probably be familiar with some of the points covered, but I hope to surprise you and that by the end of this article you’ll know even more about this magnificent country.

1. What doPortugal, Champagne, Lady Gaga, surfing and NASA have in common?

You’ve probably already spotted it on the shelves of souvenir stores in Portugal. It can be in the form of a handbag, belt, wallet… What is it? Cork, of course. It’s ubiquitous in Portugal, and for good reason! Portugal is the country with the most cork oak trees in the world, and is also the world’s leading exporter.

Now that I’ve told you that, have you figured out what it has to do with Champagne? Yes, of course, it’s the corks! Despite the development of plastic corks, cork is still the preferred material for cork stoppers. More than half of all champagne bottles have a cork stopper produced in Portugal. Indeed, the great names in Champagne use these corks, including Dom Pérignon, Veuve Clicquot, Moët et Chandon..

But even if it’s still the main product, cork isn’t just used for corks, it’s also used for accessories, shoes, furniture, flooring, walls… And for more surprising things like..:

• a cork dress created for the famous singer Lady Gaga by the designer Teresa Martins,
• a cork surfboard for the great surfer Mc Namara, who surfed one of the world’s biggest waves at Nazaré,
• for NASA rocket insulation.

So cork has a bright future ahead of it, and is one of the mainstays of the Portuguese economy.

Cork harvesting in Portugal

2. The “palito”: it sounds like the name of a dance or a cocktail, but what is it really?

The “palito” … but what is it? Those who speak Portuguese will quickly understand what I’m talking about. For the rest of you, take a guess!

In Portugal, they’re usually present on restaurant tables, and if they’re not, the Portuguese are sure to ask for some at the end of their meal. Have you guessed what I’m talking about?

It’s the “toothpick”! The French term is much more barbaric and less glamorous than the word in Portuguese, but the toothpick is widely used in Portugal, unlike in France, where it’s more commonly used to prick olives or cherry tomatoes as an aperitif 😉 So, when you go to a restaurant in Portugal, at the end of the meal, look at your table neighbors and I’m pretty sure you’ll see Portuguese people armed with their palito cleaning up 😉

The palito.

3. Snow plough or schuss?

“I skied in Portugal! The day I said that to my family and friends they thought I was joking and replied: “There’s no snow in Portugal”. Wrong, my friends! Portugal’s Serra da Estrela offers snow-covered landscapes and even ski slopes. Sure, there aren’t many slopes, and they’re not Olympic-size, but they’re good enough for a day’s fun with friends.

If you’re ever in the area, be sure to hit the slopes, see the region’s magnificent dogs and, for cheese lovers, try some good Queijo Serra da Estrela.

Skiing in Serra da Estrela.

4. Porto’s Lello bookshop: the wizards’ bookshop.

If you read my blog and Facebook posts carefully, you should already know some of the information I’m about to share with you. It’s news that will particularly delight fans of the little bespectacled wizard – I’m talking about Harry Potter, of course. And why is that? Because in Portugal, you’ll be able to see the bookshop that inspired the author of Harry Potter to design the Hogwarts library. The Lello bookshop in Porto was voted the third most beautiful bookshop in the world, no less! Even if you’re not a Harry Potter fan, this bookshop is a must-see. Its beauty is breathtaking, I assure you!

The Lello bookshop in Porto.

On the other hand, if you’d like to be inspired as a writer(or if you’d simply like a cup of coffee with a pastel de nata), I invite you to take a trip to the famous Majestic café, also in Porto, where JW Rowling wrote the adventures of the famous Harry Potter. She used to sit in this café and find her inspiration there.

JW Rowling also drew inspiration from Portugal for the Hogwarts schoolchildren’s outfits, because if you look closely, Harry Potter’s schoolchildren’s costumes bear a striking resemblance to those of Portuguese students. Black cape, white shirt, tie and black suit for the boys and black cape, white shirt, black jacket and skirt for the girls.

On the left, Portuguese students, on the right, the two main Harry Potter protagonists.

5. Dinosaurs in Portugal.

Dinosaur tracks can still be found in Portugal. They can be seen near the magnificent Cape Espichel(Cabo Espichel in Portuguese) in Sesimbra, south of Lisbon. It’s a place I’m particularly fond of, and one that’s truly superb. The legs of these dinosaurs are anchored in the cliffs around the beach. They’re not easy to see because they’re on the cliff, but it’s impressive!

Cabo Espichel in Sesimbra.

6. Portugal: a green country.

portugalis one of the “greenest” countries in the world, thanks to its renewable energies. A forerunner in this field, Portugal has been using green energy for over 40 years, enabling it to produce 56% of its electricity from natural resources. 27% comes from hydroelectric dams and 22% from wind turbines.

A few months ago, in March 2018, for 139 hours, i.e. almost 6 days, electricity in Portugal was completely provided by renewable energies. In fact, they reached 103.6%, meaning that Portugal produced more energy than it consumed. Portugal’s goal is to have all its electricity consumption covered by renewable energies by 2040.

Wind farm in Portugal (photo credit: ecosources)

7. The Lisbon labyrinth.

Under your feet, in Lisbon’s Baixa Chiado district, a number of Roman galleries intertwine. If you’re lucky, you’ll have the opportunity to discover them, and I can tell you it’s well worth the detour!

These almost 2,000-year-old galleries, which date back to the Roman occupation and are fairly “secret”, only open to the public twice a year(in April, to celebrate Monuments and Sites Day, and in September, for the European Heritage Days). You’ll need to get your ticket well in advance, as there are few places available and many of you want to get to know these galleries. Tickets can be booked on the websites of the Lisbon Museum, Egeac(Entreprise de Gestion et d’Equipements d’Animation Culturelle) and Lisbon City Hall. There’s no point trying to get in without a reservation. You won’t get in!

Twice a year, firefighters empty the water that floods these galleries so that visits can be made. Entrance to the Roman galleries is via a trapdoor that opens in the middle of the rua da Conceição. The tour lasts 20 minutes and passes through labyrinthine galleries. This is one of Lisbon’s most exclusive and original experiences.

Trapdoor to the Roman caves in Lisbon.

8. Bom Dia, Boa Tarde or Boa Noite?

Should I say “Bom dia”, “Boa Tarde” or “Boa Noite”? Are you a bit confused? Then yes, I imagine you all know:

• in the morning, we say “Bom dia”
• in the afternoon, “Boa Tarde
• in the evening, “Boa Noite”.

So far, we all agree, but at 12:30, what do you say? At 7pm, what do you say? You probably hesitate a few times. What you may not have known is that there’s a simple rule

• “Bom dia” must be used until you have lunch. So if you have lunch at 12 o’clock, after that time you say “Boa tarde”, whereas if you only have lunch at 2 o’clock, you only say “Boa tarde” after 2 o’clock.
• As for the “Boa Noite” rule, it’s simpler: you say it as soon as the sun has set and it’s dark. Before sunset, it’s “Boa Tarde”, after sunset it’s “Boa Noite”. So you’ll say “Boa Noite” earlier in winter than in summer.

9. Bolacha de Maria” cookies: not so Portuguese after all!

Those of you who carefully read my blog posts will already know this information, since I mentioned it in my article on gastronomy, but I’m sure that many of you don’t know what I’m about to reveal to you, and you’ll probably even be surprised.

You’ve all heard of the famous “bolacha de Maria” cookie(if you haven’t, that’s a serious matter and I can’t do anything more for you, so go and buy some in a supermarket !) You’ll find this packet of cookies EVERYWHERE in Portugal, in every Portuguese kitchen and in every Portuguese speciality department in France. Just try it out: go to a Portuguese friend’s house, open their cupboards and you’re sure to find a packet of bolacha de Maria. It’s an intergenerational cake, and everyone from babies to the elderly nibbles on these cookies in Portugal. What you didn’t know? Well, take a seat, you may be speechless, but this “Bolacha de Maria” cookie, which translates as “Maria’s cake” (Maria being a very common first name in Portugal), isn’t Portuguese at all! WHAT?!?!!?!!

That’s right! These cookies have English origins. In 1874, they were created in honor of the marriage of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, to Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Romania, daughter of Emperor Alexander II of Russia. The cake bears the Duchess’s first name, and the ornament around the edge of the cake is said to represent the embroidery on the Duchess’s dress. The cookie was adopted by many countries, notably Portugal, where it is the most popular.

The famous “Bolacha de Maria” cookies

10. Portugal has Europe’s longest!

If you’re a “Portugal Lover“, it’s almost certain that you’re already familiar with Lisbon’s two must-see bridges. The emblematic Pont du 25 avril, which looks like San Francisco’s Golden Bridge and is dominated by a Cristo Rei similar to Rio de Janeiro ‘sCristo Redentor, and the bridge named after the famous Portuguese navigator Vasco de Gama.

However, what you may not have known is that the latter, the Vasco de Gama Bridge, spans 17.2km across the Tagus, making it the longest bridge in Europe! Construction of the bridge began in 1995, and it was opened in 1998 for that year’s Universal Exhibition. 1998 also marked the ^500thanniversary of Vasco da Gama’s discovery of the sea route from Europe to India, hence the name chosen for the bridge.

The gigantic Vasco de Gama Bridge (photo credit: lusoponte)

In conclusion

There’s always more to know about Portugal! This article, I hope, has enabled you to discover new things about this beautiful country, some quite well known, others a little less so.

If, like me, you love Portugal, you’ll be thirsty to discover more every day you’re there, and in every field: discovering a new town, a new tradition, a new store, a new beach, a new word in Portuguese, a new legend… Because knowing a country, in my opinion, isn’t just knowing its history, it’s opening yourself up to all the things that are part of that country. The verb “to open up” is important because it’s YOU who has to make this effort, and it’s one of the secrets to blossoming fully in your new life in Portugal.

For those of you who want to know a little more about Portugal, take a look at the article “Discovering Portugal: 10 things you didn’t know”, you might like it.

Are you curious too, and want to know everything there is to know about Portugal?

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