Korean Job Discussion Forums

[SPINOZA]

Been?

Gonna go for 5 days with my mother in August (yes - mother and I have made friends, thankfully, to those of you aware that we'd not spoken for 5 months).

I've always had a bit of a thing for Portugal and the Portuguese language and I'm looking forward to the trip.

Say anything whatsoever about Lisbon if you've been. Cheers.

[Tony_Balony]

I understand the Portuguese police don't fight crime if its rainy, dark or the mosquitoes are biting.

[SPINOZA]

Well, I went, and it was very nice - typical Southern European city really, a little like Rome, although not as old because most of it was destroyed by Europe's biggest ever Earthquake in 1755.

One thing noticeable is how quiet it is. A curious lack of cars in a capital city.

Portuguese is the weirdest language ever! There's a lot of mutual intelligibility with Spanish TO READ, but not to hear. It sounds like Russian. An English speaker will understand a lot of written Portuguese because of the shared Latin, but understand nothing spoken. See (or hear) for yourself - visit Portugal or Brazil and listen to a newsreader. It doesn't sound like a Romance language in the least.

Portuguese girls have big butts and jugs, although I regret to inform you I have no pics to prove it.

The Portuguese seem totally unlike the passionate, loud Spanish, Italians and French. Very reserved, often no eye contact with passers-by and no smile...but not unfriendly in conversation. You'd expect the like in northern Europe. Traditional Portuguese song, Fado ("far-doo"), is melancholy and observers say the Portuguese "soul is dark".

The climate is wonderful - cool, dry summer heat and mild winters. From the plane, the entire West coast of Portugal appeared to be one giant, remarkably unspoilt beach. Might be worth looking into property there, if you've a few quid.

I stood at the westernmost point of Eurasia - 30 minutes outside the city.

[Tiger Beer]

I got real familiar with Brazilian-Portuguese in Brazil...they have a TON of Portuguese jokes - they are the butt of almost every joke they got in Brazil.

[cazador83]

I was there in the summer of 2005, traveling alone. I had a Rick Steves' book on Lisbon at the time, and I had a great experience. I just walked through the city all day and took in all the sites and people. I remember going up a big elevator in the middle of the city somewhere (used to be used for businessmen to get to work or something? cant remember..but now its for tourists). I also went to the famous castle (i think it overlooks a river). I can't remember the name of the castle, but i think its the only one (or the main one) there. You could spend a lot of time just walking around the grounds of the castle, but there was also a concert that happened to be starting up when I got there. Some Afro-Portuguese singer. Actually, there are a lot of black people in Portugal. Ummm what else.. Oh yeah, there's this one part of town on the coast where they serve this famous pastry that goes with coffee. I totally forgot the name, but it was excellent. It's pretty close to a monastery, and also a huge monument to the "Portuguese Discoverers."

[cazador83]

oh yeah, i stayed in the cheap part of town (it talks about it im sure in any guide book out there) but while I was there..I got asked if I wanted to buy drugs (right in the middle of the square) and also got propositioned by 2 black prostitutes who couldnt have been over the age of 18.

[bucheon bum]

Ah yes, Lisboa. I was offered drugs there too. Pleasant, rather chilled city. I wouldn't mind going back some day. Portugal in general is nice.

[SPINOZA]