I moved from the US to Portugal about 18 months ago, and it's been the best decision ever. Couldn't agree more with your video, and it's spot on in it's assessment! I'm amazed everyday at the genuine kindness of the Portuguese people, and the overall amazing quality of life. Best of luck in your adventure.
I'm a single mom in my fifties thinking of leaving USA for Portugal. I don't have any special job skills and currentlyonly speak English-- do you think it's possible and reasonable for me to belive i can find employment and afford to raise my son? Trying to see if my dream is just that or if it is achievable ❤
@@michellekotarski1593 hey. Portuguese here. I'd say it's totally doable, almost everyone speaks English reasonably well so language is a non-issue imo. If you have any questions just let me know :)
@@michellekotarski1593 Heyy, i don’t mean to be discouraging but it’s not THAT easy.. also, a lot of the americans coming here are digital nomads getting a US salary, which translates to a good amount of money in portuguese territory, so that’s a big contributing factor for the this positive feedback. Because if you’re getting a portuguese salary maybe it won’t be such a smooth ride. So just keep that in mind. So if you’re thinking about it, do a bit of research beforehand, just wanna give a heads-up because at the end of the day, some complications may arise. And I love my country and it’s great hearing that other people love it too 🥰 the language barrier is still a bit of barrier, but not much. If you decide to follow through with it, wish you great luck 🍀, and I believe you can do it
Dear Dave, it is totally forbidden to burn any kind of garbage. In order to burn residues of woody material, it is necessary to request an authorization from the ICNF (Nature and Forestry Conservation Institute), which depends on the location of the burning and the weather conditions.
O melhor lugar para conhecer realmente o interior de Portugal e seus cenarios estranhos e pitorescos esta na viajem pela estrada da Quinta dos Castanheiros no Mosteirinho entre as cidades de Mirandela e Vinhais. Cenario Bucolico e pitoresco muito lindo e complitamente estranho e sombrio. Vale a pena a viajem entre Abril e Junho quando os castanheiros estao floridos.
@@Press2GetTheCookie mano portugal é na sua maioria rural como é que dizes que não é comum??? o litoral é um mundo à parte do resto por isso sim é comum aproveitar as queimadas para queimar lixo
@@CaspertheKiller tendo vivido tanto no litoral como no interior do país por 20 anos posso confirmar que nunca vi ninguém a queimar lixo. No norte isso não é comum de todo… talvez seja mais comum no sul do país?
We Portuguese have lived in this LGBTIQ socialist orgy since 1974, desperate for a better life, where children do not learn in schools, sodomy and other disruptive sexual practices within the scope of gender ideology; better salaries, etc... and this "paratrooper" praises the price of beer, food, house remodeling, stay here and work and you'll see how good it is to live in Portugal!...😂🤣
I absolutely agree! If Portuguese were not born Portuguese they would be born Greek. I feel we are the most similar cultures. People think Italians and Portuguese are similar, which they are but not like Greeks and Portuguese! For one we have a great history and now are poor European countries. That sure molds us.
@@klimtkahlo The first time I start to notice the cultural similarities , was when I saw a Greek old lady, they look exactly the same as a Portuguese ones 🤣
As a Portuguese living in Asia for more than 7y, it’a really interesting to see how “international” Portugal is right now and see my country through your lens. Enjoy Portugal 🎉 the push thing happens to Portuguese people whenever we see it in English too 😅
@@diogopedro1991 Mas acho que isso é uma tendência em muitas partes do mundo, não apenas em Portugal. O governo, e quem o elege, é que é responsável pelas medidas que adota é que promovem ou não a descaracterização do país.
@@pedrofaria6236 eu adoro! Vivi 7 anos na China e agora estou no Camboja. A Ásia é enorme e cheia de oportunidades, se fores flexível e gostares de aventura é o lugar ideal.
É, estamos tão internacionais que os vistos Gold deu merda, as fronteiras abertas trazem bandidos, violadores, burlões e gente de merda. Ganda Portugal ahn?
As an american I eat dinner at 8 pm. I must be Portuguese at heart. 😊 I visited for the first time last year and fell in love with the people and the country. I can't wait to go back.
We Portuguese have lived in this LGBTIQ socialist orgy since 1974, desperate for a better life, where children do not learn in schools, sodomy and other disruptive sexual practices within the scope of gender ideology; better salaries, etc... and this "paratrooper" praises the price of beer, food, house remodeling, stay here and work and you'll see how good it is to live in Portugal!...😂🤣
As a Portuguese person who lived in the UK for 5 years, I could never get used to the push/puxe issue 🤣 The biggest culture shocks for me were: - Not having blinds on windows! Blackout curtains simply aren't enough! I'm used to sleep in 100% darkness and I couldn't do that during those 5 years 😵💫 - Not having a bidet! Bidets are so handy. I really missed them. - Not being able to dry clothes outside. Having to cover all the radiators with clothes in the winter because our flat didn't have a drying machine was a nightmare. - It was much easier to find vegetarian/vegan food in London, compared to Portugal. It's definitely difficult to find nice vegetable side dishes, other than boring salad. But there's always vegetable soup as an option!!
I been 2 years in nottingham. I have been in 2 flats, renting a room. In both houses may landlords allowed me to tap the windows with cardboard to reach 90% of darkness. 2 years of nightshift worker. All life used to sleep in 100% darkness. The 2 worst years of my life about being able to sleep. And guess what, in england our port wine has time limit and taste like vinager if we reach the time limit, when true port wine gets better how long it gets... Everything taste bad in england store products and in the restaurants. I found an angolan-portuguese restaurant, and become the only restaurant i been client. I do not miss the uk food. And in england house fires are possible, we can die burned alive because they use wood on the housing structure. They dont use concrete to keep your family safe. Their houses can burn and kill your family.
We Portuguese have lived in this LGBTIQ socialist orgy since 1974, desperate for a better life, where children do not learn in schools, sodomy and other disruptive sexual practices within the scope of gender ideology; better salaries, etc... and this "paratrooper" praises the price of beer, food, house remodeling, stay here and work and you'll see how good it is to live in Portugal!...😂🤣
@@ricardoxavier827 We Portuguese have lived in this LGBTIQ socialist orgy since 1974, desperate for a better life, where children do not learn in schools, sodomy and other disruptive sexual practices within the scope of gender ideology; better salaries, etc... and this "paratrooper" praises the price of beer, food, house remodeling, stay here and work and you'll see how good it is to live in Portugal!...😂🤣
Having moved to London (from Portugal, too) for three years, I absolutely agree with you on the matter of blinds. Sleeping in the summer was very nearly out of the question; I had to tape up old cut up carboard boxes against the window panes to get some shut-eye!
@@ricardoxavier827 Does store bought milk taste a little off to you? It did to me when I moved to London, and Portuguese milk suddenly tasted a whole lot better when I moved back.
The gas pump doesn't start automatically, the person inside the gas station has a panel with all the pumps and it receives an alert when the hose is taken out of the support with the cashier activating the pump
It's nice to see how much you feel happy here in Portugal. I hope we can count on you (and people like you) to bring some new ideas to Portugal. Thank you for choosing this country your new home!
I love that packages of toilet paper or any big package have handles for better handling. Very functional, and intelligent designs. Go portuguese designers!!!
O melhor lugar para conhecer realmente o interior de Portugal e seus cenarios estranhos e pitorescos esta na viajem pela estrada da Quinta dos Castanheiros no Mosteirinho entre as cidades de Mirandela e Vinhais. Cenario Bucolico e pitoresco muito lindo e complitamente estranho e sombrio. Vale a pena a viajem entre Abril e Junho quando os castanheiros estao floridos.
We Portuguese have lived in this LGBTIQ socialist orgy since 1974, desperate for a better life, where children do not learn in schools, sodomy and other disruptive sexual practices within the scope of gender ideology; better salaries, etc... and this "paratrooper" praises the price of beer, food, house remodeling, stay here and work and you'll see how good it is to live in Portugal!...😂🤣
It will be 17 years this month since moving to Portugal from England and America. I agree with about 95% of what you say but I would live nowhere else. The people are so friendly and the scenery is magnificent, and the teenagers are nice and friendly, no baseball caps and no waistbands down to their knees!!!
@@brunaramalhogalamba4884 those type of teenagers exist in every country, children that weren't given the proper education, but they are a minority for sure!
O melhor lugar para conhecer realmente o interior de Portugal e seus cenarios estranhos e pitorescos esta na viajem pela estrada da Quinta dos Castanheiros no Mosteirinho entre as cidades de Mirandela e Vinhais. Cenario Bucolico e pitoresco muito lindo e complitamente estranho e sombrio. Vale a pena a viajem entre Abril e Junho quando os castanheiros estao floridos.
@@brunaramalhogalamba4884 A maior parte não se veste assim, só em certas zonas e é mais comum em certa etnia. Não vale a pena rebater porque trabalho com adolescentes.
So many problematic teens in Lisbon. We left Portugal because we got harassed by teenagers who were smoking weed in front of our door. They were there every day during school times, skipping class. When we asked them to move somewhere else they physically attacked us and tried to break into our apartment. We couldn’t even leave the house for groceries without fearing for our safety, so we left…
Regarding the veggies, I will most definitely disagree. Almost all our dishes are filled with veggies, and most importantly we eat a lot of soup which is almost always either exclusively veggie and occasionally has some meat or fish. But we do eat a lot of vegetables in general, although you are right that simple vegetable sides apart from salads are generally uncommon in restaurants.
O melhor lugar para conhecer realmente o interior de Portugal e seus cenarios estranhos e pitorescos esta na viajem pela estrada da Quinta dos Castanheiros no Mosteirinho entre as cidades de Mirandela e Vinhais. Cenario Bucolico e pitoresco muito lindo e complitamente estranho e sombrio. Vale a pena a viajem entre Abril e Junho quando os castanheiros estao floridos. 🎉
I was looking for this comment. Having visited and lived in many different countries definitely I find more veggies in Portuguese restaurants, especially compared to USA
That really depends on the area of the country. Last year I was traveling to Serra da Estrela during the summer, and I was so surprised that I couldn't get something as basic as a mixed salad anywhere. Having lived mostly between Lisbon and Algarve, that was a first for me. And the options were just meat most of the time. 😅
We Portuguese have lived in this LGBTIQ socialist orgy since 1974, desperate for a better life, where children do not learn in schools, sodomy and other disruptive sexual practices within the scope of gender ideology; better salaries, etc... and this "paratrooper" praises the price of beer, food, house remodeling, stay here and work and you'll see how good it is to live in Portugal!...😂🤣
hi, i'm Portuguese and I agree with what you said but there's one thing that's wrong, but maybe you don't know, at gas stations it's not automatic, but in most of them the people who work there, give authorization right away because there's no habit of people leaving without paying , it´s also impossible not to pay because there are always surveillance cameras, and if you leave without paying the police will receive both the license plate and the footage, and you will automatically be unable to use another gas station.
The light switch being on the outside of the bathroom stems from the notion that old installations didn't do well when exposed to humidity for many years. As for the elevators , law is you can't build a more than 3 story building without one .
We Portuguese have lived in this LGBTIQ socialist orgy since 1974, desperate for a better life, where children do not learn in schools, sodomy and other disruptive sexual practices within the scope of gender ideology; better salaries, etc... and this "paratrooper" praises the price of beer, food, house remodeling, stay here and work and you'll see how good it is to live in Portugal!...😂🤣
The lightswitch outside the bathroom is standard across all of Europe. The reason is safety, as inside the bathroom humidity can enter the switch. Any electrical outlet inside the bathroom will have double insulation.
A faulty lightswitch installation can lead to electrocution , especially if touched while standing in a water-filled bathtub! (eg ground not connected etc!) Ergo the old law, all fixtures outside and an outlet will have an inductor (choke) to limit the current to the appliance such as an electric razor being used in the bathroom. By the way most places use 240 volts at 50 Hz. Hz = pronounced hurts!...it sure does!) Some outlets have their own local fuse and switch.
Dave I am a UK Portuguese resident of 15 years and you have absolutely nailed it, in fact when you were talking about the dogs barking, it set my two off. The first month I was here I made an appointment with a builder for 10 am Monday morning, no show, no phone call, no answer when I called so i just wrote the guy off. I was in a bar in Lagos the follwing Thursday and calm as you like he called to tell me he was at my house and asked where was I. Now i don't worry about making appointments there is little point. I just wait for the phone call saying he/she/they have arrived. Like you after the most fantastic 15 years here I love the place, I have chilled so much, I had a massage the other day and the masseur said that I showed no symptoms of stress.
I'm a handyman and quite often get folk ringing me up saying they heard "I'm the one who turns up two days in a row/makes arrangements and sticks to them" lol
The push-puxe thing is way too real man😭. As a guy from Lisbon living in England for 4 years, my English is at the level of someone from here in Leicester, I even picked up the accent to the point they don't think I'm foreign if I don't say so, but I still have to stop in front of a door for a second or 2 to make sure I'm doing the correct thing😭😂
I'm Portuguese, I've been living in Portugal my entire life and this is the first time I heard about people burning trash especially plastic. To say that it is common here seems like a big overstatement to me Maybe in the most rural underdeveloped areas. If you are anywhere near a city, that would be extremely rare
O melhor lugar para conhecer realmente o interior de Portugal e seus cenarios estranhos e pitorescos esta na viajem pela estrada da Quinta dos Castanheiros no Mosteirinho entre as cidades de Mirandela e Vinhais. Cenario Bucolico e pitoresco muito lindo e complitamente estranho e sombrio. Vale a pena a viajem entre Abril e Junho quando os castanheiros estao floridos.
@@module79l28 maybe you right but if a was an American and wanted to come to Portugal this channel in general have all the honest information i needed to make a informed decision and don't be extremely "off" with the culture and costumes of Portugal...for the good or the bad.
You shouldn't judge all country based on Lisbon and Porto. Even less Lisbon that its so much international than the rest of the country. In many aspects it differs a lot. Trust me im in Portugal since 1999 😅 we tend to receive well foreigners in all parts of the country ❤️feel free to reach out if you wanna visit thw Alentejo region btw
You brought back some memories of last year for me. I drove down some small streets in Obidos and Portimao and were so narrow that we had to fold in the side mirrors to make it through. :) I handled it like a Champ! I just considered it part of the adventure! :)
@@anacasanova7350A sério? Mas que raça canina é essa? Provavelmente igual aos cães americanos, pois é parece que os de origem portuguesa são diferentes 🤫🤔😁😄☺️
Got to say I have encountered most problems after living here for about 6 months 😂. And I would like to say: when it comes to culture shock, what you have mentioned also shocked me as a Chinese lol. Another thing is when you ordering desert in a McDonald's, the vendor machine/terminal gives you an option, literately says "deliver it later", while actually, it means "I will grab it later"... Took me 30 minutes to realize my desert won't be delivered 😂
O melhor lugar para conhecer realmente o interior de Portugal e seus cenarios estranhos e pitorescos esta na viajem pela estrada da Quinta dos Castanheiros no Mosteirinho entre as cidades de Mirandela e Vinhais. Cenario Bucolico e pitoresco muito lindo e complitamente estranho e sombrio. Vale a pena a viajem entre Abril e Junho quando os castanheiros estao floridos.
That is great! I have two problems reading stuff, one is the translation, and the other is having to duck down to find where things are written. I'm a giant. My wife is Asian and descendent from Portugal so she is even short for being Asian. #oddcouple 😂
@@therealbenjaminfinch parking is also a huge pain for me… it is hard for me to understand how to parking properly as sometimes google translate does not do its job as I am expecting. It is till my wife arrived I feel more “safer” as at least I have someone to at least discuss lol. Would say Portuguese people are so nice but I am easy to get panic if I cannot understand what they are trying to say. For instance, there was one day an elder was approaching me, saying something in Portuguese. I cannot understand it but I am 90% sure he mentioned Ukraine because he then made a pose like he was holding a assaults rifle and making a gunfire sound: “dadadada”. The thing I do not understand is: whether he is mocking me because the president of China was visiting Russia in that week or it is because I was wearing a green hoodie which looks like a military uniform 😂. In the end, we shook our hands with a big smile but still I don’t know what he was trying to say 😂
I laughed so hard at "nobody answers the phone" and "dogs barking all the time" xD nothing could be more true here in Portugal. You can buy some medications on some supermarkets like Continente or Pingo Doce.
We Portuguese have lived in this LGBTIQ socialist orgy since 1974, desperate for a better life, where children do not learn in schools, sodomy and other disruptive sexual practices within the scope of gender ideology; better salaries, etc... and this "paratrooper" praises the price of beer, food, house remodeling, stay here and work and you'll see how good it is to live in Portugal!...😂🤣
Very good review - fair and honest. We natives face pretty much the same issues but I guess it's harder for foreigners. Bem-vindos a Portugal! we usually say with a smile... you´ll get used to ti :D
Dave, I happened on to one of your videos, and enjoyed it very much. My wife and I are frequent travelers, and Portugal has been one of our favorite stops over the years. Your observations about what to do, what not to do, and what to enjoy in Portugal are spot on. Many of your observations about what not to do as a visitor in Portugal (particularly for Americans) are just common courtesy and apply to many other cultures as well. Anyway, thank you for the tips. We've subscribed, and your content has and will continue to influence our own channel (welltravelledlife). Keep up the good work.
As a portuguese I can say that everything you said is very accurate. Congratulations for your amazing work and for the respect you show when you have to describe a negative thing in Portugal, you are way more respectful than portuguese people. Obrigado
O melhor lugar para conhecer realmente o interior de Portugal e seus cenarios estranhos e pitorescos esta na viajem pela estrada da Quinta dos Castanheiros no Mosteirinho entre as cidades de Mirandela e Vinhais. Cenario Bucolico e pitoresco muito lindo e complitamente estranho e sombrio. Vale a pena a viajem entre Abril e Junho quando os castanheiros estao floridos.
The nobody answering phones was spot on ! Good luck in trying to schedule a doctors appointment in an hospital or something related to public office. It’s like nobody is working there at all. My wife one day spent three hours trying to call the hospital in Faro at the south of Portugal to schedule a visit and during that time nobody picked up the phone. And if by any miracle you get someone to answer , they just re-direct you to another phone number for what you are specifically calling and then…you guess it, nobody answers that one for sure. I’m a Portuguese illustrator and I try my best not work in Portugal at all because the whole phone thing and the bureaucracy is just not worth the time.
True , Luis Peres .but don't worry will change soon ... Portuguese, the cause of all bad things , moving out and all nationalities moving in ....we will have an American situation soon. All mixtures and separated neighbourhoods to accommodate all different cultures that come to a country , and comment on everything that is different from their country . Why do they come ? If their country is so much better . And at least I commend you , you go because you don't like your country. You leaving is valid and well done . Quem está mal : muda- se . Well done
@@idab6864 to me it´s still is the worst thing of living here. Other than that it´s actually a great place to be. Worth it just for the scenery alone, particularly for creative people who do creative stuff for a living like me and don´t need to work in Portugal at all. 99% of my illustration clients are outside Portugal and it´s been like that for 15 years now since I started working online.
@@milualbuquerque8138 i do live here, what I don´t do is working here. :) I´ve been an illustrator for 30 years, 15 of those working part-time and working for a PT company at the same time. Then about 15 years ago, I just went fully freelance online with my illustration stuff and right now 99% of my clients are outside Portugal, so I don´t even have the need to look for work at this point. There are some exceptions in Portugal with companies that are great to work with as an illustrator though. For example the Areal Editora is a place where it does not feel I´m working in this country at all and it feels like I'm doing artwork for my regular international clients. So, in general let´s hope things change, particularly when it comes to the bureaucracy in Portugal.
Guys we don't buy water to drink at home. We have tap water for that. Only in some places with very old plumbing people resort to buying water jugs, but everywhere tap water is good to drink
O melhor lugar para conhecer realmente o interior de Portugal e seus cenarios estranhos e pitorescos esta na viajem pela estrada da Quinta dos Castanheiros no Mosteirinho entre as cidades de Mirandela e Vinhais. Cenario Bucolico e pitoresco muito lindo e complitamente estranho e sombrio. Vale a pena a viajem entre Abril e Junho quando os castanheiros estao floridos.
This video is so spot on! Although I generally enjoy living here (I moved from the US to Portugal just over a year ago), the incessant dogs barking and most people not picking up their dogs poop are two things I have not been able to get used to. Everyone in my family has been attacked by dogs as we have been out walking as well. The dog culture was definitely not something I was expecting to find as culturally shocking.
O melhor lugar para conhecer realmente o interior de Portugal e seus cenarios estranhos e pitorescos esta na viajem pela estrada da Quinta dos Castanheiros no Mosteirinho entre as cidades de Mirandela e Vinhais. Cenario Bucolico e pitoresco muito lindo e complitamente estranho e sombrio. Vale a pena a viajem entre Abril e Junho quando os castanheiros estao floridos. 🎉
We thinking about changing it because of English speakers. We remember that we have an agreement with England and an old alliance. Will come soon at we ll change our dictionary not to cause confusion . We have changed a lot already to accommodate the African coun tries and Brasil...so why not for English. The world most used language for travellers. Makes sense that proposal for change: Puxe if used as a sign on doors will mean the same as English "push "... to simplify things for foreigners and to show our Frin dliness...
Great. I’m happy your enjoying my country. There are other major, major differences that from a Portuguese point of view (that’s has stayed in the States and travel all around) between the US and Portugal (by the way, there are supermarkets that sell no prescription drugs ). Befor all You are absolute right about fast food places, they are much worse in the Us, even the service is much different. The cities are so different. Major two way avenues everywhere, and much less walk friendly. Much less motorcycles, much less bicycles, much less public transport and over all, people seem much more distant and self centered. No roundabouts anywhere. No priority to the car that presents it self on your right. No normal traffic signs, that are common everywhere else in the world. And many more diferences that both you and I could not stop finding out if we could. I really love (most parts) of the US and it’s there are beautiful places to visit and travel through in both coasts, that I really miss, but I confess it would be very hard go get used to some cities like NY. Although I would happily live in DC or places like Charleston etc. Great video and please feel very welcome!
Btw - the hanging of clothes outside is not a lack of space thing, some people with big villas will still do this, to them it's a hygiene thing: the general understanding is that drying laundry inside will make the house damp and more prone to mold (same for the clothes, that don't get aired properly). I still find the visual weird though...! lol
So right about the McD's, the beef is real and tastes delicious and also they serve (in summer of 2022) three different soups as a side instead of fries (which are also better) Also add to the driving difference...cars can't have tinted windows and don't ever drive with your fog lights on unless its foggy.
You can buy aspirins in parapharmacies in the supermarkets. But in general you should avoid selfmedication, that is why you should go to the pharmacy where a professional can advise you and they have over the counter medication
That is such a strange concept to Americans who walk into stores in the us with every variety of medicine for basic things like colds and allergies so easily. Even pharmaceutical companies advertise on tv telling you to ask your doctor to prescribe certain medicines. Americans think they can self medicate🙃
It's always nice to see my country from the eyes of a foreigner 😅 After one year of living there, I think your description is very accurate. But, just a small correction regarding the pharmacy and over the counter medicine: you don't necessarily need to go to the pharmacy for simple medicine. The supermarket brand Continente has its own "pharmacy" that's called Wells. If I'm not mistaken, other Portuguese supermarkets also have their own stores for this purpose and usually you can find them either inside the supermarket itself or somewhere close by (inside of a shopping center). In this stores you can buy any medical product that does not need a prescription. This stores are specially cool during weekends and holidays when most pharmacies are closed :)
Wow most pharmacies are closed on weekends in Portugal ? In USA they are open 24/7 and they are everywhere.When I lived in Lisbon I couldn't get used to no central heat in the Winter and no fans or A/ C in the Summer. Another issue is the fact that you can't get emergency care at the nearest hospital. Ambulances can drive by a private hospital with an ED but won't stop until they reach a public hospital which can be a few km away. Washer in the kitchen is another pet peeve for me. The list is long, enough said.
@@matildesantos4215 , of course you have in USA pharmacy's 24/7, you people pay for it, in an emergency in USA , if you do not have health insurance you will pay a fortune to get attended in a hospital. In Portugal you can have an health insurance if you want, if you don't want, you will pay at hospital A&E a charge to get attended.And well, you live my dear on a 1st world country, right? Portugal is the 3rd world in Europe , so , you still have some benefits though , like , you want air con and heather's, you need to pay for it, know you want cheap and be treated like a queen? It will not happen anywhere.
@@matildesantos4215 Hi, Matilde! Most pharmacies in the small villages are open during business hours (around 9am to 8pm) from Monday through Friday. During the night and on weekends, they take turns. So in an area covered by 7-8 pharmacies, one of them will always be open at night and/or weekends. The amount of people that need a pharmacy during those periods just does not justify keep them all open.
We Portuguese have lived in this LGBTIQ socialist orgy since 1974, desperate for a better life, where children do not learn in schools, sodomy and other disruptive sexual practices within the scope of gender ideology; better salaries, etc... and this "paratrooper" praises the price of beer, food, house remodeling, stay here and work and you'll see how good it is to live in Portugal!...😂🤣
Hi first time here and I’m Portuguese so just one note we don’t hang the clothes because we don’t have space , we hang them because the Sun and the wind dries them
For the red light, not only a ticket, but you lose points in your driver license (4 which is a lot) and may even lose the license for 2 months to 2 years. It's a serious thing
It is true indeed, we portuguese don't usualy have vegetable sidings but you forgot to mention that vegetable soups are preety much a standart at every meal.
So nice to see you're having a good experience here. It was a bit of shock to me too when I spent my holydays in the USA in certain aspects, but I was expecting most of it, as the American culture is quite known in Portugal. Take care, Dave and enjoy life!
Great video. i'm from Porto and let me tell you that the best place to eat are what we call TASCO. Great food, great people and lots of beer. They don't have google reviews but if you ask someone, they will point you to one. Best of luck to you and to the channel.
@@erikahammerramalho1025 Wow! Really!!?? 😯 😮 No! 👎🏻 I'm actually not, but, ya! 👍🏻 My close friends are themselves Saudi w Khalliji 🇸🇦, Muslims, of course. Wow! I'm speechless about you.... 🤐 How can you convert when you're still a minor yet??!! 🤨 🙄 Did Your parents were awared of your situation???! Is it your friends who lead you to convert? Sorry for my honesty and my "Ignorance" 😕, but, to me, it's really weird..... 🧐
Great video Dave! I was laughing with some points, portuguese burocracy is a old classic that even for me, as a portuguese, annoys me so much and I never get used to it
I’m a Portuguese-born American living in Portugal for the last 3 years and it’s so true……I also have culture shocks due to the differences. I also pushed a lot whenever I saw puxe. lol everything is so different here.
😂 so true! Yes, unfortunately, some things are very sad. I am Portuguese and I don't understand either. I lived in England for several years and I know what you mean. Bt I love Portugal it's a beautiful country that could do so much more! Welcome!
Nice vid. Tip: the tap water in Portugal is totally safe to drink everywhere. The bottled water is just a business and marketing thing. Don't fall for it, unless for convenience on transportation.
I'm sorry to say this, but the reason why European McDonalds is better is because our standards are way higher - we're used to eating good quality fresh ingredients. If we had the bland stuff that is served in the US, these fast food chains simply would not make a profit in Europe. No shade to Americans, but you guys will eat any crap they'll put in front of you.
My family comes from the Azores from a tiny Island called Faial. I was born & raised in California. I am a quarter Portuguese, but full in my heart. The rest of me is black Irish. My full blooded Grandma helped raise me. She taught me a lot of Portuguese foods but not the language accepting when she was mad at me. hehe.....then she would go off in Portuguese language. Lol....I just found your channel. You are adorable! I just subscribed. So I look forward to checking out as many of your video's I can along with your future ones. I was thinking about starting my own Portuguese cooking channel. I just have my Mermaid one for now. I just started. Anyway, thank you for all of your video's with tons of information. I hope to come to visit my Island someday. Or at least Portugal. My name is Melody. Nice to meet you Dave!
queimadas are more for leaves, branches, stuff from cleaning terrains... this can be denounced, and especially when they forbid it due to risk of forest fires when it's hot or windy.. and often they cause big fires
Hi David. Regarding starting a business in Portugal. For a foreigner to hire a lawyer to set up a company, it's the equivalent of trying to make an omelette with salmon roe... Well... expensive! I understand you need to have the "Visto" done first, and lawyers will help. In Portugal most companies are limited liability companies and are only required to have a certified accountant (C.C. - Contabilista Certificado). It will be through him, after contracting his services, that the company can be created and comply with the existing legal obligations and the expenses associated with the respective creation of the company. Is true a single person can create a company without them, but the taxation begones at that moment the company has born, and you will need C.C.
7:51 It happens the opposite with us with "push" Once I was with a large Portuguese group in a London Hotel... and the hotel receptionist was getting furious with us because we kept banging the doors (and those corridors had a lot of doors) On the 3rd day they decided to keep the doors open 😅😅
O melhor lugar para conhecer realmente o interior de Portugal e seus cenarios estranhos e pitorescos esta na viajem pela estrada da Quinta dos Castanheiros no Mosteirinho entre as cidades de Mirandela e Vinhais. Cenario Bucolico e pitoresco muito lindo e complitamente estranho e sombrio. Vale a pena a viajem entre Abril e Junho quando os castanheiros estao floridos. 🎉
The barking dogs everywhere is the thing that troubles me the most about Portugal. Unlike in other European countries, it is clear that here in Portugal the simple training of a dog to ensure that it is not barking all the time is just not considered necessary. Very strange indeed.
Os buracos nos passeios. Nós temos a calçada típica portuguesa feita com pedras . Como aqui não há armas como nos USA andamos á pedrada de vez em quando ,basta arrancar uma pedra do passeio .é lá ficam os buracos 😂.Já me deram muito geito nos anos 80 / 90 😅😂😂
Futebol ,só seleção ,já nem se pode levar as crianças ao futebol. Mas que me deram geito a m8m e muitas mulheres ,lá isso deram. A ultima vez já foi há 17anos quando um tarado estava num jardim escondido atrás de um arbusto ,a ver uma criança de 7 anos ....E não morria nimguém como agora . Uma familia perde um filho ,sem razão nenhuma ,por ignorância.
We Portuguese have lived in this LGBTIQ socialist orgy since 1974, desperate for a better life, where children do not learn in schools, sodomy and other disruptive sexual practices within the scope of gender ideology; better salaries, etc... and this "paratrooper" praises the price of beer, food, house remodeling, stay here and work and you'll see how good it is to live in Portugal!...😂🤣
I agree with most of these but as an American who has been here almost a year, the thing that surprises and sometimes annoys me the most is how people just park where ever. On sidewalks completely blocking it or on crosswalks, in the right lane on busy roads and sometimes in the middle of small roads. I have not gotten used to it at all. 😅
It's not just hunters that have dogs though. Literally everyone has a dog in rural areas. Even dogs have dogs... or something. I find it funny though (when I'm not trying to sleep). Image it from the POV of the dogs: they're probably having a lot of fun barking at each other from afar. :) I once started a dog commotion, by the way, many years ago. Me and a friend were smoking a joint in the woods on a very quiet night, and it occurred to me to bark like a dog to see if any dogs would respond. One did. A few minutes later all the dogs in land were barking. :)
Great video! Great presentation! Well spoken! I am the opposite of you, a Portuguese person living in USA. I know both worlds very well as I have lived many years in both. And I should say you nailed very well some of Portugal crucial problems, and how different it is in the USA. But I’m not so sure I agree with you about the lack of veggies, or about medications leaving our pharmacies. 🤔 But overall you did a great video and I enjoyed very much hearing and following your comparison observations. I’m amazed how popular my country has become in the past 10/15 years, and how at this moment it’s being discovered by so many Americans, that they all want to live there. I would just say this, it’s a very small country, you can’t all move in. But you can certainly visit it and learn our way of living, and being nice to everybody, and then take it back to your country and start making the right changes where they are needed in your town or city. Peace for all! ✌️
Very happy to see that my culture is well-accepted by an American, pretty amazed actually, since our countries differ in so many ways. I've met an American not so long ago here in Porto and he pretty much had the same opinion as you. Hope you keep enjoying our culture, as we enjoy your presence. One love!
The key word in Portugal is OLD, sometimes even ANCIENT. So, it's forbiden to put clothes to dry in front of the houses ( you risk a fine from City Hall), exept in old places like the ones you show, in the old ( or medievals) part of towns like Lisbon or Oporto, the ones on your video. Have a great time in our country!
It's so interesting watching this as a Portuguese because it's just the most normal stuff ever xD can't wait to travel to the US and not drink beer because I would never pay 7$ for it
Great video Dave… I agree with a lot of your experiences… except the sidewalk thing (in my experience)… I am from Canada’s capital and our sidewalks are ALWAYS maintained… but in New Jersey (where I spend a lot of time because my daughter lived there for many years, the sidewalks are terrible… I have tripped many times because of uneven paved walks… especially if the property owner has a large tress that has lifted the roots… and also in LA where she lives now. You have to look down all the time. Indeed you have to watch where you are going in Portugal too… but for me it is not as bad as LA or Bayonne, Jersey City, Middletown, long Branch or Atlantic Highlands, NJ!
i think the sidewalk thing here in Portugal depends a lot on the management of the "county" (we call it a município). you will find lots of municípios in portugal that actually care about fixing public domain! i would guess that in every country is the same!
O melhor lugar para conhecer realmente o interior de Portugal e seus cenarios estranhos e pitorescos esta na viajem pela estrada da Quinta dos Castanheiros no Mosteirinho entre as cidades de Mirandela e Vinhais. Cenario Bucolico e pitoresco muito lindo e complitamente estranho e sombrio. Vale a pena a viajem entre Abril e Junho quando os castanheiros estao floridos. 🎉
I love your videos. I am Brazilian living in NYC about 23 years but want retire in Portugal. The difference is funny and the best thing is you have to slow down definitely
I'm Portuguese and out of everything you mentioned the thing that irritates me the most is the burning of trash. My room faces my neighbours' backyards and someone is always burning something, not so much during winter but then winter is vey short in Portugal. In the summer it's the worst, when I mostly needed to open the windows to let in some breeze I can't do so because someone's always burning something. The bureaucracy and the fact nobody answers the phone is also really annoying. It's not just that they're understaffed... it's very common to see public workers at their desk not answering the phone even though they're not busy, unfortunately I rather think it's more so an I-don't-care and I-get-paid-anyway kind of mentality. It's puzzling to me, but the zero-effort thing and the "slow pace" are cultural and probably kind of connected. About the dogs barking, having grown up here I can say I've become almost totally immune to it, though I might notice it if a dog barks all night long XD
We Portuguese have lived in this LGBTIQ socialist orgy since 1974, desperate for a better life, where children do not learn in schools, sodomy and other disruptive sexual practices within the scope of gender ideology; better salaries, etc... and this "paratrooper" praises the price of beer, food, house remodeling, stay here and work and you'll see how good it is to live in Portugal!...😂🤣
@@sledgehog1 I don't know exactly what they're burning, but it's very common where I live unless it's raining or during the colder winter months... Someone is always burning something all year round, and in the summertime it's almost daily. It's possible they're burning garden trash most of the time, but other times it seems they could be burning plastic or other trash because of the smell.
Good video and good perspectives! Having to look down because of the holes is never been a think in my life, unless I'm like in Lisbon or other calçada portuguesa circlejerck. Also, although I do agree with have late dinners, that usually when you go out, if you are having dinner at home with your family it's not unusual eat before 8pm, unless your work hours doesn't allow to do so. Also that nothing compared with our hermanos in Spain, they really have late dinner 😅😅 Btw, it is totally forbidden to burn any kind of garbage, even wood this days you have to request an authorization your Junta de Freguesia. You might have some bad neighbours lol
I moved from California to Portugal 2 years ago so I have experienced most of the same surprises. Although I'm in a village outside of a town 90 minutes from Oporto, so certain things like hanging laundry are a bit different. I just bought a new vehicle and the price was staggering. The IVA tax is 23 percent, so that is a big part of it. I was fortunate that I did not have to order, then wait the normal 8 to 10 months for it to arrive. So many differences, but that is a big part of what makes life an adventure.
@@pedroramalho121 Yes covid caused big problems for supply and waiting times for many items. The Russian invasion of Ukraine caused a lot of shortages for components. For one example, most of the electrical cables for cars were made in Ukraine.
And you may not have noticed, but IVA goes on top of the import tax. So yeah, we end up paying tax over tax. Illegal, but yearly EU fines are much lower than the profit that makes the country's coffers, so... 😅
I have been hearing about the 9pm dinner and it might apply for Lisbon, but in my 33 year experience the normal hour for dinner is 7:00-8:30pm. It might still sound late, but the reality is that we normally have big warm lunches and we do not do supper or snacks at night and we go to bed later in average. Many people have also another meal in between lunch and dinner at 5pm called Lanche/Snack (another tricky word like push😂) that is normally like the Spanish tapas. The south of Spain has dinner even later, around 10. In Germany where I live now, they start with dinner at 5pm-8:00, but is normally their first and only warm meal (the normal is 0-1 warm meals a day). Their lunch is more like a breakfast/brunch at 11am-13:30pm normally. I think if you have a substantial lunch at 1pm + some tapas at 4-5pm , you can make it until 8pm no sweat😅.
Being Portuguese, I was a bit confused by your remark that Portuguese petrol pumps start pumping automatically when you put the nozzle in. When you mentioned people driving off without paying, I realised what you meant, that the pumps are ready to start pumping as soon as you put the nozzle in, but you still have to squeeze the lever for them to actually pump. This is common practice in most of the country, but I've been to places in Portugal where the pumps have to be primed by staff at the cash register before they can be used, and for the reason you cited (these are places where crime is a bit more of an issue than elsewhere in Portugal). Personally, I've only ever refuelled at a station where the pumps had to be primed first, and at first I thought the pumps were out of service. Then I was told petty thieves would splash and dash, and that's why they need to have to pumps primed now.
@@klimtkahlo Thank you very much! I spent over 10 years studying English and have been very fortunate to have been able to travel to native English speaking countries and even live in the UK for some time. It's always nice to receive such a compliment :)
At first I was confused about the red lights, I took it literally as if you weren't supposed to take a right even after the light turned green, then I understood that what was meant is that the red light will act as a stop sign for people wanting to turn right at the intersection; wasn't aware that red lights were optional in the US lol I think I understand the gist of why it is allowed in the US though. You flow in the same direction as perpendicular traffic coming from the left and so are slightly less likely to cause an accident or disrupt the traffic, and it also helps a bit moving along, especially in places where traffic is most heavy.
Inacreditável a passividade que temos a ver esta gente ter melhores condições monetária para viver, vindo de países mais ricos e terem por parte do nosso governo darem melhor condições a nível de impostos a resta gente que vem para Portugal viver países mais pobres. Enquanto está gente compra casas a preços que não podemos pagar. E nós somos os que temos que sair do nosso próprio país. E isso não está a acontecer só em Portugal. México, costa rica sofrem da mesma praga.
Infelizmente está acontecer em todos os países, mas os americanos nómadas são os que mais fazem vão para o México, Costa Rica, Bali e agora nós também estamos na mira deles, o problema com eles e que eles não vivem com o salário de cá, e por isso que com os brasileiros não tenho problemas por eles vivem com salário de cá, apesar que os brasileiros estão a fazer com que os senhorios aumentas as rendas na minha zona, tive a sorte de não ser de Lisboa nem do porto 😂
Funny thing is, as a native brazilian portuguese speaker who speaks english fluent for almost two decades, I also need to take a moment to process whenever I see "Push" written anywhere, so it works both ways haha
Ahahah so nice to have a third party perspective! I guess the things that annoy you also annoy me. Except for hanging the closes outside, I see no problem there. Keep up the good work! I lived in Boston for just over a year and some things got to me as well. The first time I had a doorman yell at me for drinking outside I thought he was a crazy person!Also going to buy something and never knowing what you are going to pay at the end...
Old abandoned buildings- the main issue we have in Portugal with abandoned buildings is inheritance. When you have more than 1 heir and they disagree what to do with it. Nothing gets done. This is a big issue everywhere. However, there’s legislation now that can force the heirs to sell a place if it is a health & safety hazard and no one does anything about it.
Normally when you order a fish dish in a restaurant you’ll have boiled vegetables and potatoes as a side. It’s the easiest way to have a whole healthy meal in a normal portuguese restaurant
Dave you can ask for tap water for free at any restaurant or cafe, just ask for a glass of water ( Copo de agua), when you ask just for water they will sell you a bottle if that is your intention.
One year in Portugal, you increased your life expectancy by 10 years Remember, in Portugal you have to use (on the hightways) the right lane even if you go fast, the left lane is only for over taking
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YES the roundabouts!! Someone finally spoke about it, the amount of times I saw tourists put their lives in danger, because they have no clue how to make the roundabout... Some of them do it from the outside, others go in the opposite way 😂 PLEASE before coming to Portugal, learn to use the roundabouts. It can save lives! The bureocracy thing is so true, probably what I hate the most about this country. The Dogs barking is such a normal thing for me that my ears filter out the barks lmao... Also, for the people living close to the airports, like in Lisbon, it's kinda like the same thing with the airplanes. After a while you don't even hear it anymore... Great video that truly captures the essence of our culture!
Portugal is a European Union country. With regard to the sale of medicines with or without a doctor's prescription (so, pharmacy or supermarket) EU directives apply. This is of relevance: Article 70 of Directive 2001/83/ECprovides two classifications for the supply of medicinal products for human use in the Community:- - ”medicinal products subject to medical prescription” - ”medicinal products not subject to medical prescription”
Great video! Being a Canadian living in Portugal for 1.5 years now, I can relate to a lot of what you said and even a few more things that shock me (like neighbours watching everything you do and grocery stores closing at 10 - 10:30 and lack of sidewalks to walk my dogs lol) But an amazing country nevertheless
@mmsvg....I live in Ontario, and I had a neighbor from Newfoundland. Well, she watched everything everyone did. She was the neighborhood pigeon, and tons of plants from my garden used to go missing....just saying....ppl are nosy anywhere. It's personal.
@@bouncer005 it’s great but just different than what I’m used to. I mean they come and bring me things from their campo and help me start my BBQ so it’s amazing
@@mmsvg Indeed, however there are times people watch more than they should which in many cases, people feel sometimes they have no privacy but considering the country is friendly overall to anyone who is here either living or just passing by, it's also somehow cozy that people do this because at least you can also feel safe and welcomed by us/natives.
