ARRIVING IN PORTUGAL
Portugal’s official name is the Portuguese Republic. The country is located on the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe (here’s a map). Spain is located north and east; the Atlantic Ocean is to the west. The reason my flight was so short is because Portugal is the westernmost country on mainland Europe. The official language is Portuguese. Don’t make the same mistake many Americans do, which is speaking Spanish to the locals – it won’t make them happy. English is a much better choice, because most Portuguese in the touristy areas (especially the younger generation) speak both languages. Native Portuguese are primarily a mix of pre-Roman Iberian and Celtic tribes, with some Romans and Germanic tribes. Most Portuguese are Roman Catholic. Portugal is full of history. There is no way I can get into it in this newsletter; here’s a link if you are interested. Portugal is a member of the European Union, so the euro is currency (1E = $1.26). The population is 10,366,000; the area is roughly the size of Indiana, and the capital is Lisbon.