Portugal: The California of Europe

A life-long Californian living in Portugal, this is my 1st entry in a year-long journal.

L to R: mouth of the Douro River, Porto; the shadow of Gen. Pombal Lisbon; wildflowers and Roman ruins in the Algarve. Photos by author.

“Portugal is the California of Europe.” I’ve said that myself, to the Portuguese. There are so many natural similarities. I’m heartened that many Portugese still express love for the USA, and California in particular, telling me that Americans are the most friendly, nicest people they meet. Portugal has an ace in its back pocket, though, the “Hawaiian Islands of the Atlantic” -Madeira and the Azores — stunning pastoral islands, which from a natural beauty perspective, trump Catalina and the Channel Islands. I’ll take it.

I’ve been watching You Tube videos like the Ted Talk that inspired me to write this essay (see below), another on “Why Portugal is the Best Country in Europe,” in “The Geography Bible”and the travel vlog of Josh and Kaylie of “Expats Everywhere” who, with their 2 production assistant side-kicks, a toddler in stroller, and their little dog, too, form a 2nd millennia “I Love Lucy” on a Euro road trip. Or are they “Dorothy and Friends” on the yellow brick road through the Portuguese countryside to their Oz of Porto? In my goal of basic language literacy (citizenship in 2023, anyone?), I also tune in frequently to Portuguese lessons with the Mia Esmeriz Academy — where you learn to say “Nao” to a Portuguese 10 different ways! Sim!