Portuguese Virtues & Vices - the good, the bad, &...our guilty pleasure

The Good: I admire many of the virtues of the Portuguese, including:

• Respect for elders: kids here are FAR more polite to their elders than back home. And by elder, I don't mean just senior citizens, I mean all adults, strangers or not. Kids here greet you with eye contact and a "good morning, good afternoon, good evening", hold open doors, and give you the right of way. Canadian parents, I think we need to expect more of our children.

  

  We ain't no spring chickens...overlooking Lisbon on date day

• Respect for pedestrians: despite the crazy traffic in this small country, stand at a crosswalk (no flashing signals or red light) and cars will stop for you, every time. If they don't, they're not from here.

  

  We walk and roll everywhere!

• Appreciation of good food: "Avó's" (grandma's) cooking reigns supreme here. Meals made with whole, fresh foods is the norm. It's what kids are used to and enjoy. Soup, meat or fish, potatoes or rice, greens, fruit and a tasty dessert. There are fast food chains, of course; however, the closest McDonald's to us is 25 minutes away! (Back home, we have 4 within 7 minutes). Go to a Portuguese restaurant, and everything on the menu is something grandma makes.

  

  Caldeirada (seafood stew): Homemade or Restaurant fare?
  Hint: Mark is an amazing cook!

• Being active: everyone, everyday, gets outside and walks. High density living where everything is close-by, great weather, cities built for pedestrians (parking is tough, walking is easier), good public transit, small fridges paired with a love for fresh food, and waterfront that is shared public space are all factors that get people walking outside and interacting with each other. A beautiful thing!

  

  Our world here in Sesimbra is all within walking distance!

• Coffee Ritual: I have yet to see a "to-go" cup or travel mug. Coffee is a deliberate pause in your day; it's always served in glassware, with a saucer and metal spoon (no disposable cups or stir sticks). So different from our Canadian "grab and go" mentality where we drink coffee while we multi-task: driving, working at our desk, attending a meeting.

  

  What's a coffee without a Pastel de Nata?

The Bad:

Smoking: It's everywhere, it's cheap (~4 euros/pack), and it's gross. It's not allowed in the library, the school, indoor recreational sports facilities. Nice: where kids hang out. But take one step outside those buildings and you're in a 1950's scene from Madmen, wading through smoke clouds. We all hate it. Gabi is the best: she pauses inside, plugs her nose, and marches past the smokers. O Canada, how we love your clean air :)

Blast from the past!
A cigarette vending machine--they are quite common in cafes and restaurants

Dog Poop Galore: There is dog poop everywhere. You're going to step in some, accept it. I suspect the poop&scoop etiquette isn't the same here.  Interesting note: you don't take off your shoes at the door like back home, you wear the same pair, inside and outside. Hmmm, the 3 second rule here does not work!

Litter: Predominantly older offenders, but a lot of people toss garbage on the ground. Catarina's class says it best: "Não deitam lixo no chao!" (Don't throw litter on the ground!)

Who's that adorable fish marching in the Parade?
Our little activist, advocating for cleaner oceans

Our Guilty Pleasure:

Day drinking: So, having a beer or wine with lunch is something Mark and I do daily. Sure, I don't have to go back to work afterwards.  But I wonder how productive everyone else around me could possibly be after a big meal and drinks to boot! But hey, that's between Portugal and the EU, right?!

Lunch is the main meal here, and well, it goes so nicely with a tasty drink!