"PORTUGAL, a country with a friendly face." Portugal by dutch_anna

Portugal Travel Guide: 23,447 reviews and 52,774 photos

Look at the map of Portugal. You see a face watching westward at the sea. It is not a laughing face, but rather melancholic. Maybe it is waiting for all the seamen, explorers and fishermen, who sailed away. For me,however, who was a guest in their country, this land has a friendly face. The people are so kind and nice. When you lost the way on one of the roads in the countryside, or, worse, in the middle of a town with a caravan behind your car, there is always a man or woman who shows you the right direction, saying "follow me" or something like that, you cannot understand it, and drives in his own car ahead of you for miles and miles till he thinks that you can find your own way again. Once a man stopped the other traffic to give us the opportunity to turn (with that caravan) and everybody waved when we managed on that small square.
The language, with a sort of nasal sound, is difficult to understand, but sounds marvellous in their songs, like the Fado. And with some Italian and French and the help of my hands I had some nice conversations.
I have not been in big cities, only travelled in the Algarve in the south and in the eastern part of the country. A beautiful and varied landscape with small, very old towns like Beja, Evora and Tomar.
Before we leave this Intro I have to say something about the Portuguese, that I didn't like at all. Sorry. And that is their behaviour on the roads, when they are not showing you the way but THEY WANT TO PASS YOU, always, everywhere and many times.

But back to my holidaypictures, in the travelogues."Follow me!"

Website of Portugal's Weekend Newspaper in English.

Last visit to Portugal: Apr 1995
Intro Updated Jul 29, 2003
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Reviews (9)

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Transportation (1)
We travelled to and in...

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Comments (49)

PFerreira Nov 4, 2002 at 3:27 AM Report Abuse

great page and pics, you should see the north of Portugal it's lovely :)
ankx Jul 20, 2002 at 10:30 AM Report Abuse

beautyyy photo`s and cliffs
daarth Jun 12, 2002 at 4:32 AM Report Abuse

Fantastic pictures!
Porteplume May 9, 2002 at 3:38 AM Report Abuse

Fantastische fotografie, zo`n mooie land...
MURRA Feb 14, 2002 at 8:29 AM Report Abuse

best pictures of algarve yet
MATIM Jan 21, 2002 at 5:54 AM Report Abuse

prachtige foto`s
Andreaska Nov 3, 2001 at 5:04 AM Report Abuse

great place, beautiful photos!
Divingmouse Oct 23, 2001 at 10:25 AM Report Abuse

Loved it, beautiful page!!!
radzio Oct 18, 2001 at 10:12 AM Report Abuse

Great page and travelogues!!!
keeweechic Sep 27, 2001 at 7:02 AM Report Abuse

Love the architecture, everything looks clean and lovely