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​Welcome to Portugal
 
   HELLO, people from the Earth!
   We have something really surprising to tell you: There is a remnant of the biblical paradise. It is a small parcel of the European continent which still hasn’t been corrupted by the dark side of progress, although having kept the good side of it…It’s an almost millenarian country. PORTUGAL. And has preserved its unique characteristics taking care of Nature with remarkable zeal.Come. Enjoy it…and you will wish to spent most of your life here.Not for its climate and splendorous sunlight. Nor the magnificent landscapes. Neither because of the long coasts nor the countless miles of golden, sandy beaches. Not even because of the food or the wines. And also not for the history, the culture, the traditions, the fashion or the sports.You will wish to spend most of your life in this country for these reasons all together. And you will also be touched by the gentle mood of its people. It is possible that you haven’t heard much about Portugal because this country appears to be too far away from everywhere… It is not in the centre of Europe. It is distant from the other countries... Too remote to hear of…  Too distant to visitHowever, nowadays, new, global and cheaper communications are spreading out information. Cheaper air transportation allows people to go easily anywhere. And then, the echoes from Portugal start to reach distant places in the world, in an increasingly wave of interest. Ask those among your neighbours who have recently been here! You will certainly find one amongst the thousands, the millions of persons who visited Portugal recently. Take this challenge and ask them about what they have seen…about what they have felt, while being here. And then…come to see it and feel it by yourself!Take a plane. Or a Cruise…There is plenty of them.Book an accommodation, either a luxury or an economic but good one. In the country… in the mountains… or facing the sea. Close to a world first category golf course…o r near a world first quality beach. In the continental Portugal…or in the portuguese islands: Madeira archipelago or the Azores archipelago. Enjoy the pleasure of living some days in a “Pousada”: medieval castle or ancient monastery. Excellent architects and decorators turned them into charming hotels, combining the antique with the modern in a good taste exercise of style. Take a cruise to Funchal, the capital of Madeira archipelago, and spend there the New Year Evening. You will then visit this well known jewel of the Atlantic and enjoy one the best fireworks exhibitions. This is another place where you would like to buy a house in western Europe.

 Comment about this text’s author:

My name is DANIEL JOSÉ MARQUES POLICARPO. I am a Portuguese citizen, a retired artillery Colonel of the Portuguese Army. Among other missions, in 1992 I was assigned to the European Community Monitor Mission (ECMM), to monitor the cease-fire in the former Yugoslavia war, as shown in my picture. This sponsers of this site kindly invited me to cooperate with them by trying to tell about the qualities of Portugal. I accepted to cooperate and write this text based on a sincere and a strong belief in the originality and the virtues of this country that I love and which are exposed here.

   THE CLIMATE

   It Is mild. Gentle as a second skin. Not too cold in winter… But if your feel like skiing on ice, you can do it in Portugal’s tallest mountain, Serra da Estrela. On the other hand, in summertime, you will feel rather comfortable in the water, if you choose to swim in one among Europe’s best beaches. You will dream of buying a new house here. Portugal and its isles are among the places where real estate is really blooming, in Europe. The choice is yours. THE PEOPLE WILL MAKE YOU FEEL AT HOME. Do you believe that In spite of being a small country Portugal has got a diversity that allows you to expect to enjoy things that you always dreamed of but never found before in your life? Unique things? Sharpen up your five senses!… Sight… hear… smell… taste… touch… While being here, each one of them will excite you to an unexpected level. Portugal is small. Pearls are small as well, but precious. Portugal is like e pearl… For the fulfilling of your preferences, a wide menu is available, as follows.       

   

   Are you fond of SPORTS?

   There you have some of the best golf greens of the planet! Plenty of them! Football? Have you heard of the Portuguese football teams? Does the name of Cristiano Ronaldo mean anything to you? And José Mourinho? Surfing? The city of Nazaré is well known for the world records managed by some internationally famous surfers. Besides Nazaré, some other international surf competitions occur regularly in other Portuguese places along the coast. Kite surfing? Rafting? Sailing? Diving? All available, besides dolphin watching and other “adventures”…

 

   TOURISM

   In Porto, the second Portuguese city, you can take a boat tour along the Douro river, on the way to Spain. It can last several hours or several days, in accordance with your own interest… It can reach the Spanish border. This is an overwhelming experience that you hardly will forget and that attracts a number of tourists from all over the words that doesn’t stop to grow… These river tours became highly popular among German citizens and as well as from the USA. These do not hesitate in crossing the Atlantic for this purpose. On board some of the above mentioned boats you can book a luxury cabin, taste a refined cuisine and enjoy the facilities of a five star hotel, take a tan on the upper deck while you navigate swinging along the river and appreciating the stunning panorama of the vineyards. Try also the “Semana do Mar”-Sea week- in the Azores islands to enjoy a whole week program of different activities related to the sea. And there, among other rare activities, take the chance for a boat tour to watch the whales in their natural environment. It’s unique and an unforgettable experience. Do you enjoy car competitions? Then follow the “Rally de Portugal”, once a year.. Bicycle competitions? Try the “Volta a Portugal em Bicicleta” -Portugal cycling tour-, each year.Swimming? There are miles and miles of sandy, golden and safe beaches where you can exercise yourself in warm waters.

 

   RIDING

   You can also ride a horse, if that pleases you. Try a “Puro sangue lusitano”

 

   MONUMENTS

   Do you prefer to appreciate monuments, architectural works and historical references? Well… This is one of the oldest nations in the world! Almost nine hundred years old! Therefore, each of this centuries has printed its unique mark and original style in castles, palaces, monasteries, churches, pavements, tiles, walls, floors and ceilings… All here, for you to discover: Fortified cities, Roman vestiges, pre-historic sites, Phoenician, Greek, Carthaginian archeology…By the way: do you know that the second oldest university in the world still exists and operates In Coimbra, a Portuguese city? Since 1290…

 

  MUSIC

  If you are a lover of rock music the “Rock in Rio” music festival takes place in Lisbon once a year and lasts several days. It gathers some of the top rock bands from the whole planet and certainly will give you a lot of pleasure. This event started in 1985 in Rio de Janeiro, took place in Brasil 5 times, 3 times in Spain and 5 times in Portugal, so far. Its quality places it in the seventh place among all the others in the world. But if you are romantic as a poet, you can listen to the Portuguese national song whose name is Fado. Fado means fate, destiny. It is an expression of the Portuguese soul.

   

   MEDICAL CARE

   Are you concerned with your health or your relatives’? In this field, Portugal has moved decidedly to updated health care improvements, giving, at the same time, firm steps into the future. The Champalimaud Foundation is the words’ most advanced cancer research centre, where some national and international reference scientists investigate and treat the patients using the latest, the most efficient and the most sofisticated equipments and techniques. In Portugal, the so called Health Tourism is improving year after year, bringing to several hospitals countless foreigners who spend long periods here combining medical care with leisure and pleasure. It’s certainly excellent for the body…and for the mind!

   

     THE CUISINE

   Is a good meal a pleasure for you? Then, this is the right place. Portuguese cuisine is among the best in the whole world. It is various, delicious and healthy.

   

   THE WINES

   If wine is an important complement to your meal, you will find plenty. Of great quality. Among a wide choice of red and white table wines, you will be surprised by their quality. Every year, Portuguese producers bring gold and silver medal prizes from international competitions! Besides…almost everyone in the world heard of the famous Port wine… not to mention Madeira wine. You will love to drink it while tasting the rare flavor of a “pastel de nata”, the cake whose fame is running around the world. Portugal is not a common country. For its age, for its history, for so many other things!One hardly could make a list of the places, monuments and other items which have been classified by UNESCO as World Heritage. Portugal inspires poetry… Before returning home, in ecstasy, you will finally realize that paradise doesn’t exist only in the books…. And you will wonder why you didn’t discover it before. Try this uncommon place! You will not regret. Add something really special to your memories! Eventually, take the chance of buying a home in western Europe. Once back to your country, every time you watch a sunset, every time you feel like swimming or playing golf, Portugal will come to your mind. On a birthday or a wedding, you’ll remember Port wine or Madeira wine to make a toast… .And, of course, you’ll miss a “pastel de nata”… And you will wish to have bought a house on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean! There is plenty of homes for sale…

       

 

HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON, IN PORTUGAL

© 2014 by    ta___kemet

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