THIS WAS the year where anti-tourism protests took off across Europe, in places popular with Brits such as Spain, Greece and the Netherlands.
However, since the summer of 2020, I’ve lived in Portugal where things – by and large – feel quite different.
The friendliness between this southern European country and the UK dates back over 600 years, to when the two forged various strategic military alliances.
However, the bond was solidified in 1662 when Catherine of Braganza married Charles II – and the Portuguese princess can be credited with making tea trendy over here.
A few centuries later, in the 1990s, Brits first started moving to Portugal, with the Algarve their preferred sunny spot, and there are now just under 50,000 of us here today.
At the same time, it has become a popular holiday destination, with over two million from the UK holidaying here each year – making us the second largest nationality of visitors.
Since moving to Lisbon four years ago, I’ve come to learn some of what they really think of us – generally speaking – and how we compare to other nationalities…
The Portuguese may have tongue-in-cheek nicknames for us ‘bifes’ and ‘camones’ – who they can spot a mile off thanks to our summery dress sense when the mercury hits double figures – but they like us really.
Particularly since our worst crimes seem to be getting alarmingly sunburnt and saying ‘sorry’ or ‘thank you’ a few too many times.
All in all, they find us polite and easy-going, and are fans of our culture to the extent that they’re interested in the goings-on of the royal family.
There are even ‘British bars’ you can pop into for a pint.
I’ve also found that they will be keen to practice their already-brilliant English, before discovering that our accents are a bit trickier to understand than the American ones they grew up hearing on TV.
That being said, we’re not totally special in Europe, with locals feeling a definite warmth towards the Irish, Germans, Dutch, Italians and those from Scandinavian countries, to name but a few.
However, while their accents may be easier to understand, the warmth towards Americans can be somewhat mixed.
It largely boils down to how much those coming from the US are willing to embrace that things run differently on mainland Europe – which us Brits are more familiar with.
This includes things that we may consider a luxury rather than an essential – for instance, having air conditioning in your home isn’t a given in Portugal, however across the Atlantic it is.
Another thing that can ruffle Portuguese feathers is the assertion ‘everything is so cheap here’ – and while that may be true compared to back home, it only fuels another understandable gripe.
Indeed, the influx of foreigners – not just from US – to Portugal since the pandemic has pushed up the prices of accommodation and other amenities so that locals are struggling.
Aside from the US, one of the most surprising things I learnt when I first moved here was that Spain and Portugal – despite being continental neighbours – aren’t exactly BFFs.
The gist seems to be that the Spanish will tend to speak to the Portuguese in their own mother tongue, while the irritated latter will be forced to communicate in ‘portuñol’ – a combination of both languages – in return.
Then there’s France, with whom Portugal also has strong links, due to a huge wave of immigration there in the 1960s and 1970s.
Those who come back to visit extended family are often nicknamed the ‘aveques’ – after the French word ‘avec’ – and locals have told me that there can be an air of snobbery.
But all in all, the Portuguese are a very kind people, and those who respect their beautiful country are sure to receive a warm welcome!
