In recent years, the rich aroma of Portuguese egg tarts, the full-bodied authentic Portuguese wine, a leisurely lifestyle that "slows down time," historical sites adorned with ancient castles and palaces, garden-style villas nestled between mountains and seas, and breathtaking coastal views have attracted more and more people to buy property and immigrate to Portugal. The lifestyle in Portugal is very different from that in the home country; let us explore it from the four aspects of clothing, food, housing, and transportation!
Clothing: The Portuguese place great importance on attire.
Generally speaking, Europeans tend to dress more formally, and among European countries, Portugal stands out in this regard.
In government offices, corporate offices, banks, stores, and schools, male employees wear suits and ties to work, even in the hot summer months, they are fully suited. It is rare to see men entering and exiting government institutions, parliaments, banks, corporate headquarters, or city halls wearing only shirts, T-shirts, or sweaters. Those who conduct business in these institutions are generally also dressed in suits. Dressing well not only displays one's identity but also shows respect for others.
Nowadays, young people's clothing has begun to diversify and pursue fashion trends; however, compared to other countries, the youth in Portugal tend to dress more conservatively. During holidays, especially during school anniversaries and student festivals, the campus is filled with students in uniform. Boys wear dark suits, white shirts, and dark ties. Girls wear dark suits, white shirts, and also tie dark ties, with skirts that match the color of their tops. Everyone appears dignified, elegant, and poised.
Food: Tasting Chinese cuisine and all the world's delicacies.
Portugal is a nation of immigrants. Foreign immigrants and their descendants still maintain their original customs and ethnic culinary styles, and traditional dishes are often prepared at meals, passed down from generation to generation. This has promoted the diversity of Portuguese cuisine. Chinese restaurants are very common in Portugal. It is estimated that there are hundreds of Chinese restaurants in Lisbon alone, many run by Chinese immigrants from Qingtian and Wenzhou in Zhejiang Province. Most of these Chinese restaurants are mid-range to low-end, with many always bustling with diners.
In addition to Chinese food, visitors in Lisbon can almost taste all types of cuisines and delicacies from around the world. Japanese cuisine, halal restaurants, Korean restaurants, Indian restaurants, Brazilian steakhouses, etc., all have a place in the dining market in Lisbon and throughout Portugal. For example, Brazilian steakhouses seem very authentic, with owners, chefs, and even some staff coming from Brazil. The methods of preparing and eating the meat, as well as the side dishes, are exactly the same as in Brazil. The restaurants are often full.
Housing: Eat in France, live in Portugal.
Ten years ago, a survey conducted in Western European countries showed that Europeans' ideal scenario is to work in Brussels, eat in France, and live in Portugal. Brussels is the headquarters of the European Union, where officials and employees earn very high salaries and enjoy good benefits, and there are many industries serving the EU, providing ample job opportunities. France is known for its culinary culture and is a paradise for food lovers, where one can taste the world without leaving Paris. Portugal has a pleasant climate year-round, stunning scenery, a low level of environmental pollution, and high social safety, with a thriving real estate market and excellent medical services, making it indeed an ideal place to live.
In the minds of many Portuguese, the most important aspect of clothing, food, housing, and transportation is housing. Apart from some hotels and commercial buildings in Lisbon, it is rare to find high-rise buildings here; brick and concrete are seen merely as products of urban industry, suitable for short stays but too confining for long-term living. If the economy allows, a detached villa with a garden is absolutely the favorite of all families. This combination of high-tech interiors and rustic exteriors allows people to achieve a balance between science and nature.
Transportation: The Portuguese are eager to help.
Another commendable characteristic of the Portuguese is their warmth and hospitality, which is a cultural advantage that helps this small country attract foreign tourists, generating an annual tourism revenue of 6 billion USD. Many foreigners have had the following experiences in Portugal: when you ask a passerby for directions to a shopping store in a busy area, they will provide detailed instructions, and some will even drive ahead to guide you; if your car breaks down on the highway, someone will always stop to help.
The further inland and north you go, the more you can feel the pure and kind old-fashioned virtues of the Portuguese and their willingness to help others. In these areas, people warmly open their doors to visitors, even if they are uninvited guests or strangers knocking at their door, offering strong coffee, and sometimes homemade wine, cheese, or cured meats; as for any difficulties you encounter, as long as it is within their means, they will do their utmost to assist you.