Follow Portugal Immigration to learn about Portuguese culture: Portugal, a country whose most impressive features are not its classical architecture or the beautiful beaches with waves crashing against the shore, but the black and white stones that cover the streets and alleys. These stones are as admirable, lovable, laughable, and lamentable as the Portuguese people themselves. These old cobblestones are equally noteworthy. The black stones have a skin tone reminiscent of black people, while the white stones have the faces of white people. The black stones are rough, large, and dirty, embodying a masculine robustness, while the white stones are delicate, small, clean, and shiny, representing a feminine smoothness. They are like the characters of Zheng Banqiao, truly embodying the concept of streets paved with stones, thus solidly paving the streets of towns and cities across Portugal, creating a unique scenic view rarely found in other countries.
These various stones can be said to live in Portugal alongside the history of their country, expressing their thoughts through various geometric patterns, unleashing their artistic imagination, and showcasing the beautiful aspirations of life. They serve as a tangible symbol of Portuguese culture. Especially in squares and avenues rich in cultural significance, their wonderful display can be seen. Walking on these exquisite and smooth patterns allows one to appreciate the spiritual world of Portugal. They depict past glories and splendor while also looking forward to the future with dreams. Five hundred years ago, their ancestors ventured into the world with ambitions as vast as the sea, bringing the technique of stone mosaic to their colonies, hoping that future generations would forever occupy that land. I have also seen their glorious traces in the Praça do Senado in Macau, which can be considered the essence of Portuguese spirit rooted in the land.
The stone motif has been fully realized in Portugal and has become a fossil of their soul. The black stones resemble granite, akin to the heads of the Portuguese people, trapped in the glory of their ancestors. The white stones, on the other hand, resemble white jade, truly admirable, delicate and smooth, and after polishing, they can be used as high-quality stone materials, making them an excellent choice for carving and decoration. Beautiful patterns carved from white stones can be seen throughout Portugal from north to south, captivating and enchanting people. If these stones were exported abroad, earning foreign exchange would be absolutely no problem, certainly not worse than their cork export performance. If that day ever comes, Portugal might become a major stone-producing country, potentially finding a breakthrough in this resource-scarce area.
Some larger black stones are laid in the center of secondary streets, firmly occupying the narrow, old residential areas. When the Portuguese drive their old antique cars over them like tractors, the noise adds infinite trouble to the residents on either side of the street who find it hard to sleep. The gaps between the black stones are quite large, and women who enjoy wearing high heels may find themselves tripping on such streets, or their heels getting stuck in the gaps, forcing them to walk barefoot, holding their shoes, limping across the road. This might be one of the most embarrassing sights for Portuguese women. This is nothing compared to the possibility of spraining an ankle if one walks too quickly; that would be truly unfortunate. This is the downside of the black stones.
As for the white stones, they do not have the authoritative presence of the black stones occupying the center of the street; instead, they are relegated to the sides like a young bride, filling the sidewalks. As more people walk on them, the surface becomes uneven and pockmarked, incomplete, and due to years without cleaning, dog feces and bird droppings cover these white stones, indicating their poor treatment. In some old alleys or on slopes, if it rains, these smooth white stones do not show any mercy to humans, significantly increasing the likelihood of slipping. While it may not matter much for the young, it can be troublesome for the elderly. The white stones also have their share of problems.
At this point, whether it is the black stones or the white stones, they have now become carriers of Portuguese civilization and symbols of Portuguese culture. These two colors, black and white, can form letters and numbers, as well as various patterns, adorning the pavement and marking history, forever. No one would ever want to replace them with other objects; if that day ever comes, Portugal would no longer be called Portugal.
