Was in Portugal this past March and was very surprised that the locals knew that I could understand Portuguese even though I tried to pretend that I didn’t. Many didn’t speak English and I witnessed one waiter yell at 2 Americans who spoke to him in Spanish. The young people all speak English and in Portugal it is a faux pas to speak Spanish. This waiter asked these Americans in English if they were Spanish and when said no, then he said “then speak English!” The food was delicious and I always asked the price when there wasn’t any menu because I told them I wanted to make sure I could pay! It’s a European thing to just ask because I come from a European family and married into a Dutch family so it wasn’t an issue for me. I was also surprised at how many different dialects of Portuguese there was and that they couldn’t always understand other Portuguese from other parts of Portugal. They would frequently then speak British English to each other. I also witnessed many times an English speaker ask if the American understood British English because in Europe that is the English they learned in school. I got to try the several languages that I have learned and was understood by the native speakers. Even people from Latin America couldn’t understand the Spanish or be understood! I spent a couple of days in Galicia and witnessed this. However, because there were frequent French and Portuguese tourists the Galicians could speak those languages. Again the food was amazing. And bacalhau means salted cod not cod. Because of the Portuguese love to watch Brazilian Tele Novelas they all understood Brazilian Portuguese. Unfortunately for the Brazilians many complained to me that they couldn’t understand THEM! They said that they were understood but they couldn’t understand and couldn’t figure out how that was until I explained it to them. So learn Brazilian Portuguese and you will be understood every where in Portugal! At least learn to ask if they speak English and to speak slowly. I always asked and if the answer was no, I would ask them to speak Portuguese slowly so I could understand. As for Spain I learned that there weren’t any Spaniards because they all think of themselves as from the region not the country of Spain. Sigh!
Hello from a Porto native. Great video, looks like you enjoyed your visit. :) I have a few tips for your next trip here, and for anyone else coming here. First, you chose the right places for cheap (and good) food. Any place that has the menu only in Portuguese and with the mention "Prato do dia - X €" is worth looking into. Prato do dia is literally the "dish of the day" or "meal of the day". And don't be scared if the place looks rough. When you're in the Ribeira, sit somewhere, have a beer or some ice cream and then try to count how many different languages you can hear. :) And try the tram ride all the way from Infante to Passeio Alegre.
I love your honesty about the discomfort while travelling and getting used to ways that are different to your own (particularly guessing the menu item and price). I have experienced this in almost every country I have visited and I have eventually come to the realisation that it is an issue with the huge fear of people taking advantages of foreigners. I found that once if I just jumped in and went with the flow I usually had a great time. But it is a work in progress, every now and again I find myself back there. The secret appears to not travel on a budget :) or to budget way too much!
that's a great point! there is always that possibility. often times for me (Lisa) it's honestly the worry of embarrassing myself/butchering the language/just looking dumb. but! we all learn and more often than not, like you said, it ends up being a great time!! :) just gotta remind ourselves, the stakes aren't really too high (especially if you have more room in the budget)
I watch a lot of video on Portugal and you're the first I've heard mention having problems with choosing a place to eat. I AGREE! We've been to Portugal twice and had a hard time with that everywhere we went (Porto, Lisbon, Obidos, Nazare, Sintra, Madeira Island). Sometimes we'd end up eating a sandwich at our hotel. We hope to be more prepared for next time! (PS: My wife makes pasteis de nata and says it's easy, just takes time. All I know is it's always a big hit with friends and relatives!)
Thats a Great view! Also good to know about the restaurants under the bridge, as i'am hoping to do the Camino from Porto. Looking forward to being under the bridge.
Hey guys 👋 We love cooking when we’re travelling, especially in a foreign country and we want something familiar 😌 We found the same price mark in Spain - so interesting! The Portuguese custard tarts looked incredible and you got them still warm 😱 The bars looks awesome! We would 100% choose to eat there. You guys do a price breakdown!? So interesting - we really love that! Thanks for the great video guys ☺️ New friends here - we can’t wait to see more of your adventures 🙌🏼 Em + Tom
@@LisaAndJosh No worries! Found you guys on insta also - we love finding fellow travel couples to be inspired by. New subs here and we can’t wait to keep up with your adventures ☺️
Since we can’t travel from Australia, I have perfected the potato omelette at home using the local Spanish recipe, the flavours take you back……..yum. We much prefer eating where the locals do, (even if all eyes are on us for a time ) because the food is better priced, the meals more authentic, the atmosphere is usually a little homespun and comfortable. Cheers from Australia 🇦🇺
Wow that blue tile is so stunning. Also Lisa I really appreciate your honesty about the new-country-discomfort. Great video as always, guys. Porto is now definitely on my list.
thank you so much for the kind words and commenting :) it's a weird process, getting into a new place, getting comfortable, then immediately going somewhere else and being uncomfortable again. a wonderful process, but a weird one.
Hi 👋🏼 🙂 First time here, nice video 👍🏼 Let me help you with this ones below 👇🏼 9:16 is called “Ribeirinha” 8:36 crossing the bridges you are entering in Gaia where are all the cellars of Oporto wine 4:09 that was a really very local cafe, people was just curious about you guys 8:51 next time ask for cinnamon, a little bit will make them even better 😋 (Or powder sugar) I hope you have enjoyed the stay Abraço🙂
thank you very much for helping us understand :) it was SO weird how much they were all staring at us, makes it super hard to film, but i guess we do look weird always pointing a camera at our faces lol
@@LisaAndJosh not the way I planned it. But thanks to a friend it happened. It's a few people hoping I move there. It's such a different vibe than the mainland. That's not even a possibility until we get "Walter" straightened out. 😕
> "Budget Conscious Travellers"
> Spends $8200 in 2 months
> Average salary in Portugal is $1000/month
Was in Portugal this past March and was very surprised that the locals knew that I could understand Portuguese even though I tried to pretend that I didn’t. Many didn’t speak English and I witnessed one waiter yell at 2 Americans who spoke to him in Spanish. The young people all speak English and in Portugal it is a faux pas to speak Spanish. This waiter asked these Americans in English if they were Spanish and when said no, then he said “then speak English!”
The food was delicious and I always asked the price when there wasn’t any menu because I told them I wanted to make sure I could pay! It’s a European thing to just ask because I come from a European family and married into a Dutch family so it wasn’t an issue for me. I was also surprised at how many different dialects of Portuguese there was and that they couldn’t always understand other Portuguese from other parts of Portugal. They would frequently then speak British English to each other. I also witnessed many times an English speaker ask if the American understood British English because in Europe that is the English they learned in school. I got to try the several languages that I have learned and was understood by the native speakers. Even people from Latin America couldn’t understand the Spanish or be understood! I spent a couple of days in Galicia and witnessed this. However, because there were frequent French and Portuguese tourists the Galicians could speak those languages. Again the food was amazing. And bacalhau means salted cod not cod.
Because of the Portuguese love to watch Brazilian Tele Novelas they all understood Brazilian Portuguese. Unfortunately for the Brazilians many complained to me that they couldn’t understand THEM! They said that they were understood but they couldn’t understand and couldn’t figure out how that was until I explained it to them.
So learn Brazilian Portuguese and you will be understood every where in Portugal! At least learn to ask if they speak English and to speak slowly. I always asked and if the answer was no, I would ask them to speak Portuguese slowly so I could understand. As for Spain I learned that there weren’t any Spaniards because they all think of themselves as from the region not the country of Spain. Sigh!
Hello from a Porto native.
Great video, looks like you enjoyed your visit. :)
I have a few tips for your next trip here, and for anyone else coming here.
First, you chose the right places for cheap (and good) food. Any place that has the menu only in Portuguese and with the mention "Prato do dia - X €" is worth looking into. Prato do dia is literally the "dish of the day" or "meal of the day". And don't be scared if the place looks rough.
When you're in the Ribeira, sit somewhere, have a beer or some ice cream and then try to count how many different languages you can hear. :)
And try the tram ride all the way from Infante to Passeio Alegre.
THANKS FOR SHARING VERY INFORMATIVE👍🏿 LOVE THE UNDER THE BRIDGE RESTAURANT💯 BIFANAS😋
Great recommendations!! We'll try to find the places under the bridge when we're there in a few days! Thanks!!
Awesome and enjoy!!!
I really appreciate an honest look at Porto. Most videos try to glamorize their trip. I appreciate seeing reality.
Thanks so much for the comment :)
I love your honesty about the discomfort while travelling and getting used to ways that are different to your own (particularly guessing the menu item and price). I have experienced this in almost every country I have visited and I have eventually come to the realisation that it is an issue with the huge fear of people taking advantages of foreigners. I found that once if I just jumped in and went with the flow I usually had a great time. But it is a work in progress, every now and again I find myself back there. The secret appears to not travel on a budget :) or to budget way too much!
that's a great point! there is always that possibility. often times for me (Lisa) it's honestly the worry of embarrassing myself/butchering the language/just looking dumb. but! we all learn and more often than not, like you said, it ends up being a great time!! :) just gotta remind ourselves, the stakes aren't really too high (especially if you have more room in the budget)
I watch a lot of video on Portugal and you're the first I've heard mention having problems with choosing a place to eat. I AGREE! We've been to Portugal twice and had a hard time with that everywhere we went (Porto, Lisbon, Obidos, Nazare, Sintra, Madeira Island). Sometimes we'd end up eating a sandwich at our hotel. We hope to be more prepared for next time! (PS: My wife makes pasteis de nata and says it's easy, just takes time. All I know is it's always a big hit with friends and relatives!)
Its a learning curve for sure! And wow, would love to learn to make them!! So good
Missed this one before. You guys are doing so well.
Thats a Great view! Also good to know about the restaurants under the bridge, as i'am hoping to do the Camino from Porto. Looking forward to being under the bridge.
The best hidden gem, we loved it! :) That's a great idea!
You have to try the Francesinha sandwich which Porto is famous for. Meat and melted cheese. Ideal for day after a night of beers.
oh yes!! We tried the Francesinha--such a fun and unique experience!
Hey guys 👋 We love cooking when we’re travelling, especially in a foreign country and we want something familiar 😌 We found the same price mark in Spain - so interesting! The Portuguese custard tarts looked incredible and you got them still warm 😱 The bars looks awesome! We would 100% choose to eat there. You guys do a price breakdown!? So interesting - we really love that! Thanks for the great video guys ☺️ New friends here - we can’t wait to see more of your adventures 🙌🏼 Em + Tom
YES - the egg tarts are worth the trip alone. Thanks so much for watching :)
@@LisaAndJosh No worries! Found you guys on insta also - we love finding fellow travel couples to be inspired by. New subs here and we can’t wait to keep up with your adventures ☺️
Since we can’t travel from Australia, I have perfected the potato omelette at home using the local Spanish recipe, the flavours take you back……..yum.
We much prefer eating where the locals do, (even if all eyes are on us for a time ) because the food is better priced,
the meals more authentic, the atmosphere is usually a little homespun and comfortable.
Cheers from Australia 🇦🇺
Oooooo - do you have a recipe? We've been trying to figure out how to make it, and it always turns out wrong for us!
Really love the outtakes. If you decide to hit up toronto, we'll make sure to take you guys out for dinner and drinks
Hey hey--thanks for that offer! We've never been to Tdot, but would love to someday!
Wow that blue tile is so stunning. Also Lisa I really appreciate your honesty about the new-country-discomfort. Great video as always, guys. Porto is now definitely on my list.
thank you so much for the kind words and commenting :) it's a weird process, getting into a new place, getting comfortable, then immediately going somewhere else and being uncomfortable again. a wonderful process, but a weird one.
Love it! Can't wait to get to Portugal :) In Italy atm! Had some amazing gnocchi
Oooh, that sounds so good right now! Enjoy!
Oh these are pateis de nata (best in Belem) and not just any egg tart 🤣
Definitely not just any egg tart at all
Hi 👋🏼 🙂
First time here, nice video 👍🏼
Let me help you with this ones below 👇🏼
9:16 is called “Ribeirinha”
8:36 crossing the bridges you are entering in Gaia where are all the cellars of Oporto wine
4:09 that was a really very local cafe, people was just curious about you guys
8:51 next time ask for cinnamon, a little bit will make them even better 😋
(Or powder sugar)
I hope you have enjoyed the stay
Abraço🙂
thank you very much for helping us understand :) it was SO weird how much they were all staring at us, makes it super hard to film, but i guess we do look weird always pointing a camera at our faces lol
You two are adorable to watch.
Awww, why thank you :)
I'm back and I'm 😔.
Glad you made it back!
@@LisaAndJosh not the way I planned it. But thanks to a friend it happened. It's a few people hoping I move there. It's such a different vibe than the mainland. That's not even a possibility until we get "Walter" straightened out. 😕
Is tipping required in porto?
generally it's not expected :) but, I'm sure it wouldn't be unwelcome
No, those small cafes are definitely weird.