Portugal Culture Shock for an American

[@hermanosoares3860]

You forgot to mention in Portugal you don’t need to hide alcohol in a paper bag,you can drink a beer freely in the street 😂

[@adequality]

You can, sure. But people still look at you funny if you're just drinking alcohol out on the streets.

[@susanasa]

o que não deixa de ser uma hipocrisia "podes beber álcool mas se for as escondidas "

[@34cvc]

@@adequality what? Nobody gives af lol

[@adequality]

@Miguel Ferreira depends on the places

[@adequality]

@@34cvc Incorrect. Just become no one says anything doesn't mean people don't give a fuck. Also depends where you're doing it.

[@marcoferreira3832]

as a Portuguese i used to complain a lot about portuguese drivers... until I visited Italy it's a full blown royal rumble there

[@sofiafrausto723]

Exactly! I was gonna rent a car… after my first taxi I said to myself “don’t even think about it! You’re gonna get yourself killed 😂” but I get what he’s talking about. Like 2.a circular or VCI… we drive utterly fast and avoid signs at all costs. Because we know it’s easier that way.

[@marcoferreira3832]

@@sofiafrausto723 i did rent a car before i went there. never felt so relieved as when i returned it 🤣

[@lfs-x1r]

yes, but Italians are the world's most uncivic.

[@JFar_13]

That's so true omg

[@nunopereira6092]

You should visit and try to drive in Morocco... Makes driving in Italy look like child's play.

[@hunger4wonder]

"it's important to practice defensive driving in Portugal" Yes. This is very important to be aware of!

[@kay9din]

laughing a lot, just arrived from Morocco... 🤣🤣🤣

[@afonsobandhold96]

@@kay9din Morocco is hardcore worse than indonesia!

[@ineshomemcardoso]

Também é a única merda que nos ensinam nas escolas de condução... "Espera a estupidez alheia" foi o que disseram à minha mãe, e eu concordo plenamente

[@hunger4wonder]

@@ineshomemcardoso tambem concordo plenamente.

[@vanessabarroso9929]

Sem dúvida alguma, em qualquer cidade !!

[@GhanYt]

Building wealth from nothing involves consistent saving, disciplined spending, and strategic investments. Begin by creating a budget to track expenses and identify areas for savings. Prioritize paying off high-interest debt and establishing an emergency fund. As you build a foundation, start investing in low-cost options like index funds, and focus on continuous learning and improving your skills for better income opportunities.

[@UbuTube]

Correction: IVA is not 23% on everything. Most items are 23%, some are 13%, some are 6%, some are exempt. In the Azores and Madeira rates are 22%/12%/5%. Also, you can deduct the IVA you paid on products/services on the IVA that you owe the State (because you charged it on products/services that you sold someone else). It's complicated...

[@Txotxoloco94]

Azores rates are actually 16%, 9% and 4%

[@LittleThuga]

I came here to say this. Take my like you kind Sir!

[@zincasbaptista1014]

@@Txotxoloco94 Portugueses de primeira.

[@DavidSilva0803]

I am a portuguese currently living in the US! And this video is pretty much bang on... What I will say is portuguese people treat "foreigners" better than their own so if you need help or anything like that don't be afraid to ask! English is a language every student needs to take in portugal so especially younger people will probably be able to help you out! If anyone is thinking of visiting Portugal I would acctualy recommend the Açores Islands they are honestly the most beautiful place I have ever been to!!!

[@DavidSilva0803]

@@Anonymous92838 I prefer Portugal more, but it depends what you want I guess!? Portugal is a very save and friendly country. I really like the "small town" vibes...everyone knows each other, says hi to each other, etc. I don't know how to really explain it but it just feels like home!

[@DavidSilva0803]

@@Anonymous92838 Prices in Portugal compared to the US are a lot cheaper aswell in pretty much everything, so if your from the US you probably could live a better live with the same amount of money.

[@DavidSilva0803]

@Chicharito Javier Hernández SIUUUUUU 😂

[@DavidSilva0803]

@@Anonymous92838 If you have any questions feel free to ask!😁

[@luanaakkj]

@@DavidSilva0803 i am Portuguese too! olá!

[@2clarityin30]

I'm an American living in Porto. I arrived six months ago. One thing that strikes me compared to the U.S. is the high number of cigarette smokers here. In Porto, at least, I don't hear barking dogs or see stray dogs and in fact, I am always so amazed by how much the local people absolutely love dogs. Also, everyone greets you here in the street with a Bom Dia, Boa Tarde, Boa Noite, (depending on the time of day) whether they know you or not. It's a very friendly place. People actually say hello, instead of waving. Another thing worth mentioning is the high amount of taxes Portuguese people pay on their earnings when they file their taxes. Annual tax rates are very high and to offset this, I think you should definitely mention the low cost of prescriptions and the public health system (a system vastly different than anything offered in the U.S.)

[@tomasazevedo1979]

Regarding the income taxes and low salaries, I think that portuguese people are slowly becoming less tolerant to outsiders living in here with foreign incomes. People are getting poorer very fast and I suspect the political atmosphere will change in the next years. Maybe to something similar to Italy.

[@cordeiromeow3132]

We either greet you with a friendly Bom Dia/Olá or the silent nod, this is the way 😅

[@angelad.campell]

Thats good manners. If you don't say bom dia, boa tarde or boa noite your parents didnt raise you right...its rude not to. Most will ask you if you sleept with them last night 😅...sometimes I'm still sleeping with my eyes open and I forget...

[@2clarityin30]

@@tomasazevedo1979 God forbid and having said that, I am not a wealthy foreigner by any stretch but those of us who live here also buy things here and pay taxes here and we are contributing to the Portuguese economy. In a country with a shrinking population we are an asset if we live here as Portuguese locals and thus refuse to drive up the local cost of living by not agreeing to pay higher rent for example.

[@tomasazevedo1979]

@@2clarityin30 I totally agree with you. People like you who come here, pay their taxes and respect the people and the culture should be praised and motivated to stay, but there is a growing number of expats who are earning foreign incomes while working online, while living in the center of the city and not caring about the country they live in. I hope Portuguese people can separate these type of people when (eventually) changing some laws and social views.

[@kellpt]

I was expecting something more "judgy", but I was delighted about how you lay it out - even as a Portuguese, it feels pretty accurate. A few things I'd add: - If a waiter/waitress seems nice, chances are it's because they genuinely are. They don't expect a tip, so be kind and talk to them as if you value their service, and you'll have a great time. - People in Portuguese can have a pretty dark sense of humour, and say things that may sound over the top or politically incorrect. But if you give them the benefit of doubt, many jokes you might otherwise find crass, are more about the absurd, and may actually mean the exact opposite. - Portugal is a small country, but people are a bit different, and the following is merely my own experience of those differences. I find that people in Algarve are so used to tourists not caring about the places they visit, that it may take them a while to see past that expectation and trust you. People in Lisbon are often easier to connect with casually, but harder to establish more meaningful relationships (eg, a bit like SF), whereas people in Porto and up north might seem harder to connect with at first, but once you make friends, it's more likely to last. Again, these are personal experiences, so your milleage may vary, but bottom line is, expect differences. Thanks Dave. :)

[@BotBruh448]

In my own experience, being from Porto, i find that Lisbon people are way more open at first but end up being very disconnected whilst my "local" relationships require more maintenance but tend to be a lot more trustworthy and longer lasting, it's bizarre when you think about it

[@Jus7here]

@@BotBruh448 In the north you find people that are real to the point that they will insult you but in a friendly way and mean no harm, like they are talking to you as you are a friend already even tho you just meet. The more south you go the more superficial/fake people you will encounter. In Lisbon you will have 'friends' to drink and go out in Porto you will have actual friends.

[@gustavixAJ]

he just tried to be nice lol

[@channeldopesrelated]

Spot on tbh

[@kellpt]

@Boon2000 Lisbon has become too popular for its own sake, and Porto is on its way to getting over-visited. I'd still suggest you visit both! If you're the kind of tourist that is friendly, respectful, and enjoys chatting with locals, people will cherish you. Regardless, like any country, there's a lot to visit. Aveiro, Évora, Braga, etc. Feel free to message back and I'll be happy to give you pointers, or even share a beer if you're in the vicinity.

[@pedroleal7118]

Portugal has a lot of old buildings because it was 'neutral', during 2nd World War, so it wasn't bombed and reconstructed, as most countries in Europe, and yes, it's an old Civilisation/Culture, different story from Spain (nuestros hermanos).

[@nelsonlourenco3781]

Very true

[@robertp.wainman4094]

But why so many beautiful buildings left abandoned until they fall down?

[@diogorodrigues747]

@@robertp.wainman4094 Because the people who manage those building generally don't have that much money at all. Then, when those people leave, the City Council cannot demolish those because most of them have lots of heir (due to their history).

[@pedroleal7118]

@@robertp.wainman4094 Probably because way to old, or not adapted to today's life. Lots of them not made of concrete, if not mantained, they crumble...? Others are made of stone and still prevail.

[@sorayaimperial]

@@robertp.wainman4094 Usually because they belong to something who doesn't care about it or got stuck in inheritance sharing. This is a big problem in our rural areas, where that may lead to very wildfire prone lands that are just overgrown for people not caring about them. For example, I want to buy a house that has been abandoned since the 90s near my inlaws. Everyone in that village knows the person who built it. Nobody can track her and her sons all live abroad. So it's impossible for me to buy it and restore it, so it's just there getting more and more destroyed. Additionally, there is some bureaucracy surrounding rebuilding an old building. If it's an old building with architectural value (there's a list for those in every municipality), you must repair it according to the original to some extent, to preserve its history (even though if it gets destroyed, there won't be anything left either way), which sometimes incurs in higher prices. If it's an old building out in rural areas, you must comply with both new wildfire laws and keep the same location of the house (because only that part has been certified as buildable land): however, these two requirements are often impossibie to conciliate. If you build on top of the ruin, you might fulfil the requirements for wildfire prevention (distance to forest lands); but if you change the location of the house to follow those mandatory distances, now you won't get a permit because it's are where it isn't allowed to build. I work in public policy and we are trying to get this changed, because it just takes people out of the rural areas. This doesn't apply to all cases, ofc, but it's quite common on those abandoned houses you'll see in the middle of the countryside or near forests. And then there's small agricultural houses that once inhabited like 12 people and it was either illegally placed (we have a lot of that) or built at a time where there weren't laws concerning where you can build, so now it's impossible to restore them unless you go through a very lenghty process to get approval for building in that plot of land (and again, wildfire laws may prevent you from getting a permit) or if you only want like a small shed to store a tractor and such, like a support infrastructure for agriculture. Many people circumvent this by building amazing "tractor sheds" or garages that inside are actually a house, but they are obviously illegal.

[@lsismeiro]

I always like to hear foreigners talking about the strange things and habits in Portugal. I also stress while driving with some of the crazy portuguese drivers and I am Portuguese! Thanks for the video.

[@pedroalmeida4335]

Graffiti's have a higher meaning when you learn Portuguese. Love declarations, social complaints, and for the Portuguese to show their expressive side, because as you said they don´t wave! 😅🤣

[@sofiapalma3930]

sure, we don't wave to strangers, but in some cases we say "bom dia". Although some people have lost the habit of even saying it, too🤔

[@ThePindar]

A maioria dos graffitis são só para encher chouriço

[@anikassa]

@@sofiapalma3930 Isso é mais nas terrinhas, toda a gente diz bom dia ou boa tarde a toda a gente e se não disseres passas por mal educado. Mas na cidade é só estranho se o fizeres

[@sofiapalma3930]

@@anikassa é verdade que sou duma terrinha :P mas o Dave diz que está numa zona rural, também

[@goncaloen5100]

@@ThePindar sim caralhi

[@fl1px]

This is the absolute best video about Portugal made by a foreigner i have ever seen.

[@cesarneves]

Greetings from Porto! Very interesting, comprehensive and accurate video. The thing I liked the most was the implicit "respect Portugal culture". Instead of judging like many others do. "Oh they are crazy here in traffic" - yes, that`s true. We are far from the best drivers but we have narrow streets, we are used to them, we drive carelessly with excess of confidence but (unfortunately) that`s part of our DNA (don`t even get me started on ad driving in Italy where I lived for a few months and scared the s*** out of me). You left out probably the BIGGEST culture shock for an american: going to the doctor will not put you in debt for the rest of your life!

[@vervideosgiros1156]

Guiar assim ou assado não faz parte do ADN... Não tem nada a ver... O que é exclusivamente cultural não tem nada a ver com o ADN...

[@carlosvictor8679]

ya and the dentist only charges 40 euros for a tooth extraction,lol.

[@vervideosgiros1156]

@@carlosvictor8679 Não percebi, lol...

[@aerogun18]

Excepto que cultura portuguesa não existe, então não há nada para respeitar.

[@vervideosgiros1156]

@@aerogun18 Ai cultura portuguesa não existe?! Isso é um bocado estranho porque não sei se sabe, Portugal tem quase 900 anos! Se não há cultura portuguesa, então a múrica muito menos!

[@Lyko5]

as a portuguese, I think it's a wonderful thing you do this for anyone willing to visit Portugal and anyone interested to find about our culture is welcome

[@BenelliMr]

Seven years ago, I was on a long motor bike trip through Southern Europe. When arriving in Portugal, on the second day I swore never to ride a motorbike in Portugal. Five years ago, we bought a house in the most amazing Algarve; I sold my motor bike and my bicycle and I bought a very solid and safe car and I was right to do so. Proof: still alive today

[@waltermessines5181]

Bought a bike in Lisbon 4 years ago, daily (almost) crossing the bridge brings me closer to God; If you drive defensive all is good, most of the time. Cars give way, lane splitting is an accepted way to pass the traffic jams. Fast bikes and young guys or machos on fast bikes are the most dangerous. It keeps me awake.

[@BenelliMr]

It is not god who protects motorcycle riders, but Christophoros 👍 and in Portugal praying to him is really necessary. Especially in roundabouts or intersections with priority to the right. The worst situation is in summer when Northern European tourists drive according to EU road safety standards and thus conflict with Portuguese style. I wish you lots of good prayers to St Christoph

[@curtlee6228]

A tip for Americans: I've been living in Austria for a while now and was amused that Americans in Portugal struggle with a lot of the same issues I had when I first came to Austria. It seems a lot of these issues are a European as opposed to a country-specific thing. For example we have the same problems when returning or exchanging items at stores here in Austria. My advice, and I think this should work in Portugal as well, is to ALWAYS save your receipts, and unfortunately you also ALWAYS have to save the packaging. This sounds absurd from an American point of view, but trust me, I've learned my lesson! Merchants not only want to see your receipt, but they want the original packaging as well. Saving the box something comes in DRASTICALLY increases the chances of getting it successfully exchanged or returned at a later date. Regarding tipping: it's not necessarily expected, but if you decide to tip, rounding up to the nearest dollar is perfectly fine. If you use a percent, then a maximum of 10% would be considered the limit. Waving at strangers: I also underwent a similar shock here in Vienna because I was supposedly being too friendly to strangers. I had no idea this was a problem until my Austrian friends sat me down one day like some sort of intervention and informed me that waving and smiling at strangers was very irritating. At first I had no idea what they were talking about, until they convinced me that I had a habit of smiling at strangers or smiling when riding the subway. "Cut it out, only stupid people walk around smiling or waving for no good reason!" They aren't too fond of hugging either 😆. After a while it slowly began to sink in that Europeans find Americans overly friendly and optimistic and find it difficult to understand why we smile and hug people we've just met. It creeps them out! 🤣

[@Anon54387]

Here in the states a college classmate worked in a business where a lot of German tourists came through. He was told by his boss to not smile at the Germans because they, too, would assume one isn't all there intellectually. What is seen as friendly by Americans is seen as stupid by Germans. I think it is sad that you can't be pleasant with people without being seen as an idiot. Americans are optimistic because we aren't hampered by the silly European systems, but that's another story altogether. I think I'd be bitter if I had to pay the amount of taxes Europeans do. Our tax rates are too high in the USA, but Europe is much worse.

[@curtlee6228]

@@Anon54387 "I think I'd be bitter if I had to pay the amount of taxes Europeans do." - I used to think the same way until I broke my leg a few years ago and therefore got to know the Austrian/European healthcare and social welfare systems on a very "intimate" basis. Yes, people here pay a lot more taxes, HOWEVER you also get a lot back in return. Europeans view their social welfare system not as a tax burden like we do, but like a service provider that they pay for. Just like in the states if I pay for cable TV every month, then I DAMN WELL EXPECT to get cable TV every month, and there better not be any service interruptions! The same concept applies here in Europe, but to the social welfare state. People gladly pay their taxes because they see it as paying a service provider. Whenever the time comes for them to avail themselves of these "services" that they've paid for, e.g. they get sick or unemployed or have to stay home to take care of a family member, etc., they KNOW they can rely on the welfare state to take care of them (because they paid for it). So unlike in the US, they have a comprehensive á la carte welfare/healthcare system here in Europe that takes care of you hand and foot from the first day you get sick, and accompanies you until you fully recover. When I broke my leg here in Austria, I was whisked away by an ambulance to a top tier trauma center, was given EXCELLENT care, had an entire staff of specialists and nurses looking after me round the clock, then when I was discharged I received something like 80% of my salary for the entire year that I stayed home, plus received a monthly allowance to pay for a cleaning lady, plus a nurse made daily visits to clean and change my bandages, plus I also received another financial allowance (I have no idea what for, they called it "care allowance"), plus they sent me to a swanky health spa nestled in the Alps for a few weeks for underwater gymnastics and massages, etc., etc. And throughout all this I didn't have to pay a single cent - NADA, ZILCH! I'd have to be a millionaire to get the same level of treatment if I were back in the US, but here in Europe this is the standard care available to EVERYONE, regardless of your economic or work status. Here in Austria you go to the same hospital as the president and you get treated by the same medical equipment and the same doctors as he does. And all of this is of course made possible by the high tax contributions people pay. Let's not even talk about the infrastructure, with exhaustive public transport (so you never need a car to get around), well maintained roads and highways, well maintained buildings, state of the art hospitals and clinics with the latest gadgets, etc. All our prescriptions are done digitally, so I never have to go to the doctor and get a paper prescription - I just make a phone call and he puts it on my health insurance card, I then go straight to the pharmacy and pick up my medication, and they only cost a maximum of $7 or so, regardless of the actual cost of the medication, for a maximum of 2% of your annual income. After that all your medication is free. I can go online and review my entire medical history, see all my prescriptions, see which doctors I've ever visited, read my medical files, schedule appointments, etc. So yeah, we pay high taxes, but it's definitely worth it in the end!

[@wenchefauske6898]

In europe we have a more narrow intime-zone. If someone stay nearer to than 1 metre I back away. American is seems like invading and rude when they try to hug or stay too close

[@TealStarSusan]

I’m English and my husband (David) is Scottish, and we’ve lived in northern Portugal in Amarante for over 13 years now. Boy have we seen things change! 😮 The first couple of years it didn’t matter which shop you went in, from a supermarket like Continente to a little hardware shop/drogaria - the lighting was so very poor you had to take things to the window to be able to read them! Then suddenly LEDs appeared and now most shops are bright! In winter restaurants up here often don’t heat their properties so we eat with coats on! 😮But that’s gradually improving too! I’m sure you were shocked at the low prices for a bottle of wine/beer etc..and how reasonable the same tipple is only a few euros more expensive in a restaurant! Unlike the U.K. where a cheap bottle of wine costing £5 can cost £20 in a restaurant! We eat out far more often than ever we did in the U.K. Folk in Europe don’t tend to wave, the Italians use that closing the fingers thing but if you are just passing someone it’s usually customary to do the nod and mumble Bom dia, or Boa tarde. Oh and have you noticed in the more traditional small shops the shopkeepers or owners often shake your hand and they say Bom dia etc? It’s like being in the U.K. back in the 50s! We are glad you are liking Portugal but like us the small things like parcels and odd bureaucracy is irritating! 😂 If you are ever up here near Amarante, do message us! Btw never mind the Romans, especially up here we have Roman baths etc, Celtic things and the briteiros which are whole towns of round houses built by in the Iron Age! Boa sorte!

[@user-qb7ms6vs7s]

Greetings from an Englishman in the Netherlands may I ask did you have to learn the local language or have you been able to get by with English?

[@user-qb7ms6vs7s]

@@rir79 yes rita you sound sad.

[@HumanesqueShark]

omg my parents already complain if a bottle of wine is 5 euros lmao they say it's 2 expensive é nice ver gente que vive perto de mim na net :) sou de uma aldeia nos arredores de Penafiel

[@TealStarSusan]

@@user-qb7ms6vs7s I was already fluent in Italian and had learned French at school. Up here in the north where we live, virtually no one spoke English so yes, I learned Portuguese. I’m not perfect but I can usually make myself understood. We knew the north didn’t speak much English but we wanted to assimilate and not move to a “Brit, English speaking enclave!”!

[@Cavalon3]

The yeld part is due to the driving code, if you are entering a free way and see the uspide down triangle, you have to let them pass ( what I do usually is change to the mid lane so they can enter)

[@elliepereira3536]

You're totally right in everything that you said. Now, let me give an explanation about the highway and bid trucks. Big trucks in the highway are only aloud to drive on the first lane, which is the one on the right. That's the law. That is why whoever tries to enter the highway must be really careful and pay attention when it's the right time to enter. Hope it helps.🙂🙂🙂

[@xhxcxdrummerx]

In the US, it actually IS the law to yield to traffic already on the highway. Of course, we're way too important and busy to do that, so I'm merging, ready or not. Jesus take the wheel! 🤣

[@Pereirada_Costa]

The card thing is about clones. Stay away from places where your card is taken out of your sight. They exist. Showing the entire operation in plain view reassures the card owner about the smoothness of the act.

[@miguel151420]

About the food: Usually in Europe, you never go to a city center and find the best restaurants there, they're mostly for tourists. So basically, you wanna see true Portuguese cuisine, just go everywhere besides Lisbon. We have the best food and hundreds of dishes here, so I don't buy your whole "there's only 3 dishes in the menu" take. Like I said, go outside Lisbon center and you find every kind of food you wish. Not just rural areas

[@BenelliMr]

also avoid tourist areas in the Algarve

[@leandrog2785]

You apparently didn't listen to 90% of what he said about restaurants. You're just repeating what he said, as if it contradicted his point.

[@miguel151420]

@@leandrog2785 hmmm not really, listen again then

[@mariaalmeida299]

Hi! Like many of the commenters below I am also Portuguese. Regarding the waving to people difference, I have noticed that (I'm from a rural area) in the cities like Lisbon or Porto it is indeed very rare (borderline weird) to wave at strangers, but in the countryside its not just because "neighbours know neighbours" ahaha. We literally do wave at strangers hehe. My boyfriend is from Lisbon and he finds it super weird I wave at random people. Also to add to the dog thing: having dogs is SUPER common as you may have realized, especially in rural areas. I have 4 myself. Yes I have mastered the art of "Ignore the Bork Bork".

[@BenelliMr]

sorry, mastering this art of "Ignore the Bork Bork" is extremely selfish and unsocial .... think about others too

[@mariaalmeida299]

@@BenelliMr It's normal here. It's not extremely selfish or unsocial if it is the norm. Not so much in the city but definitely in the countryside.

[@joaoramoscarvalho5670]

I spent some time as a tourist in the USA and one of the things that really SHOCKED me was obesity. I had never seen so many large people. They could barely walk. You don't find restaurants and cafés in every corner as we find here, in Portugal. Drinking good coffee in a street café on a sunny day is one of the pleasures you can find in Portugal, but certainly not in the US. By the way, coffee in the USA is awful. The best pastry over there is Portuguese: pastel de nata, malassadas... I've been to beautiful places with nice people, but the more you travel to the interior of the country the more you feel you are living in a film of the 1950's.

[@davidbaca329]

My stepmother is Portuguese has the opposite opinion. She loves American coffee and she's lived here for over 40years. A tourist can hardly experience what a country has to offer or not.

[@joaoramoscarvalho5670]

@@davidbaca329 I respect your stepmother's opinions, but after living 40 years in your country she is more American than Portuguese. I suppose she has forgotten most of her Portuguese as well. She must have been pretty young when she left Portugal. At that time Portugal was so neglected by the political class, had lived a colonial war, etc. that everything coming from a developed country like the USA was top of the range.

[@eddiec5202]

@@joaoramoscarvalho5670 HAHAHA So now you have traveled 10,000,000 square kilometers in one visit. Amazing that must have been a Guinness World Record. Dude you are really have to be dumb to say the things you just said in your original comment. USA is larger than Europe in size, economy, wealth, finance, military power and influence. But what we are talking here is total area of course. There are 39 states with a larger total area than Portugal, that says it all. US food and dishes are among the most popular in the world just to name a few: Hamburger, Hot Dogs, Brownie, Donuts, Cheesecake, Corn Flakes, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Fajitas, Mac and Cheese, BBQ, Brisket, Pulled Pork, Buffalo Wings, St. Louis Ribs, Fried Chicken, Cupcake, Nachos, Cheeseburger, etc.Just like thousand more dishes-plates including healthy ones like avocado toast, cioppino, Clam Chowder, Corn Chowder, Oyster Stew and more. By the way USA is #3 in number of michelin stared restaurants worldwide.

[@eddiec5202]

@@joaoramoscarvalho5670 The guy visited 0.000000001% of the USA and is out here generalizing, lmao. USA have more restaurants, retail space, supermarkets, roadway, railway, stadiums, airports, heliports, etc than Europe. Imagine comparing a country the size of Maine with a tiny economy, uninfluential and unpopular with what statistically proven is the richest, most powerful, innovative and influential country in history of the world and the only hyperpower in history the United States of America (that by the way USA is larger than Europe in total area, water area, land area, economy, financial assets, total wealth, private wealth, corporate wealth, market cap. bond market size, equity market, reserve currency, gold reserves, UHNWI, HNWI, billionaires, millionaires, GDP, GNI, GDP per capita, wealth per capita, disposable household income, Average wage, HDI, Consumer market size and more). This is coming from someone that is not American

[@thomask.8537]

I cannot defend American coffee. It is basically colored water. As to obesity in the US, there are many causes but perhaps the principal one is, food is the cheapest form of entertainment available to most people.

[@catarinaalmeida6904]

That little computer card reader it's called Multibanco and it's a portuguese invention :D I really liked your video!

[@coffee-is-power]

Now we have visa contactless, you just need to approximate your card to the screen and it's done.

[@BenelliMr]

are you sure it is a Portuguese invention???

[@fabiuh991]

Created and managed by SIBS as well as atm machines multibanco network

[@quifix1]

@@BenelliMr Não inventou, melhorou e muito pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multibanco

[@mahnel]

It's very interesting to see you mention the burocracy here, we all absolutely agree! I don't know if it's just an old system or actually made to be as troublesome as it can be, but the customs specially are awful and 100% made in a way so that everything can be taxed

[@filiperocha4025]

As it should.

[@jennybertenshaw7694]

When I first became an ex-pat moving to the Netherlands in the 80's I was exhausted by the bureaucracy along with the language Having lived in other countries and now Portugal I realised its US thats the problem Moving out of your native country where you have been stamped and tracked since birth unnoticed by you..Its a shock to see the reality of what you have always just taken for granted...ie your NOT free

[@oquefizhoje]

I was in Boston and Providence in 2015 for 15 days and i realize that are so many things in US different from EU. I try to learn from it. I liked your suburban area with one house for family. Rarely i saw buildings with apartments. I notice that in US everything is dependent of cars. I used the public transport but rarely i saw people on the side walks. everyone travels by their own car. Light traffic was another difference. And imperial measures and Fahrenheit was a pain in the... I loved the east cost accent and how polite the citizens can be. Hugs. Carlos M.

[@aglayapiano]

I love your intelligent approach sharing information and I hope all the Americans moving to Europe are as intelligent and respectful as you are. Thank you

[@freeriderhappy]

Good tips, thank you 😊

[@timothybruggeman9332]

Portugal is on my list of places to visit after I retire. Which happens at the end of this year. Can't wait! I hope they will understand my really bad Brazilian Portuguese!

[@MFPRego]

We will, dont worry. Better yet, we will respect you for trying! Enjoy your stay!

[@microelsa]

You're very welcome, I hope you love it and have fun.

[@winterr19_92]

we will!! its kind of funny because brazilians don’t understand us most of the times but we understand them almost completely 😂

[@timothybruggeman9332]

@@winterr19_92 Well, it will be even worse for me because I am from the USA, and have been working in Brazil for 2 years, trying to learn Portuguese, and I still have a LOT of trouble understanding what Brazilians are saying. So understanding what Portuguese people are saying will be even more of a challenge. Por favor, você poderia falar mais devagar??

[@Spoopy_man]

@@timothybruggeman9332 Vai ser complicado para compreender o sotaque de Portugal se você não consegue compreender o Brasileiro, mas se você pedir para falar mais devagar não vai haver problema.

[@anacristinacaramujo4471]

Proud to be Portuguese and my culture! Dave, welcome to Portugal and I hope you enjoy getting to know my country! I live on the other side of Lisbon and I love it!

[@gl2023_]

😂

[@jadedjhypsi]

I like that you point out defensive driving. cuz I feel every single Portuguese driver has a crazy Nascar driver inside them =9 BTW, welcome to Portugal I been here since 2017 and still love it most days!!! you nailed so many great points, especially the dogs and the graffiti. Which I guess I have assimilated well because I don't hear the dogs anymore and I consider the graffiti street-art. Edited: Oh I totally forgot about the mail system I tried using it when I first got here but now I only order from EU cuz too many packages have gone missing !!

[@cesarneves]

Guilty. I`m a peaceful guy but once I sit in the car I turn on anger mode. Mostly complain about the other drivers. I also do my fair share of crazy driving but since my car isn`t that good, I mostly complain.. more than a lot xD

[@AlvesInfinito]

Portuguese often complain about Italian drivers. It's worse 🤣

[@psource2305]

Agressive/dangerous driving was WAY more common and pervasive in Portugal in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s than it is today.

[@bit2shift]

@Jaded Jhypsi are you sure your packages didn't get held at the customs waiting for clearance?

[@marializ7]

@@psource2305 you havent been to Italy, have you? 🙄🤣

[@carolynanderson3]

Excellent video! I have lived in Portugal almost 8 years, and the things you talk about are Spot On! One thing you forgot that was a major culture shock for me is no central heat in homes! This was hands down the one thing I did not anticipate. We live in a rural area south of Lisbon, out on a cape above the beautiful town of Sesimbra. It is gorgeous out here, but winter without heat in a windy coastal climate has been very difficult for this “pampered American”! Overall living in Portugal has been an incredible experience, but yes, there are so many cultural differences one must navigate. Keep up the good work with your videos!

[@joanambsantos]

I loved this video! However I disagree with the part about saying goodbye to strangers. In the north of Portugal, in cities like Porto, Aveiro, Braga and Guimarães, people are kinder and invite you to their homes easily. Portugal is really beautiful!

[@BenelliMr]

I fully agree with you, but I am allowed to say it, as I am not Portuguese. I have no conflict of interest :)

[@Change4Good333]

Great tips and points!🌟 Thank you so very much, Dave. My husband and I are loving your videos. All the best!💜

[@hitardo]

3:15 This is related to one key thing: In Portugal, you should ALWAYS drive on the far right side of the lanes, especially when driving on the highway. Because it is forbidden by Law to overtake on the right side, thus, if you are going faster than the other car, you should always overtake it on its left. If you are a slower driver, you should drive on the right lane. This is true on every European country, and on any modern World; as this is crucial for safe high-speed driving, like on highways. In the USA is also mandatory, but Law Enforcement does not enforce it regularly. In Portugal, the main difference is: If you do not go to the right lane to let other overtake you, people might tailgate you, in order to incentive you to go. They might even flash their high beams. I do not agree with tailgating, but I agree with the right lane Law. It is proven, by real road tests, that the "drive on the far right lane Law" makes the traffic more efficient. Moreover, round abouts are really the efficient way to move traffic. Traffic lights are only crucial on really busy streets. And, in Portugal, those traffic lights are on during the rush hours, and are blinking amber during low traffic hours. Whenever you encounter a blinking amber / yellow traffic light, you should follow either (a) the signs that are displayed, e.g., the STOP sign; or (b) follow the "the right hand side rule" - not to be confused with the "drive on the far right lane Law". "The right hand side rule" states that, whenever you either (1) do not have any signs regulating right of way, or (2) the signs regulating the right of way are of equal position on their hierarchy; you should always give right of way to the vehicle that is to your right. If the vehicle is in front of you, the one that should give way is the one that will cross the path of the other. The signal hierarchy, from the one that has the most right of way to the one that has the least is: a) Diamond gold sign, with white bordering b) No signal c) Ceding of passage sign (a triangle, with the vertice pointing to the ground) d) STOP sign These rules / Laws ensure a very efficient way of driving, while promoting safety. If you take your time, you will see that you spend less time waiting on a traffic light, and get wherever you are going faster. The downside is: you will need to pay really good attention while driving - a contrast to driving in the USA.

[@hitardo]

@Nelly Vieira we will be here waiting for you! Thank you for your comment.

[@franciscovs001]

Ermmm it's actually very common for strangers to greet each other on the street, not really waving but when you're out and about on the street and you walk past by another person, typically an elderly person it's super normal to greet them (for example you're walking the dog or taking out the trash and walk past an elderly couple taking a walk or something)

[@alexsm3882]

Only if you live in a tiny village

[@artonio5887]

not in big city centers, but in rural areas yes

[@patriciazander2072]

I agree. People typically say Bom dia, boa tarde...in fact if you just walk up to someone and start talking without first offering a proper greeting they will sort of correct you....

[@skurinski]

no its not common

[@tnightwolf]

14:05 The general IVA is 23% but there are some products that are taxed less. Food items that are considered essential-goods, books, music albums, audio-books and many cultural activities like festivals and theater are taxed at the much lower rate of 6%.

[@cirvac1981]

The dog situation is because in rural areas, most of the times your house is quite isolated and since it becomes easier to be preyed upon by thieves, so you let the dog bark. Since then you know there's probably someone around the area. Easy, right?😉 As for waiters, just signal them discreetly for the check, since in European Mediterranean countries it's common to just linger a bit at the table after eating, because then you can still ask for a coffee or some dessert. So yeah, waiters aren't mediums...🤣

[@eeaotly]

Sounds like Romania.

[@BenelliMr]

ssorry, I totally disagee: the dog situation in the Algarve is sooooo bad; practically no house is isolated here and some people sold their houses because of the very unsocial dog problem. Educating dogs is as important as educating children; I love children and dogs and I educate them both

[@oquefizhoje]

Great channel man! Love it. I am portuguese and i feel the same way you do. Items from outside EU must pass through the Costumes control (Alfandega). But you know... nowadays the process is made by computers. So i advise you to get a CTT login and deal with all the procedures online. My latest experience was 15 day ago. i just order from ebay an item from australia. the item took 7 days to get to Portugal and from there i receive a sms to take care of the procedures on the CTT online. I did all the 4 setps on my smartphone including payment. The item was delivery to my home in the third day after Costumes Control has gave green light for the item. Hugs. Nice to have you in my country. Love your accent.

[@ruiborges9884]

Two things you should know about Portugal: it has 800 Years and it's the only country in Western Europe with two timezones - the one from Lisbon (TMG) and another from Azores (TMG -1h). If all Portugal's Atlantic sea would strecht not the West but to the East, it would go almost to Moskow, Russia. Hope you enjoy Portugal.

[@Spuck1983]

Whut ? Spain has mainland (CET) and the Canary Islands (GMT) as well. The Netherlands still has some territories in the caribbean (you can check every euro note).

[@fgsaramago]

Tbose are colonies, doesnt count

[@cmarq817]

France has 12 time zones

[@ruiborges9884]

@@cmarq817 Yes, you're right. Their wines are very good.

[@GIKAO77]

Pretty much bang on video on a portuguese stand point. Small correction is IVA (taxes over products) will differ from itens to itens. Lower % on food and higher % on misc stuff. usually food related is aroud 6% if not mistaken. Petrol and Diesel is freaking expensive (around 2€ per liter). Theres alot of places to be seen in this small country, but you can believe we are big in heart and natural beauty, at least for now :P

[@hemlock40]

I'm an American that moved to Portugal two years ago, living in the countryside. Just seeing this video now. There are many amazing things about Portugal and I'm glad to be living here. I prepared myself for cultural differences in advance, but it still was a shock for many things. The rules of roundabouts do not matter because almost no one follows them. You just have to learn how the Portuguese people do it. It took a year to get used to barking dogs, and some of the ways that life is...slower. Also I'm used to the hyper-consumer culture of the US where most goods from cars, tools, lumber are readily available. It is much different here. My house is 400 years old, well-maintained and preserved but still very different than houses in the US. I could list a lot of differences that I'm still getting used to. The good things are worth it by far and the differences are all part of the adventure.

[@ericamendes9769]

1- this is the nicest way I have ever heard of someone saying that we drive like crasy and treat laws like recommendations that you may or may not follow. 2- the thing about dogs in Portugal is that we have 2 types of dogs: the "Pet dogs" that are spoiled rotten and the "work dogs" for hunting and guarding they tend to be chained and/or caged most of the time many are FERAL because of it and/or are caged because they are dangers (in Portugal is NOT common but sometimes theres guard dogs that are part WOLF).

[@PeeGeeThirteen]

A pro tip when it comes to renting or buying is to check the Energy Efficiency Rating (from A and B being the best well insulated and energy efficient to the awful E and F being the worst.)

[@tinglestingles]

After 6 months in Portugal - I agree with the points in this video. Subbed today. (I've never waved at anyone - even if I know them???)

[@manuelluiscoelho6874]

Nice vid btw Reduced VAT - 6% on the mainland, 5% on Madeira and 4% on the Azores - applies to: Basic necessities (such as bread, milk and dairy products, meat and vegetables); Periodical publications (newspapers, magazines); Pharmaceutical products (medicines, orthopedic devices); Accommodation in hotel establishments; Passenger transport. Intermediate VAT - 13% on the mainland, 12% on Madeira and 9% on the Azores- applies to: Meals; canned food; Wines and other food products; Tickets for music, theater, dance, singing, cinema and circus shows; Capture and use of solar, wind and geothermal energy. Normal VAT - 23% on the mainland, 22% on the Madeira archipelago and 16% on the Azores. Other products and services not covered by the reduced and intermediate rates are taxed at the normal You can consult all the products and activities covered by each tax in the CIVA lists.

[@RachelEliason]

The Portuguese call those hole in the wall places “clandestinos” and some of them are wonderful.

[@viagenseoutrascoisas2235]

Hi Dave, New subscriber! I am Portuguese. You are right...in Portugal the dogs barking a lot! Wishing you all the best ❤️

[@darkmattersproject2951]

What about roosters?

[@artonio5887]

never had to deal with that barking dog issue, no clue what you people are referring to

[@Spoopy_man]

@@darkmattersproject2951 I remember my mom wanting to strangle the rooster every morning lol.

[@darkmattersproject2951]

@@Spoopy_man 😝

[@jonaspereira007]

In the past the restaurants had more options, but today they have less options probably because is less expensive for the restaurants. But there are dishes that the Portuguese grew up eating and that nowadays you only find in very few restaurants (broad beans for example).

[@billify23455]

Bravo Senore Dave! I have reached my one year residence in Portugal as well. I'm in Vila do Conde, just north of Porto, an Expat from the US. Thanks for your perspective, it is "spot on".

[@paisano-mf2yx]

Hi, Dave! I would rename this video as "Culture Shocks for an American... when they realize there is a whole world besides the US". Hidden gems in a hole in the wall, roundabouts, toll roads, etc happens in many other countries in Europe and many other continents. I am an American and, for example, I fail to understand why in the US they still use the imperial system and worse: Americans don't have an idea on how the international metric system relates (like 3 miles is more or less 5 kilometers).

[@nilog2498]

Thank you for mentioning the dog barking. I have an auditory issue and dogs barking tends to trigger it. It seems like such a small thing that most people don't notice or don't think to mention. I didn't even think about it being an issue, but now I can make sure I have ear plugs.

[@MarcelScars]

As a portuguese person i can confirm that the driving tips are pretty much spot on! As a result of a few generations who almost always paid under the table to garantee that they pass their exams, regardless of whether or not they passed them, it resulted in most adults and the great majority of elderly people driving on the roads not knowing what they're doing. For example most people dont use turn signals at all while driving. In fact, I, myself, didnt know they were mandatory to use until i started studying to get my license, because almost nobody in my hometown used them at all. we like to say that all the foreigners that we see on the road are the ones that cant drive, but in reality, most people in portugal cant or dont drive properly either.

[@rodr1784]

Tip for people going to Portugal: If you see a restaurant at the midle of nowhere that's for sure the best restaurant

[@nezukichan]

Tailgating is very common here but utterly disrespectful. Absolutely agree with you.

[@nunorodrigues4604]

im portuguese and 100 per cent with you in this video and you show respet for us,glad to have foreigners like you sharing my country respect

[@lipinhahh]

You should visit Estarreja. We make an urban art event every year, where artists from around the world come and paint huge murals. It's beautiful to see, just walk around the city and explore all the art

[@marycollin9917]

Hey! I’m Californian and moved to the Silver Coast in Aug 2021. I love It. My husband is French. We’ve lived together in both France and California (Venice Beach, Malibu and lastly Ventura). Anyway, I love your videos! The best ones about Portugal IMO! I’ll be sharing. Anyway, just wanted to say Olá and Obrigada! Mary

[@Meowmeter]

As a Portuguese, I’d have to say this is quite accurate… as for exchanging items, yes you will need the sales slip… returning depends on the seller as it’s only obligatory for non functioning or defected items and online purchases. Thanks👍🏻

[@leandrog2785]

Why the hell would someone expect to be able to return an item without any document proving you bought it from them???

[@summersuleiman4244]

You nailed it, Dave!! 🙌🏽From top to bottom. The next time someone asks me what it’s like to live in Portugal, I’m just going to send them this link!

[@francescatappi3241]

Great video! I was wondering if you can recommend a restaurant in Porto. We will be there in December and would like to make a reservation to make sure we have a place to eat for New Year’s Eve. No worries if you don’t know any places. Again, great video! Thank you for sharing this information. 😊

[@zipinha]

Check porto walkers. They will help you. Chama is an amazing restaurant

[@francescatappi3241]

@@zipinha thank you so much!

[@Susaninha1D]

You’ll find a nice meal pretty much at any restaurant and if you’re used to American prices you will probably find it a bargain. But I do have to recommend going to a restaurant that will serve you a dish called “francesinha” Since it’s a Porto statement dish and it’s amazing

[@DragonBlueSpirit]

The dogs barking is so true! Haha I live in a place in the north where I am surrounded by dogs barking all night long and somehow I completely filtered it out now 😂

[@mikekelly5869]

Now you know about the problem you'll hear them!

[@hunger4wonder]

@@mikekelly5869 it's not a problem though.

[@tonyoliveira8605]

@@mikekelly5869 No no. He wont. Because if he does hes absolutely fucked. Also the roosters if youre from a more rural area. And the loud ass horn at midday everyday from the firefighters. And the church bells several times per hour from sun up to sun down...

[@mikekelly5869]

@@tonyoliveira8605 😂Sounds about right.

[@llgogo]

The dog thing is sooo true. In rural areas you hear dogs 24/7 and they are chained and often not even well fed. In cities a lot of people don't even pick up the shit and that is a big problem imo. I had one neighbor that his dog would literally bark ALL night and I had to report him multiple times to the landlady. People here are shit with pets. And yes, driving here is pretty hectic. I grew up here so it's all the same to me, but all my foreign friends pointed out that drivers here are a bit too fast.

[@TheMentallord]

Driving here is stressful af, especially in the big cities. I've learned in a trial by fire fashion, so it doesnt bother me much. But I have friends who live in more rural areas who just refuse to drive into the city center. Also, my favorite way of knowing if you are in Porto or if the driver is from Porto is that they'll honk at you if you take more than half a second to react to a green light. Seriously, try taking an extra second and you'll get honked 95% of the time.

[@MrMadalien]

@@TheMentallord What's funny is that honking is technically illegal in that situation, but this is not enforced.

[@sharongoncalves3326]

Omg hi! Just came across your channel and this is amazing! I’m also an American and been living here in Portugal for almost 5 years now! I love it here but get home sick at times and love to see or come across other fellow Americans! If you’d like a new friend I’m here 😊

[@BenelliMr]

I am not American, I live in Portugal since five years and I have the same opinion :)

[@relaxinnature7706]

Very informative video! I live in Mexico and walking down a dark alley looking for great food is more of a gamble. 🤣

[@rebeccagutierrez1960]

In Chicago or New York, going down a dark alley... you might become the food instead of you looking for food.

[@gabrielgago6945]

As a Brazilian living in Portugal I’ll say this; I thought my fellow Brazilians were the WORST drivers in the world. And then I came to Portugal and realized how wrong I was.

[@helenacorreia7613]

People shouldn't drive that fast in rural areas.... It's really bad. I totally agree with you. Thank you for speaking up for the dogs in the rural areas. It's really bad how bad people keep them in there. And as for the dog barking... I have never got used to that myself

[@harore4078]

Nice I'm from New Zealand but my great grandma is Portuguese she married a Maori man witch is my great grandpa from New Zealand I've always wanted to learn more about my great grandma's culture 💯

[@paulacoelho4727]

Customs here in Portugal is a complete nightmare, I swear everytime I try to get my stuff is just like trying to win the lottery. Also yeah we don't wave to strangers hahah, we wave if we know the person and say "good morning", "good day" or "good evening" to strangers if we're the only ones in the street or if there's very few people around

[@APeeKay]

Watching your channel for the first time and love how you provide all the information clearly. You need more subscribers as your content is superb and useful. May be not be as flashy, but totally on point.

[@susana.amaral]

The issue of grafitti. We're constantly removing grafitti, but people like to paint again once is cleaned up, most of places people got tired of cleanning :( The Lisbon electric that you've shown was painted fresh a lot of times...

[@yousillyenglishknnniigit8205]

I like this type of videos a lot and hope to see more in the future! Let me throw you some topics: How do you compare pastry? How's coffee culture for an american? Does america offer the same amount of fish dishes in restaurants? Keep on the good work and enjoy Portugal!

[@robertadair6612]

When you are in Portugal and come from America YOU are the foreigner, not the Portuguese!!

[@tinglestingles]

Correct.

[@mikekelly5869]

I picked that up too, but I think he was referring to tourists from other places.

[@mtidbit6343]

We are moving to Madeira.l in 5 weeks after several visits… much of what you say applies.. but no tolls and little if any graffiti.. :-)

[@ZecaPinto1]

But the foreigner dont make an efort to speak the native language of the country he is visiting

[@darkmattersproject2951]

@@ZecaPinto1 I will.

[@awaitingsun]

One very important thing about the toll. There are also streets that do not have a via verde or cash system. They scan your license plate automaticly and you have to register your license plate to a credit card so they can withdraw money from it. When you do not register and use the street they will send you an invoice evennto another country and there will be a fee that you have to pay in addition.

[@celestinosilva8681]

As a Portuguese the wave to strangers thing is a lot less about "what the heck is that guy doing" and more like "Who the heck is that guy, do i know him?" and we keep trying to remember if it is someone we know/know us.

[@___David__]

Oh and here's a quick breakdown of how the mailing situation works: -> Orders from within the EU: no taxes or import duties. -> Orders from outside the EU can face 2 situations: a) If the seller you've bought from has joined the EU's OSS system, you'll have been charged VAT (IVA) when making your purchase. The seller will dispatch the documentation with the price and VAT charged. When arriving at customs, your order will not be retained and it'll enter the postal distribution normally, as if coming from within the EU. If the order exceeds 150€, you may be charged import duties (when applicable) if the seller hasn't charged those and only charged VAT. b) If the seller has not joined the EU OSS system, then your order will be stopped in customs. In this situation, you will be contacted by the Customs Agency either via email, sms or letter to the address in the package, to pay up. Now, what you will have to pay will vary according to the value of the order and the items in it. - Anything up to 150€, you will only be charged VAT for it (normally 23%, unless you've ordered something which has a reduced VAT. For example, a book will only be charged 6% VAT). - Anything over 150€ will be charged VAT and customs duties. These are the ones that are very tricky to know. You'll be literally forced to look it up on a massive, confusing list on the Finance Ministry website. Some items are exempt from customs. Others aren't. So, for example, a smartphone is exempt of custom duties regardless of price. If you order an iPhone from the USA, you'll just be charged the 23% VAT over the value of the phone (which is worth it in the case of the iPhone 14, for example, which in Europe costs over 400€ more than the US version). But if you buy a dress, it'll have a 12% customs charge on top of the 23% VAT. In either of the situations described in B, you'll also have to pay the "administrative fees" which are the most annoying part of it. Sometimes it's possible to wave them away, but you'll be forced to take care of the paperwork yourself, go to the customs agency etc etc etc. It's seldom worth the cost in terms of time and petrol you'll waste.

[@morning_dew922]

This is so helpful! Obrigada!

[@joudylove]

hey Dave, amazing content as usual! you answered so many of my questions. love your channel,I kow its going to blow up!!!

[@leonheartilly1126]

true waving in Portugal to say hello is not common but people do respond if done verbally, so if you come to Portugal instead of waving try "bom dia" (good morning), "boa tarde" (good afternoon) or "boa noite" (good evening).

[@joaobrandao9482]

As a portuguese from Porto: Spot on!

[@x1achilles99]

Great informative video. I'm planning on retiring to Spain or Portugal in a few years. I speak Portuguese reasonably well from living in Brazil years ago. Thanks!

[@anubis9151]

14:00 There's also plenty of municipal sponsored graffiti work, so yeah, it's also very cultural and there are plenty of great pieces of artwork.

[@BenelliMr]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graffiti

[@danielaportugal1837]

Hi Dave. Just a small correction about the taxes as it is not 23% on everything. You also have 6% for essential goods, like some food, medicines or even magazines and newspapers. On a different note, there is a website called "conhecer o americano" from where you can buy basically anything from the US and have it shipped to you with NO HUSTLE AT ALL. What you cannot find in their website you just create a request within their website with the name of the product you want and the store that have it, they tell you the cost and send it to you without customs problems or fees and it takes about 2 weeks. Ah! And the products cost the same as in the US! This happens because they send the products from their offices in the US to their office in Lisbon and only after to you. And like that you are not involved in the customs process. I know I'm doing quite good marketing but I'm not associated with them. Just think that it might help a lot of people, since it seems to really be an easy thing.

[@YunaLiah]

Let me tell you something about the "original receipt" When you go to a place regularly, ask if they have a customer account there...like a member account... If there is that option, then be part of it, because if you lose your original receit from whatever you bought there, they can ALWAYS take a 2nd copy through your purchase history in the store, associated to your account! Muaaaaw

[@marusdod3685]

or just give your taxpayer number

[@Across_]

@2:17 lol sometimes? that's adorable! Dude, from a former "delivery-man's" perspective, most drivers in Portugal have this "handycap", let's put it that way, that keeps preventing them from not being able to actually turn on their turning signals! IT IS A SICKNESS! lol like, seriously! I kid, but honestly, more than half the accidents that happen in roundabouts and cross roads could totally be prevented/avoided if only those ppl learned to actually USE their warning/turning signals. Glad you're enjoying your stay in Portugal man! ^^b Also: @7:06 well... it's the cheapest alarm system ever, what else can I say!? 😅 But yeah that happens a lot!

[@katokutaniccals]

I'm portuguese but my boyfriend is american. When he visited the first time he'd try to tip even at the cafe after we had a simple expresso. It was cute and funny. I love seeing my foreign friends fall in love with the castles and old churches (specially the templar one in my town), they always want to stay longer and return another time.

[@chenellehammonds3928]

Great video and very informative. As someone looking to move to Portugal soon, the mail situation makes me nervous though.

[@aske___4533]

if you come as expat or digital nomad pls stay the fuck away

[@tangerine33]

Almost the same in Hungary. Expect tipping in restaurants is very much expected, even if you're not a tourist. Oh and the VAT is even higher here, it is 27%, but it is also included in the prices.

[@luisv8431]

You have 15/30 days to return any item, unless you have damged, recommend to bring the receipt so they can transfer the money back to your card/account. Always check the company return policy when purchasing anything.

[@midgeot]

Oh it's not as easy as that 😅 14 days return only applies to online purchases, I. Store purchases return really depends on the store, if they accept the return or not. There's no law for in store returns.

[@jvazcarvalho]

Hello Dave, I’ve spent all Sunday afternoon watching your videos and I’m overwhelmed on how an American sees portuguese culture and life style as close as a portuguese does. Loved your videos on Lisbon and Oporto. What about other astonishing places in the south? Have you explored Alentejo? Can I defy you to show just a little bit of this region?

[@Potencyfunction]

Portugal is part of a multi active culture, therefore you shouldn't have a shock-culture. They are friendly with strangers actually, they make easy new friends and as well give up easy on others cultural belifs, of which they find them not "full of life".

[@imaanconstructioninc.6351]

Curious what part of Portugal you are talking about. I have completely given up on trying to make Portuguese friends. I'm actually surprised that this wasn't covered in the video, but a real culture shock for me, as an American in Portugal is how the people will stare at you, for a long time, but if you greet them, they just turn away and awkwardly ignore you. In business exchanges most everyone is pleasant, but they have no interest in meeting people, conversation, or making friends. However, it could be different where you are.

[@miguelbranquinho7235]

We tend to keep to ourselves, yes.

[@Luboman411]

At 12:08. Part of the reason Portugal has so many empty old buildings is because, well, the country's population is slowly shrinking. This is especially true in the countryside. The other reason is that most of Portugal, unlike almost any other part of Europe, has been blissfully free of large-scale wars since at least the early 1600s, when the Portuguese fought off Spanish Hapsburg rule. (There were some towns and villages that were flattened by the French during the Napoleonic invasions of the early 1800s, but those were not numerous.) Portugal never suffered attacks during the world wars, and has never suffered a long and protracted civil war. So, you bet your bottom that Portugal, even by European standards, has a lot of old buildings.

[@killer_benfica134]

well about grafitis , there has been a thing where they would let artist paint in hood buildings and maje beautifull on the side of it , plus theres alot of areas even schools where they let people make their art , and it keeps chanfing and it isnt just simple tags and what not , i find it cool

[@skurinski]

most of it is trash

[@BenelliMr]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graffiti

[@VanessaPetiteCo]

The wave thing was funny, we don't wave at strangers but if you go somewhere where there's someone else too you tipically say good day/afternoon/etc.

[@AdrianoPereira78]

I laughed a lot with your video.... I've never been in Portugal, but I'm from Brazil and we behave 90% of the time in the same way hehehe.... I lived in U.S. for 5 years, I always wanted to learn the language. My impression is that americans don't like to make foreign friends, you guys really are within a matrix, closed in a different reality. Anyway I enjoyed the ride there, I make money with my english now but I made no friends in 5 years hahahaha.... Americans have money but are sad. My impression.

[@luismoreira9245]

Hey man! Great video, but as a Portuguese I can safely say that I order things from the US all the time (like every month or so) and never had that issue, my uncle lives in Canada and he also sends stuff here regularly with no problem 👌

[@2004friends]

We moved to an island in the Azores and probably 90% of the people here wave at us. Even when we were here just visiting a lot of people waved at us.

[@Lele-mn6sd]

Hi Maria which island in the Açores did you move to🤔🙂

[@thekunga]

I agree with all of the things you've Said.... A bit sad to ear somethings that are, actually, true. All the best for you here in Portugal

[@enfardabombarda8479]

I'm from Portugal and the way the old generation treat their pets is kind bad... But don't worry people like me from the new generation, wasn't even capable of chain my pet that is like family to me. So Lil by Lil the animals treatment will increase and I think is the same for other country's.

[@cerisedaemon]

Portuguese here, and when we got to the "Mail" segment...Oh booooy. xD Packages are a real hell, but even like official government letters like health appointments and stuff those have been getting lost A LOT ever since the pandem*c hit, it's a nightmare.

[@ruineves9839]

Well we had in Lisbon: "O senhor do adeus" you can chek it in you tube, he became famous because he waved to all people in the center of Lisbon. If you don't want to became famous don´t wave.

[@hunger4wonder]

I first saw "o senhor do adeus" somewhere in the 90s. I was with a friend when we saw an old gentleman walking around smiling and waving every passerby. I smiled and waved back and he seemed so happy that i waved back and smiled at him.

[@susanatinsley7136]

Truly best comment 😂🤣🤣🤣

[@ruineves9839]

@@susanatinsley7136 Thanks, but keep waving!