We couldn’t visit Spain without heading west to explore Portugal!  My hubby enjoys sipping port…. but there’s much more to this beautiful land than that. Let’s find out.

PASSPORTS

Stamped their passports with date, country, capitol, flag and languages noted.

MAPPING

• Learn about the meaning of Portugal’s flag and coat of arms
• Explore Portugal with Google maps.
• Print out and label Portugal map with National Geographic MapMaker
• Paste on landmarks onto map.

Barcelos Cock – cutout construction paper collage with white paint

ABOUT PORTUGAL

• Capital City: Lisbon
• Currency: Euro
• Languages: Portugese and Mirandese
• CIA World Factbook – Portugal
• World Atlas Online – Portugal
• National Flower: lavender
• National Animal: Iberian Wolf
• National Bird: Barcelos Cock
• National Sport: soccer
• National Tree: Olive Tree, Cork Oak
• National Geographic Kids – Portugal
• Weather: average 55F in the mountains – 64F in south / Sunny, snow in elevations
• Government: Parliamentary Democracy
• Products: olives, olive oil, fish, wine, grapes, barley, cheese, tomatoes, cork, wood products, ceramics

LANDFORMS/WATER

• Azores and Madeira Islands
• Pico Volcano – highest point in Portugal – Azores, Island of Pico
• rolling hills
• scattered mountains
• coastal plains
• Cantabrian Mountains along Spain
• islands and islets
• limestone caves and grottoes
• rivers
• no inland lakes
• Atlantic Ocean
• Iberian peninsula

3 watercolor tile designs with sharpie pen – scanned into computer and then made into mosaic patterns

ART/CRAFTS

• tile painting and glazing “azulejos” brought by the Moors – blue and white
• embroidered linens – bright colorful
• paint and paper collage Barcelos Cock
• crochet and knit clothing
• try a stitch sample of ‘Portugese Borders‘
• Aran-style sweaters
• sheepskin products
• hand carved walking sticks – often in likeness of animals
• Chinese influenced pottery – hunting scenes
• Azores Pottery
• Pinterest Portugese Crafts Board

FOOD

• Malasadas – Very popular in Hawaii! Much Portugese influence there. These ‘donuts’ are everywhere!!
• Espiros – like a meringue, but with citrus flavor
• Portugese Custard Cups – Pasteis de Nata
• Portugese Barbecue Chicken
• salt cod
• chourico – spicy sausage
• kale and potato soup
• grainy corn bread with a thick crust
• gazpacho – cold soup
• pork and clam stew
• port

ANIMALS/FAUNA

• boars
• Iberian Wolf
• fallow deer
• wild goats
• foxes
• Iberian (or Granada) hares
• Iberian lynx (endangered)
• crabs, clams, oysters, tuna, bonito, sardines
• Portugese Water Dog

HISTORY

• Moors settled from N. Africa in 711
• Moors pushed out of Iberia by Christian armies by 9th Centuray under Christian rule
• kingdom until 1910 > republic
• once ruled by dictator Antonio de Oliveira Salazar until 1970
• Carnation Revolution – rebels wore red carnations then in 1976 became democratic
• seafaring history, with large overseas empire “Age of Discovery”

CULTURE

• Fado music – mournful, nostalgic tunes, topics: the poor, the sea, old homes faraway
• fishing villages
• Muslim and Christian influences
• colorful umbrella canopy in Agueda
• modern colorful ‘train track art’ by Artur Bordalo
• Portugese Language – Useful Phrases
• Portugal Traditions
• Lace Knitting (Getting Started with Beginning Lace Knitting)

ARCHITECTURAL LANDMARKS / WONDERS

• Jeronimos Monastery
• Madeira Archipelago
• Azores Archipelago
• Douro River Valley – Port wine
• Tower of Belem, Lisbon
• Lagos
• Nazare or Algarve – beach destinations
• Queluz National Palace
• Oporto wine capital
• Evora Historic Town
• Alfama old village – famous for Fado music

FAMOUS PEOPLE

• Carmen Miranda
• Ferdinand Magellan
• Bartolomeu Dias
• Vasco da Gama
• Alfonso de Alburquerque

IMPRESSIONS

Portugal may be smaller than Spain, but has a lot of rich and far reaching history, a vibrant Port industry, interesting cuisine, beautiful landscapes and a large influence on culture around the world – namely Brazil and even Hawaii.  The Portugese Barbecue Chicken was AMAZING – so happy that we tried that recipe – it’s a keeper.  The meringues…. were a sticky flop. If we make again won’t follow the heat and time directions but go long and low to dry them out more. The custards were so-so but only because I used ‘fill-able’ puff pastry instead of the sheets.  If I used the sheets… would have been better. The custard itself I’d look for a different recipe as well.  BamBam really became a great little Chef – he loved every part of it. Reading and writing the ingredients (without my asking to either….), putting the parts in, stirring etc…. it’s fun watching him blossom in new ways!  Pebbles is always art driven, and she loved to do the aquarelle pencil painting and knitting.  Besides the food exploration, we really enjoyed watching the videos touring Portugal. A vibrant and colorful country – would love to visit one day.

The next country we’ll learn about will be ANDORRA! Then off to GERMANY.