Portugal From World Power to World Begger

Portugal 

From World Power to World Begger

Portugal has a history like the British. Mighty world power and sea faring nation with tons of colonies. Then Napoleon wanted a piece of the pie in 1807 and it's been downhill ever since.

Gaby and I spent 9 days in South Western Portugal - Algarve - basically hiking the wild coasts. This place is paradise, with balmy So. California type temps and beautiful wild beaches and not many people (Portugal is actually losing population). I'm not sure why this area is not flooded with Norwegians buying up all the cheap property. I was told that Europeans like hotels right on the beaches so they don't have to walk too far for their beer. And Euros like 10k long beaches. These beaches are wild in short 1k stretches and located in a nature reserve so there are no hotels. Very few people with isolated beaches - we totally loved it.

Crowded beaches

Wild Women

We're NOT in Minnesota anymore

Fort Sagres - Waiting for the Moors to Attack

Proud of their cork trees.

The food was so fresh and tasty. We shopped and cooked every night. There is just a level of food quality you don't get in America. It is so fresh and tastes like real food not like the plastic we eat in the US.

Best of all they have lots of climbing right out of the sea up to 300 feet high. Great weather, climbing, fantastic food, socialist government. Could this be my climbing nirvanna?

Socialist Nirvanna 

Since independence Portugal had a long history of socialism and communism since they achieved freedom from military rule in 1974. Obviously that all blew up because they didn't have the Germans to bail them out. So in about 1987 the IMF said you really should work if you want get to money and they've been trying to dig themselves out of the hole since then. 

But as you probably know, Portugal along with Greece/Spain/Irelands, all had massive bank failures and bloated government budgets so they went bankrupt yet again in 2008 and the Germans had to bail them out because they are now part of the Euro. On our trip I kept hearing the term "Brussels Money". "We built this highway with Brussels Money" "We built this park with Brussels Money", etc. Basically its German money. In reality they've been just blowing the money and retaining their bloated civil service infrastructure because they are afraid the public unions will shut down the country. They are slowly trying to privatize and decentralize, but during my trip that's all I heard was "All the money and decisions go to and come from Lisbon". Basically there is no state/province/city taxes. There is only the 50% federal income tax for those few that work and it all goes to Lisbon and then you pray to god you bribe the politicians enough to see if any money comes back to your town. 

Our landlady needed some gardening done on her property because her gardener was ill and quit. She called around and could find no one that wanted to do any work even in a country with 18% unemployment. She said Portuguese don't like working outside, it is too hot. They want computer jobs. She wound up hiring a retired Romanian expat.

Health care: FREE - Emergency care is good, but regular medical services are a step above 3rd world nations. You sit in a room with 1000 other people for hours and wait your turn and you are told what doctor to see and hope you don't die before you see them. If you really want health care, you pay out of your pocket and see one of many expat German or British doctors.

Social Security: Everyone who is retired

Welfare: Free money

Unemployment: Everyone is on unemployment. Not sure how it works.

Nursing homes: Not sure

Schools: Free but abysmal quality. Teachers are paid nothing and very disorganized. On the plus side, there is no gang violence and children generally go to school to learn.

GAS: $7.80/gallon

BIG Fancy Apartment: $65/night

Big Shrimp Salad on the beach: $7.80

GREAT! Cheese: $1.30/pound

Really bad cheap beer: $0.51 cents per 12 once bottle. Same as Natural Ice

Summary: I think Portugal has all I need to live the life of a climbing bum. Great weather, inexpensive, welfare state, great food. Portugal is on the short list.