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Off Course in Portugal April 2022
Seemingly unrelated, the sextant, earthquakes, and port gave rise to what we now know as Portugal. In short, the invention of the sextant jump started the “age of discovery” and Portugal’s conquest of Brasil, Spain, Madagascar, Macau and others. Barrels of wine enticed sailors to endure the stench of life abroad. To keep the wine from fermenting into vinegar, brandy and cherries were added and thereby unwittingly creating port. England’s thirst literally fortified Portugal’s economy in the 18th century.
From the 2000 flamingos that winter in the Rio Formosa to the Moorish, Romans and Celtic, Portugal has a history of migrations.
This history is what shapes Portugal’s architecture, language and cuisine abound. For example, centuries of Roman influence account for the number of words that begin with “Al”, the word Arabic sounds like “a rabbit”.
In the Algarve Moorish mosques became Catholic monasteries and are now train depots, police stations, and other public facilities. Castles of various dictators are tourists attractions.
Off Course in Portugal April 2022
Seemingly unrelated, the sextant, earthquakes, and port gave rise to what we now know as Portugal. In short, the invention of the sextant jump started the “age of discovery” and Portugal’s conquest of Brasil, Spain, Madagascar, Macau and others. Barrels of wine enticed sailors to endure the stench of life abroad. To keep the wine from fermenting into vinegar, brandy and cherries were added and thereby unwittingly creating port. England’s thirst literally fortified Portugal’s economy in the 18th century.
From the 2000 flamingos that winter in the Rio Formosa to the Moorish, Romans and Celtic, Portugal has a history of migrations.
This history is what shapes Portugal’s architecture, language and cuisine abound. For example, centuries of Roman influence account for the number of words that begin with “Al”, the word Arabic sounds like “a rabbit”.
In the Algarve Moorish mosques became Catholic monasteries and are now train depots, police stations, and other public facilities. Castles of various dictators are tourists attractions.