50+ Lifestyles

Espana & Portugues Trivia

By Mary Schricker Gemberling

If you have followed my articles for this publication, you know that Gary and I love to travel and explore places both in the United States and abroad. Tomorrow we embark on yet another adventure; this time to Portugal and Spain. My research has revealed that Portugal is a country rich in history and culture, with a mild, temperate climate, excellent food and wine, and friendly, hospitable people. Spain has one of the world’s oldest cultures with a rich heritage that has influenced entire continents. It is the birthplace of the Spanish language, Pablo Picasso and Miguel Cervantes, and attracts millions of people every year. In addition to generalities about the history, culture, and people, I came across some interesting facts about both countries. Whether you have or have not traveled to this part of the world, I think you will enjoy these little known bits of trivia.

• Portugal is the oldest country in Europe – Having the same defined borders since 1139, almost 900 years. The name Portugal first appears in 868, during the Reconquista over the Muslims.
• Portugal was the first colonial power to abolish slavery. It abolished slavery all the way back in 1761 – that’s half a century before Britain, France, Spain, or the United States.
• Portugal is one of the world’s top surf spots.   In October 2011, Hawaiian surfer Garrett McNamara caught the biggest  wave (30 m / 90 ft.) ever surfed to date at Praia do Norte, near the town  of Nazaré, in central Portugal.
• Portugal has the world’s largest Solar Energy plant. Based in the Alentejo and Portugal also boasts the world’s fire wave energy plant, which became producing energy in October of the 2006.
• Lisbon was struck by one of the most powerful earthquakes in history, which led to the birth of seismology. On the 1st of November in 1755, Lisbon was struck by about a 9.0 magnitude earthquake; 275,000 residents were killed and 85 percent of the buildings were destroyed.
• Nine out of ten Portuguese people are Roman Catholic, making it one of the most socially conservative nations in the world.
• The Portuguese eat more fish and shellfish per head of population than any other country.
• The Montado landscape of Portugal produces more than 50 percent of the world’s cork exports.
• In 2008, Portugal became the first country to make it compulsory for people to have fingerprints on identity cards.
• Portuguese is the seventh most spoken language in the world. With approximately 210 to 215 million native speakers and 240 million total speakers; it is usually listed as the seventh most spoken language in the world after English.
• Although Christopher Columbus was Italian, he set sail from Spain in order to find the New World!
• When you think of olive oil, you probably think of Italy. In reality, Spain produces 45 perent of all olive oil in the world. In fact, the average Spaniard consumes nearly 14 liters of olive oil each year.
• Traditionally, you have two surnames in Spain – the first surname from your father, and the second from your mother. For example, if your name is Juan Martín Lopez, and your wife’s name is Elena González García, your kids’ surname will be Martín González.
• With 410 million native speakers, Spanish is the second most popular language in the world. It is the official language of Spain as well as Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Paraguay, Panama, Mexico, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Ecuador, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Peru, Uruguay, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and Equatorial Guinea.
• Don Quixote, the famous book written by Spanish author Miguel Cervantes in 1605, was voted the “most meaningful book of all time” in 2002 by a panel of 100 top authors. Don Quixote tells the tale of the eponymous ‘knight’ and his squire, Sancho Panza. Both Don Quixote and Sancho Panza are national heroes in Spain. Their statues can be found everywhere.
• Spain has 4,964 km of coastline and 8000 km of beaches.
• Tomatoes, potatoes, avocados, tobacco, ad cacao, were all brought to Europe by the Spaniards from their American colonies.
• There is no tooth fairy in Spain; instead they have the tooth Mouse called Ratoncito Perez who exchanges children’s teeth for gifts.
• Spain is the third most visited country in the world with about 60.7 million international tourists, surpassed only by USA and France.
• On May 15th many of the single women in Madrid visit the chapel called Ermita de San Isidro to prick their fingers with pins in order to find a husband.
• The name ‘Spain’ comes from the word Ispania, which means the land of rabbits!
• Spain was one of the first European countries to ban smoking in workplaces and bars.
• Requesting a second serving at a meal is taken as an indication that you liked the food.
• With a GDP of $1.3 trillion, Spain is the 13th largest economy in the world.

Although not particular useful information for my upcoming trip, these tidbits of knowledge might give me a bit of insight into the land and people of Portugal & Spain.  In June I will write about the highlights of our trip complete with pictures!

Hasta el proximo mes!

Mary, a former educator and Seniors Real Estate Specialist, is the author of three books; The West End Kid, A Labor of Love; My Personal Journey through the World of Caregiving, and Hotel Blackhawk; A Century of Elegance.