Who is closer to Iberians: British or Italians?

[Vasconcelos]

Portuguese people are loud and for the most part have a great sense of humour and love to party and drink. They do tend to see the cup half empty but that doesn't mean they don't do what I just said.

Sort of true, but you can be sure that the Portuguese are arguably the least "mediterranean" of mediterranean cultures, at least in behaviour. We drink, but then again so does everyone else in Europe. We party and like to go out, but we're more "caseirinhos" than, say, nuestros hermanos.

A clear sign of this is how public protests usually go in Southern Europe. You've seen protests turn violent in Greece, Italy and even Spain, but in Portugal (which has been having austerity measurs far harsher and for a longer time than the previous two) the only thing that happened were a few commies who threw chairs at policemen, who didn't like it and charged them...no one outside Portugal gave a toss about it...and somehow people are making a fuss about it, very typical I might add.
Salazar was right when he labelled us as "povo de brandos costumes".






With this said, yes, we have more in common with Italy, even if personally I feel closer to the British and Irish, but that's me.

[Ouistreham]

I have the complete opposite opinion of that. Portuguese people are loud and for the most part have a great sense of humour and love to party and drink.

Really? It's not at all the image they have in France. For us the Spaniards (Catalans included) are remarkably noisy and assertive, even more so than the Italians, but the Portuguese are just the opposite: rather shy, humble, soft spoken, low profile.

Maybe it's only stereotyping (I don't know, I've never been in Portugal), possibly inspired by the noticeably lower sonic presence of their language, but there might be a bit of truth in it. Or does that mean that the Portuguese tend to behave differently when abroad?

[Comte Arnau]

I see Catalans as close to the French, not so much to Italians.

The only Iberians I really view as close to Italians are Castilian Spaniards and Andalusians (Andalusians would be similar to Sicily in ways due to some Moorish influences). I don't view Portuguese people as similar, nor Galicians, Basques, or Catalans.

Well, obviously, but the poll comparison was about British and Italians.

Notice I didn't say Italians, but North Italians. Genetically, linguistically, economically, in lifestyle... I'm convinced Perduellio will agree to a certain extent.

[Alex Delarge]

Really? It's not at all the image they have in France. For us the Spaniards (Catalans included) are remarkably noisy and assertive, even more so than the Italians, but the Portuguese are just the opposite: rather shy, humble, soft spoken, low profile.

Maybe it's only stereotyping (I don't know, I've never been in Portugal), possibly inspired by the noticeably lower sonic presence of their language, but there might be a bit of truth in it. Or does that mean that the Portuguese tend to behave differently when abroad?

Spanish people are louder than us. That's clear and it's how i spot them in Algarve easily.

As for behaving differently when abroad, you are probably only used to see low educated people who work in construction or whatever. I think that's the profile of the portuguese immigrant in France. College students for example would be totally different, and a more happy and louder group.

[Comte Arnau]

Spanish people are louder than us. That's clear and it's how i spot them in Algarve easily.

Have you listened to the Portuguese in Lloret?

Young people are always loud outside their country. Even the Japs.

[Alex Delarge]

Have you listened to the Portuguese in Lloret?

I know... a 17 year old died in his hotel a few days ago, now that you mention it.

[Vasconcelos]

I think that's the profile of the portuguese immigrant in France. College students for example would be totally different, and a more happy and louder group.

Probably because these people come from poorer families from the north/interior, where politeness is more than just a word.

Have you been to remote vilages in Beira/Norte? People are incredibly polite, friendly and calm, nothing to do with Lisbon. It's like "civilization" switched places.

[Comte Arnau]

Iberians that are more typically loud are Sevillians and Valencians.

[2Cool]

Sort of true, but you can be sure that the Portuguese are arguably the least "mediterranean" of mediterranean cultures, at least in behaviour. We drink, but then again so does everyone else in Europe. We party and like to go out, but we're more "caseirinhos" than, say, nuestros hermanos.

A clear sign of this is how public protests usually go in Southern Europe. You've seen protests turn violent in Greece, Italy and even Spain, but in Portugal (which has been having austerity measurs far harsher and for a longer time than the previous two) the only thing that happened were a few commies who threw chairs at policemen, who didn't like it and charged them...no one outside Portugal gave a toss about it...and somehow people are making a fuss about it, very typical I might add.
Salazar was right when he labelled us as "povo de brandos costumes".






With this said, yes, we have more in common with Italy, even if personally I feel closer to the British and Irish, but that's me.

To me, the protest thing has less to do with Portugal being less Mediterranean in mentality and more to do with the fact the Portuguese tend to have a this mentality where they don't want to bother others (mentalidade de não incomodar). I'm not sure where it came from but there has to be some recent historical reason for this. Maybe Salazar?

[2Cool]

Really? It's not at all the image they have in France. For us the Spaniards (Catalans included) are remarkably noisy and assertive, even more so than the Italians, but the Portuguese are just the opposite: rather shy, humble, soft spoken, low profile.

Maybe it's only stereotyping (I don't know, I've never been in Portugal), possibly inspired by the noticeably lower sonic presence of their language, but there might be a bit of truth in it. Or does that mean that the Portuguese tend to behave differently when abroad?

I mention this in my previous post but Portuguese people tend to not want to bother other people (hence the shyness part with strangers). But when with family or with friends they are loud and noisy. Maybe it's because most of my family and family friends are from the Minho region and mostly uneducated, but from I noticed they are loud! And love to swear