LOL Portuguese and Spanish languages are quite similar, for most words it's the difference is the last few letter that makes it sound different. Most Portuguese can understand Spanish. Not sure if the Spanish don't understand Portuguese of just don't want to.
LOL that description of the difference between Portuguese and Spanish sound about right, that would be evident in the way they they established themselves in different countries around the world. The Spanish use force to invade and concur the Aztec empire where as the Portuguese a more peaceful establishing themselves in countries they discovered. It's fascinating that a small country like Portugal had at one time the biggest empire in the world.
I'm not that familia with eastern Europe and baltic states but seems there is so many contrasts and in may ways worlds apart from Southern Europeans
Back to languages, on that trip in Europe I headed over to France after passing through Spain. Had heard that the French where arrogant and I had but few basic words of French so it was interesting I found it easier to communicate with the French. Found out that a lot of French people spoke English and that you only needed to attempt to speak a little French and they would help you out.
Bit of trivia I read before going to France is that the biggest population of Portuguese outside Lisbon is in Paris, sure enough while in Paris head many people speaking Portuguese
"it seems a bit weird to do this stereotyping of national character given that all this talk of racism and prejudice. but the differences exist and they are actually fascinating."
Indeed, when you ask people about travel in Portugal the describe the people as friendly. The French are arrogant to an extent, at boat shows I meet quite a few french and they have this habit of speaking to each other in French effectively cutting non- French speakers out of the conversation. Germans I have know come across as very abrupt and serious, apparently they do have a sense of humor LOL
I see stereotyping national character as a generalisation which can be helpful understand culture. Was interesting doing the unit "International Management" at Uni, the content was mostly about culture in different countries. I had research an do a paper on what is more important, being able to speak the language or understanding the culture. Conclusion was it is far better to understand the cuture
