http://disqus.com/by/gabriellaopaz/enThu, 15 Oct 2015 07:57:11 -0000http://catavino.net/avoid-being-robbed-in-spain-and-portugal/#comment-2308538403<p>Thank you for sharing your experiences Momo. Being vigilant of your "stuff" is always difficult, especially as we tend to cart around more things these days. Fortunately, I don't think Portugal has changed all that much over the years. Though petty theft has risen slightly, the overall feeling is still very warm and quaint.</p>gabriellaopazThu, 15 Oct 2015 07:57:11 -0000http://catavino.net/top-7-tips-for-driving-in-portugal/#comment-2235668205<p>Goncalo, thanks for sharing your thoughts! I'm sympathetic to your statistics, but this article is not meant to emphasize death rates. It's meant to offer an expat's perspective on a completely different style of driving with a heavy dose of sarcasm and satire. If you ask any tourist or expat what they find most frustrating about Portugal, the answer is almost always the same "I love absolutely everything about the country, but the driving. It's insane!" Having visited and lived here for over a decade, I'm sympathetic to their concerns, as I've had the same. But you're right, evolving past blind simian status would most definitely help my driving.</p>gabriellaopazFri, 04 Sep 2015 08:14:35 -0000http://cornyandpatti.tumblr.com/post/117164693624#comment-1989549261<p>Clearly you're not having fun or anything ;) xx</p>gabriellaopazMon, 27 Apr 2015 04:47:26 -0000http://cornyandpatti.tumblr.com/post/117163826444#comment-1989548355<p>This must have been so special for you Patti! You feel like your 5 again :)</p>gabriellaopazMon, 27 Apr 2015 04:45:59 -0000http://catavino.net/essential-guide-ordering-fish-spain/#comment-1951349655<p>Dear Jose,</p><p>Don't worry, you're not going insane ;) Melissa signed the article, but the sidebar had my name as the author by error. Thank you so much for commenting on this article, however. Your insight is fantastic and look forward to more foodie trivia from you in the future!</p>gabriellaopazTue, 07 Apr 2015 15:05:48 -0000http://catavino.net/top-10-tips-traveling-portugal/#comment-1893467075<p>Thanks Luis for the kind comment! I was just at the Children's hospital here in Porto yesterday - brand new! - and they didn't have seats. Again, maybe just my experience :)</p>gabriellaopazSat, 07 Mar 2015 07:24:49 -0000http://catavino.net/top-10-tips-traveling-portugal/#comment-1893444890<p>Thanks for leaving such a lovely comment!</p>gabriellaopazSat, 07 Mar 2015 06:55:24 -0000http://catavino.net/top-10-tips-traveling-portugal/#comment-1893444462<p>Thanks Tiago!</p>gabriellaopazSat, 07 Mar 2015 06:54:51 -0000http://catavino.net/top-10-tips-traveling-portugal/#comment-1893436716<p>Thank you Sinhá!</p>gabriellaopazSat, 07 Mar 2015 06:43:35 -0000http://catavino.net/top-10-tips-traveling-portugal/#comment-1893436453<p>Glad you enjoyed it Liliana!</p>gabriellaopazSat, 07 Mar 2015 06:43:12 -0000http://catavino.net/top-10-tips-traveling-portugal/#comment-1893436121<p>You are for sure givers! The best kind too!</p>gabriellaopazSat, 07 Mar 2015 06:42:43 -0000http://catavino.net/top-10-tips-traveling-portugal/#comment-1893434479<p>Funny enough, I find Castilian Spanish harsh as well, while South American Spanish sounds more musical to my ear. And fab to hear about Lisbon drivers! Great news :)</p>gabriellaopazSat, 07 Mar 2015 06:40:18 -0000http://catavino.net/top-10-tips-traveling-portugal/#comment-1893433614<p>Really appreciate your comment, thank you!</p>gabriellaopazSat, 07 Mar 2015 06:39:02 -0000http://catavino.net/top-10-tips-traveling-portugal/#comment-1893433331<p>Great points Sonia! Thanks for sharing.</p>gabriellaopazSat, 07 Mar 2015 06:38:37 -0000http://catavino.net/top-10-tips-traveling-portugal/#comment-1893432900<p>Hey Lisa, an incredible Fado song can bring me to tears as well, don't get me wrong, but as an everyday language, it can sound very closed and muffled to a foreign ear. Every language is beautiful, but some take more time to ease into.</p>gabriellaopazSat, 07 Mar 2015 06:38:02 -0000http://catavino.net/top-10-tips-traveling-portugal/#comment-1893431753<p>I'm super happy you feel that way! Thanks for leaving a comment!</p>gabriellaopazSat, 07 Mar 2015 06:36:24 -0000http://catavino.net/top-10-tips-traveling-portugal/#comment-1891512236<p>Carlos, you are human like everyone else, but your culture is your own and tends to value other humans. Sure, you have your fair share of corruption, theft, etc, but as a foreigner living here, I've generally felt nothing but caring towards me. Having travelled and lived in several other places, this "base feeling" isn't always present. Regarding toilets, I never felt that toilets are particularly dirty here, just that the seat is gone. If anything, cleanliness as a whole feels valued. Thanks for sharing!</p>gabriellaopazFri, 06 Mar 2015 07:47:44 -0000http://catavino.net/top-10-tips-traveling-portugal/#comment-1891509083<p>Amazing country! Thanks for letting us hang out here :)</p>gabriellaopazFri, 06 Mar 2015 07:44:39 -0000http://catavino.net/top-10-tips-traveling-portugal/#comment-1891508261<p>Hey Pedro, to be honest, the north tends to be worse than the south for driving IMHO, but driving as a whole here is challenging. It's the one, and only one, negative comment we hear time and time again from natives as well. But hey, well done you Portugal for having only 1 complaint retold by tourists, that's something to be seriously proud of :) And for the record, I'm honored to have my son raised here, because men are soft and loving at all ages, not hardened and testosterone laden. It's a huge plus for me!</p>gabriellaopazFri, 06 Mar 2015 07:43:49 -0000http://catavino.net/top-10-tips-traveling-portugal/#comment-1891504950<p>You're very welcome! thanks for leaving such a warm comment!</p>gabriellaopazFri, 06 Mar 2015 07:40:31 -0000http://catavino.net/top-10-tips-traveling-portugal/#comment-1889309989<p>I'm with Ryan. Although they are 100% the same language, there are differences to be noted, accent being the most obvious. If you're keen to sound and speak European Portuguese, you ideally want a tool that will help you learn that particular way of speaking.</p>gabriellaopazThu, 05 Mar 2015 09:41:55 -0000http://catavino.net/top-10-tips-traveling-portugal/#comment-1889307336<p>If you're suggesting that the Portuguese feel we should speak their language in Portugal, I think they're 100% correct. For me, it's a matter of respect. Regardless of how bad mine is, it's the effort that matters.</p>gabriellaopazThu, 05 Mar 2015 09:40:22 -0000http://catavino.net/top-10-tips-traveling-portugal/#comment-1889304429<p>We can't wait to have you Patti!</p>gabriellaopazThu, 05 Mar 2015 09:38:25 -0000http://catavino.net/top-10-tips-traveling-portugal/#comment-1889303797<p>Fabulous you like it! Never been to your neck of the woods, but look forward to it one day soon!</p>gabriellaopazThu, 05 Mar 2015 09:38:00 -0000http://catavino.net/gabriella-storytelling-dream/#comment-1373252208<p>Thank you Sue!! What a sweet gesture!</p>gabriellaopazWed, 07 May 2014 05:01:43 -0000