As long as you arrive and travel with a polite and calm confident attitude, you will be generally quietly welcome wherever you travel in Portugal.
There is a very famous Portuguese song "Casa Portuguesa" that really does describe and the warmth of the Portuguese. Made famous Amalia Rodrigues, here is an unofficial translation of the lyrics, I recently made for a private party we held in Lagos for visiting friends and where a live fado singer sang a wonderful rendition of this song.
"One is always well in Portuguese home,
bread and wine on the table,
and, if someone gently knocks on the door,
they sit with all at the table.
It's good, this sincerity, it's good,
which one cannot deny,
the happiness of poverty
lies in this great richness
of giving and being content.
Four whitewashed walls,
a sweet smell of rosemary,
a bunch of golden grapes
two roses in a garden,
a tile of of St. Joseph
and the sun of springtime…
a promise of kisses…
two open arms waiting for me…
This is a Portuguese home, certainly!
This is, surely, a Portuguese home!
In the simple comfort of my home,
there is the plenty of affection.
the curtain of the window is the moonlight
but the sun that shines on it,
even a little, a very little is enough to cheer
such a simple existence
It's just love, bread and wine
and cabbage soup, so green
bubbling in the bowl.
One is always well in Portuguese home,
bread and wine on the table,
if someone gently knocks on the door,
they sit with all at the table.
It's good, this sincerity, it's good,
which one cannot deny,
the happiness of poverty
lies in this great richness
of giving and being content. "
... and here is a youtube link to a young Portuguese lady, Beatriz Costa, who a few years ago won a nationally televised talent show, singing "Casa Portuguese"
http://youtu.be/IVHB-JfPA0k
Enjoy your visit!
