Finding a Little Bit of South Africa in the Heart of Portugal

Whether we live abroad or are just holidaying, there’s nothing that makes a South African’s heart skip a beat more happily than when we spot something that connects us with SA. It could be a bottle of South African wine, a box of Rooibos, an SA flag stuck proudly on the bumper of a passing car or a Mandela plaque.

Well known Gauteng PR specialist Georg Knoke is currently travelling through Portugal and has found himself tripping over South African memorabilia at every corner (well, almost!).

“What a beautiful welcome to Lisbon – unbelievable how Nelson Mandela’s legacy has spread all over the world – like here in Sao Pedro Do Estoril,” says Georg, posing alongside Mandela’s plaque (above).

The words on the plaque say it is an homage from Cascais to a fighter for freedom, and a man of all time.

Even the surfer’s paradise of seaside Cascais has reminded Georg of Kalk Bay or even Clifton, he says. “Cascais is so special! Beautiful and colorful, charming- a MUST visit!”

Then there’s the impressive Portuguese Parliament in Lisbon – which has lots of Jacaranda trees lining the streets… just like in Joburg and Pretoria.

In Sintra, Georg was delighted to discover Madiba and Archbishop Desmond Tutu with other history makers (including former President Obama and Queen Elizabeth II) waving to the crowds from the News Museum.

“What a charming little village!” says Georg. “So amazing to experience the memories of Nelson Mandela in a faraway country like Portugal!”

So amazing to experience the memories of Nelson Mandela in a faraway country like Portugal!

He’s discovered the Art Deco Amoreiras Shopping Center in Lisbon to be more beautiful than Sandton City and says Lisbon has been relatively cheap – “definitely cheaper than Rome and Paris! A good meal with a bottle of red is around €15. And the Portuguese wines are delicious!”

During Georg’s visit – with Trafalgar Tours – they were also taken to the Navigator Monument in Lisbon where it’s interesting to see how the Portuguese seafarers Vasco da Gama and Bartholomew (or Bartolomeu) Dias landed in Namibia and South Africa!

According to a friend of Georg’s who lives in Portugal, Hugo Lambrechts, the beautiful giant marble wind rose at the foot of the monument – with a map of the world at its centre – was donated as a gift by the South African government in the ’60s and renovated in the ’90s, as a commemoration to “these brave heroes leading the discoveries”.

Georg says: “And suddenly history takes on a new perspective – as the Portuguese were actually some of the first Europeans in Africa!” (Dias is in fact the first European known to have set foot on South African soil – on Monday 12 March 1488.)

Sintra is the village of beautiful art, says Georg – “A must see when in Lisbon!”

And finally Georg took a photo of this stunning arch in Évora which reminded him of South Africa. It stands at the entrance to the gardens of the Cadaval’s Palace, which was built during the 14th century on the ruins of a Moorish castle, and is still inhabited by the Cadaval family!

“Looks like Ndebele art,” says a nostalgic Georg.

And it turns out, according to Hugo, that this indeed IS South African art! “The Cadaval family hosts a bi-annual Africa Festival… Esther Mahlangu came out to be at the event and do Ndebele artwork!”

It seems you can find everything South African in Portugal… except for Nando’s!

Georg says: “The beauty of Lisbon – wherever you go, there’s a delightful moment! Definitely a Bucket list holiday! And extremely affordable, safe and so easy to get around! The transport system is stunning – we’ve got around with the train…”

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