CHAPTER 7
SAUDADES

Saudades means to have a ‘sad longing for.’

If you were born in Portugal and find that the only solution to getting work is to emigrate, you will have permanent saudades for your homeland, its lifestyle, climate, your friends and family.

Many Portuguese have saudades for the greatness that Portugal once had during ‘The Discoveries.'

It now has no greatness - it is a pawn of the EC and an underdog to its eternal enemy Spain.

You can help ease the pain if you are living ‘Fora do pais,’ by finding like-groups of emigrantes.

You can listen to the fados of Amália and Mariza, the modernised traditional songs of Madredeus, the folk of Dulce Pontes and the wonderful guitar of Carlos Paredes.

You can invite friends round to feast on Bacalhau and drink hoarded Alentejo wines.

Or, like me, you can write a book of memories and experiences.

But you will never kill the saudades, even if you hate the ruling classes, detest the politicians and are in self-imposed exile...