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a NEW Portuguese-Brazilian restaurant has opened on West Quay in Bridgwater, on the site of the former Vino e cucino.
Excellent food and good prices - including lunchtime specials for £3.50!!
Local Portuguese community organiser, Marco Santos says "I am sure their food will revolutionize the local cuisine and people's habits of eating. I went there myself and the food is just great, I very much doubt that people could find better in Bridgwater or even the whole Somerset."
TROPICAL RESTAURANT
Interview with Marco Santos
Q;- Marco, how long have you been living in England and what made you come here in the first place?
A;- I've been here since october 2003, but i first came in 1998 for a only one month and i enjoyed being here. well, i came here after three years of my life,traveling to four different European countries, working in each country and learning about their cultures and traditions...but i did not learn much!! lol
when i returned to Portugal i found the work market very short of opportunities, so i had to do someting..."i'm going to England again," i thought.
Q;- Can you tell us something of your life and background in Portugal?
A;- Well, i started working at 16, my parents were not rich and i was a "happy" boy and needed money in order to have a good life style...since that time i never stoped working, i did civil construction, marbles, telecomunications, gas maintenance, agriculture, etc, i do any job.
Q;- In what ways does life in England compare to life in Portugal?
A;- A lot of things are the same in both countries, the laws, the beaurocracy, christmas/easter celebrations, there is a lot of things i can compare.
Q:- You are organising an event at the Engine Room in Bridgwater on 25th April to Commemorate the 25th April 1974 – why is that date important to you?
A;- The 25th april 1974 was the day of the revolution, the day the dictator ship ended, the day of liberty. This day is very important to all the Portuguese people, after this day we were all free to speak, we have a democracy... i was born after april 74, but i know a lot of people suffered with the old regime and now we are a modern country with many good things.
Q;- Portugal was one of the vast European Empires for nearly 400 years. By the end of Empire in the mid 1970s Portugal must have absorbed many world cultures as a legacy, but how multicultural is Portugal today and do you see a similar situation in England ?
A;- Portugal was always a multicultural country,since i remember. for example, i've grown up with friends from many different countries of Africa, India, Gipsies, Turkish, Spanish people, i am happy for this, i did learn a lot with these friends. Similar situation about England ? Not as much, at Portugal we don't have such strong economy as England, so, much more people come here, but if we look at the size of both populations, yes it is a bit similar.
Q;-Can you tell us something about the very popular 'Fado' Music of Portugal?
A;- Fado is love, fado is feelings, fado is music, fado is beautyfull, its a very sentimental music, all the words are writen about someting coming from the heart. You need to understand Portuguese to know the meaning of fado music, it is not my favorite music but every time i hear, it touches my soul.
Q;-What is your experience of any similar English folk culture? Do you find anything in common or are the differences very great?
A;- English folk culture is something unknow for me, i can't talk about it, sorry.
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Q:_What Portuguese singers, artists, writers etc do you particularly admire ?
A singers: Amalia Rodrigues ( off course), Antonio Severino, Rui Veloso, Marisa. writers : Jose Saramago . I admire Cristiano Ronaldo who is smashing all the english teams defender and will lead us to the euro 2008 champions eheheheh
Q;- Since being in England are there any English musicians,artistes, actors, writers etc that have appealed to you?
A; I like UB 40, i'm sad they split up a few weeks ago. I love Mr Bean, i always did.
Q;-At your event you will be showing the film “ OS CAPITAES DE ABRIL” which is the story of the Carnation revolution of 1974 – but made in 2000. What messages can we learn today from this film and from the revolution?
A;- This film shows the night before the revolution and the day of the revolution. The capitans ( capitaes) arrested all their superiors the night before all over the country, then they invaded Lisbon and fought the PIDE ( police of intervention and defence of the state), it was a tough fight and only the aim to be free leaded these "warriors" to the victory and the liberty. Its a great film, a bit of fiction off course, that is a film, but it will give you a clear image of that day and after it. We can learn from the film that if we are togheter we can win any strong regime such as the Salazar's regime
