Meet the Tugas: Chris Jones on Portugal’s History, Culture & Modern Identity

In this episode, we welcome Chris Jones, author of Meet the Tugas and founder of Portuguese company Paco Services. His book takes listeners on a sweeping journey across Portugal — from volcanic islands and sunlit vineyards to centuries-old villages and bustling cities. Drawing on three years of travels across every corner of the country, Chris reveals Portugal’s grandeur and pride, exploring the triumphs, tragedies, and hidden stories etched into its land and people. Alongside history, he also reflects on the modern forces transforming Portugal, from soaring rents to the influx of new arrivals making it their home. You can find Meet the Tugas in bookstores across Portugal, or via this link. To learn more about Paco Services, visit this link. This episode of Podcast Portugal is brought to you by Algarve Care Services — offering professional, reliable, English-speaking home care and lifestyle support across the Algarve, now expanding into Coimbra, Lisbon, Cascais, Sintra, and Porto over the next few months. Whether you’re retiring here, supporting an ageing parent, or simply seeking someone you can trust with day-to-day life, Algarve Care Services brings compassion, local knowledge, and real peace of mind to families from all over the world. We’ll be speaking with Kelly Dugmore, Algarve Care Services Founder and CEO, in an upcoming episode to learn more about her story and her mission to make care in Portugal more dementia-friendly and accessible to those with mobility issues. Visit algarvecare.com via to see how they can support your life here in Portugal. This episode is also brought to you by ExpatsPortugal.com — your trusted online community for everything related to moving to, living in, or investing in Portugal. What really sets Expats Portugal apart is its welcoming, knowledgeable community. Whether you're just starting to explore the idea of life in Portugal or you're already settling in, you'll find live webinars, expert Q&As, member discounts, a vibrant forum, and friendly in-person meet ups happening across the country. And just for Podcast Portugal listeners, you can get 15% off membership by using the code PODCASTPORTUGAL at checkout. To help support Podcast Portugal, and if you’re thinking about getting a backup bank account, click this link to sign up for a new Revolut account. It’s a win-win situation — you get all the benefits of Revolut, and every time someone signs up, Revolut rewards Podcast Portugal with €40. A Revolut account is freedom in your pocket—set it up today and rest a little easier.