As a Portuguese, I must say that Portuguese and Spanish languages are almost identical when written, but quite different when spoken. Actually, Portuguese and Spanish people have some difficulty to understand eachother, and the prove is that we don't watch eachother's TV our listen to eachother's music, and that there's not a significant amount of Portuguese people living in Spain or vice-versa. We're like neighbours that evitate eachother, but we don't have a feud or anything.
Having said that, of course I would survive in Spain and in Italy if I only spoke Portuguese. But not in France or Romania, although I understand what some Romanians say, like their President (there must be some regional variations).
Brazil: Beware, Brazillian Portuguese sounds VERY DIFERENT from European Portuguese, majorly due to African, Spanish and Italian influence.
Italian influence in Brazil: Mostly true, but not in the wine industry. Portuguese introduced wine culture in there. Lets not forget Portugal is also a major wine produce. And food? Please, almost all countries in the world eat Italian. In Portugal there's also those words "esparguete, lasanha", etc.
Having said that, of course I would survive in Spain and in Italy if I only spoke Portuguese. But not in France or Romania, although I understand what some Romanians say, like their President (there must be some regional variations).
Brazil: Beware, Brazillian Portuguese sounds VERY DIFERENT from European Portuguese, majorly due to African, Spanish and Italian influence.
Italian influence in Brazil: Mostly true, but not in the wine industry. Portuguese introduced wine culture in there. Lets not forget Portugal is also a major wine produce. And food? Please, almost all countries in the world eat Italian. In Portugal there's also those words "esparguete, lasanha", etc.