If he was trying to speak Spanish in Portugal, that was yet another bonheaded travel move.

Speaking Spanish in Portugal is almost as boneheaded as speaking French in Belgium.

LOL!!

(Refer to my post on this thread dated 10/14)

Yes! HOWEVER, we were with my parents on an over-organized bus tour of Spain and only spent 2 nights in Portugal. I forgot, it was 20 years ago. Just remembered another detail: the car had its engine off and was coasting downhill.
Amazing how mistakes make for some of the most vivid travel memories...

Well, at least most of these are funny mistakes and not costly or painful ones. I have booked a trip to Paris in January, so I will dig out that French phrase book I bought for my trip to Belgium. I feel reasonably confident that on this trip I will get some use out of French phrases.