Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Groin Vault:
An arched ceiling formed where two equal barrel vaults meet at right
angles. Less common usage: term for a medieval jock strap.
Narthex:
The area (portico or foyer) between the main entry and the nave.
Nave:
The long, central section of the church (running west to east, from the entrance
to the altar) where the congregation sits or stands through the service.
Transept:
In a traditional cross-shaped floor plan, the transept is one of the two parts
forming the “arms” of the cross. The transepts run north-south, perpendicularly
crossing the east-west nave.
West Portal:
The main entry to the church (on the west end, opposite the main altar).
The early years of the 21st century were heady days for Portugal. The former backwater
was suddenly booming—building super-freeways, planning a bullet train to Madrid, giv-
ing out lavish bonuses to workers, and buying fancy consumer goods from the rest of
Europe. Scaffolding was everywhere, as the Portuguese scampered to finish a number of
projects, which were funded in part by the European Union. The buzz was, “This easy
money won't be here for long...it's use it or lose it. Quickly!”
The EU has worked to bring relatively poor regions (like much of Portugal) up to par
with more-developed parts of Europe through matching grants and cheap construction
loans. Since 1986 this development aid has amounted to about three percent of Portugal's
GDP. Until very recently, interest rates for these loans were very low. As part of the EU,
Portugal was considered a low-risk bet for lenders. But when the banking crisis shook the
US in 2008, things got real. Money became tight worldwide, and lenders began assess-
