The CTT – Correios de Portugal – is a Portuguese company that operates both as the national postal service of Portugal and as a commercial group with subsidiaries operating in banking, e-commerce, and other postal services. It was founded in 1520 by King Manuel I of Portugal, during the Portuguese Renaissance, and CTT is the oldest company still in operation in Portugal to this day. Some might think the customer service and scope needs improving, and I might be in that camp. Regardless, it’s an amazing institution.
You need time and patience to go to the CTT. Luckily in Tavira, it is located just a few steps from our house, so I have the advantage of bringing my espresso, which softens the wait. Upon arriving and saying bom dia! to the room or whoever catches your eye, you take a ticket from a machine which gives you a number. Customers are served numerically. Usually there are only 2 people working, and every customer has different needs, so you can imagine the frustration in waiting. Sometimes I go in, take a number, then go home to have my espresso, then return in half an hour or more.
At the CTT you can buy a book, a lottery ticket, pick up a parcel, ship things, deal with customs, make a money transfer, buy health insurance! (same at the bank!), import, export, buy concert tickets or a chocotelegram (whatever that is) or pay tolls and tickets. They deliver too – by car, van, motorcycle or bike. And it’s one of the very few places to buy stamps.
Last year I found some Christmas cards in Cascais, which came with red envelopes. Then I discovered that the stamps needed cost twice as much as the card in white envelopes. Who knew? On the topic of cards, I haven’t seen a ‘box’ of Christmas cards in any store to buy – in Canada there are tables and tables of them. Nor do you see many birthday or other occasion cards in general. In my observation, Portugal is not a ‘card culture’, and I think it’s because a) stamps are expensive and b) the Portuguese socialize with the people they love, family and friends, ALL the time. So why would they mail a card when they see them at least once a week?
Receiving mail from friends is so lovely and appreciated. A tiny miracle really. I’ve sent some letters, but I’m careful not to use a coloured envelope or send anything “too thick”. My sister sent me something last year in the mail, without telling me beforehand. I received a notice to pick it up at the CCT, so off I went (with coffee, of course!). I was given a form to fill out (in Portuguese which was tricky enough), and had to write what the package contained (something to do with customs). I had NO idea what it was – so it was sent back to Canada! Yes, dear readers. This is my life. And I love it, but please send only cards and letters. Obrigada. xo
