Both of your examples are exactly what you'd get if you literally translate from Portuguese to French and from that to English.
On the other hand, an Englishman would say "castles in Spain" ...
Same thing with land vs. country, although not so clear cut. The mangling is being done by someone who knows the English idioms, not an ignorant native who cannot even get basics like articles and plurals right.
In the original: Fazer torres de vento -- To build castles in Espagnish
There are several like that:
Tomar o ceo co' as maos -- Take the moon with the teeth
Ter memoria de gallo -- To have a hare memory
Comer o pao que o diabo amassou -- To eat of the cow mad (!?)