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Lisbon Travel Guide
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| Lisbon
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Lisbon's
hodgepodge of time periods and cultures is a major source
of its charm. A sprawling city on the banks of the Tagus
River, it constantly reminds you that Portugal has been
conquered several times, that it developed (and lost) its
own illustrious empire and that, for much of the 20th century,
it isolated itself from the rest of the world. As you walk
the city's hills -- or, better, take one of the vintage
trams -- you'll find restored medieval facades, wonderful
art-nouveau buildings, black-and-white mosaic sidewalks
(often with cars parked on them), fine museums and plenty
of modern shops.
Lisbon's citizens seem to have absorbed their city's many-sided
character. Witness the popularity of fado, the melancholy
music that developed in Lisbon in the early 19th century.
Though the performers sing about tragedy and distant glory,
the audience is very much a part of modern Lisbon -- a flourishing,
fashionable business and leisure center.
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| Lisbon
Travels & Tours |
A Portuguese blend of Rome and San Francisco
The physical setting alone makes Lisbon an appealing destination.
The city is built on hills overlooking the Tagus River (Tejos
in Portuguese) where the river meets the Atlantic Ocean.
The climate is benign--like San Diego's, but less dry--and
the older parts of the city are rich with murals of azulejo
tiles, art nouveau buildings, sidewalks paved with decorative
patterns of tiny black and white stones, public staircases
leading steeply upward through ancient neighborhoods, double-decker
buses, and funicular tramways where you may see a cat hop
aboard and get off at the next stop.
A panoply of sights and sounds
Museums and monuments are other popular attractions. No
visit is complete without a tour of the Jerónimos
monastery, where ropes and other maritime themes are carved
into stone. Take time to explore the Moorish Castelo de
São Jorge, which looks like a fortress on the outside
but is a delightful place of gardens, towers with scenic
views, ponds with swans and peacocks, and other attractions
within its walls.
Don't
miss the Torre de Belém, and spend an hour or two
at nearby museums like the Museo Nacional des Coches (coaches
worthy of Cinderella), the Museo de Marinha (boats and naval
exhibits), and the Museo de Arte Popular (folk arts, exhibited
by region, and a "must see" warm-up for shoppers
interested in handicrafts).
A launchpad for a Portuguese vacation
If you arrive during the warmer months, you can hop aboard
a train to suburban coastal resorts like Estoril and Cascais
for a day of swimming and sunbathing. For another change
of pace, take the commuter train to nearby Sintra and its
two national palaces. Ready to go farther afield? No town
in Portugal is more than a two-day drive from Lisbon, although
I suggest allowing at least a week for the North or South
if you're touring by car. Better yet, spend up to two weeks
in either part of the country and save the other half for
a later trip. Portugal is a country to be savored, not rushed.
Europe's most child-friendly destination
Portugal is more welcoming to children than any other country
I've lived in or visited (including Spain and Italy, which
tie for second place). Don't be surprised if your smaller
children are patted on the head by strangers of both sexes
or fawned over by children just a few years older. This
is the Portuguese way, and the stranger who tells your little
girl that she's pretty or offers candy to your son is unlikely
to be a pervert. |
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