Lisbon – The Forgotten Gem of Europe
For many centuries, Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, was regarded as one of the most magnificent cities in Europe. With its long history, Moorish influences, stunning location and vast riches from India and Brazil, it was a trading hub for hundreds of years. But a devastating earthquake in 1755, followed by fire and a tidal wave, reduced it to ruins and obscurity. In recent years, however, Lisbon has begun to return to some of its former glory. It was the European City of Culture in 1994, hosted Expo 98, and was the major host city for the huge soccer event, Euro2004. More people are discovering its fascinating blend of old and new. Even better, it still remains relatively affordable by European standards.
Located on 7 hills beside the Rio Tejo (River Tagus), Lisbon is best explored on foot, as driving and parking are difficult, to say the least. Some of the hills can be taxing to climb, but in most cases a funicular or tram is available. Much of the appeal of the city is to be found wandering up and down the streets. Examples of both Moorish and art nouveau architecture are common, as well as beautiful mosaic pavements.
One of the highlights of Lisbon is the Castelo de So Jorge, perched high above the city, and yet quite close by. Originally built in the 5th century, it has undergone many extensions, and modifications. It has been used as everything from a royal residence to a prison. The panoramic views are magnificent.
If your tastes are a little more upbeat, then the area to visit is Bairro Alto. This area has long had the reputation for containing the best restaurants and nightclubs in Lisbon. Alternatively, if you want to go upmarket, then the shopping district for you is Chiado.
Lisbon also contains a number of excellent museums. The Museu Calouste Gulbenkian contains what was originally a private collection of classical and oriental art. The very generous benefactor left his collection to the people of Portugal, along with a very generous charitable foundation. It’s very easy to spend a day strolling around the gallery, even though only about a quarter of the collection can be displayed at any one time.
Depending on your interests, you can also spend time in the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga (National Museum of Ancient Art), or the Museu Nacional do Azulejo (azulejo are the hand painted tiles which adorn so many of Portugal’s buildings). If you prefer something a little more modern, there’s also the Centro de Arte Moderna (Modern Art Centre).
Eventually, if you reach the point where you’re completely saturated with art, tiles and gorgeous buildings, you can always spend some time in the Parque das Naes, or the Nations Park. It was the site for Expo 98, and now contains gardens, various family attractions, restaurants and bars. It even contains Europe’s largest Oceanarium.
Lisbon is the type of city that you can try to sample in a day, but it takes much longer to truly appreciate all of its many and varied delights. Allow yourself plenty of time to do just that, and your visit to Lisbon will remain amongst your most treasured memories.
About the Author
Travelling is a much loved past time for the author. To find out more, check out www.travelportugalinfozone.com or www.travelportugalinfozone.com/lisbon/ for more information.
A Cuba Vacation
Taking time out from the everyday stresses and strains of life to visit an exotic place is something that everyone looks forward to. Cuba, with its notoriety brought upon by its government and the clamp down of the American government on its export and tourism, is a country known more for its cigar and its leader, rather than as a vacation destination. Despite this, every year more and more tourists from Canada and Europe are flocking to Cuba, enthralled by its natural beauty and its passionate and welcoming people. Tourism in Cuba is currently at an all time high.
Cuba is the largest of the Caribbean islands and is inhabited by people with a mixed race of Caribbean Indian, African and Spanish heritage. It has a contrasting landscape ranging from beautiful and mesmerizing beaches to sprawling and craggy mountain ranges. Limestone Mountains loom over the fields of tobacco, utilised for their famed cigars, providing a stunning scenic view. The natural beauty of Cuba and its history has shaped the country to what it is today. This is one Caribbean island that has been left unspoiled by technology and modern day living.
Like many of the Caribbean islands, Cuba main source of tourism is the beach industry. The country is blessed with hundreds of miles of sprawling sandy beaches, with fine white sand and clear blue water. Tourists visiting Cuba have a multitude of choices for the location of their beach vacation. The major resorts of Varadero and Cayo Largo are the most renowned and here you’ll find many 5 star all inclusive resorts. Despite this, there are also plenty of smaller, quieter beach resorts where you can truly get away from it all.
Aside from stunning beaches, Cuba also offers plenty of rustic towns and cities full of rich culture and heritage. A vacation to Cuba isn’t complete without visiting at least one of the Cuban towns or cities and meeting the local Cuban people.
In the north-west of the country you’ll find the capital city, Havana - the hub of everything that is Cuban. When you stroll around the city you’ll feel the essence of the Cuban past – a rich legacy emanating from the Spanish colonial architecture that beholds the city. Parts of the city resemble the set of an old movie, reminiscent of a bygone era, with old American cars bustling by. A lot of work has been done in the past decade to restore old Havana, a UNESCO world heritage site, but much of the city has been left untouched and hundreds of crumbling buildings collapse each month.
Havana also has its fair share of museums, including the Museum of the Revolution, the Havana Club Museum of Rum, the Cigar Museum, the Ernest Hemingway Museum and the National Museum of Fine Arts.
Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city in Cuba and is located on the eastern end of the island. It has a beautiful setting at the foot of the Sierra Maestra Mountains and overlooks a magnificent bay. Unlike the other towns and cities in Cuba, Santiago de Cuba has a very Caribbean feel to it. This is as a result of the influence of the Haitian planters who settled here in the 19th century.
Trinidad, located in the heart of Cuba is one of the original towns and was founded in 1514. The city is filled with cobbled streets and old buildings with tiled roofs and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988. It’s a very pleasant city to spend a day or two, with many museums, churches and Plazas.
An ideal way to spend your vacation is to take a few days to do some sightseeing in Havana or one of Cuba’s other cities and then follow that up with a relaxing weeks stay in one of the luxurious all inclusive resorts by the beach.
About the author:
Suzanne is the webmaster of http://www.suzannestravels.comYou can read about her recent vacation to Cuba in her Cuba Blog http://www.suzannestravels.com/cubaHere you�ll find information and reviews of her stay in Guardelavaca, Holguin and Havana
Resort Lodging
Lodging Hotels in Davenport, FL
There are numerous choices for lodging hotels in the Kissimmee, FL area. Vacationers most often think of the standard hotel with smaller sized room when booking travel accommodations, but considering a vacation villa could prove much more accommodating for you and your family. Island Hideaway in Davenport, FL offers villas and suites of all sizes, as well as the amenities you would expect from a five star resort. The two bedroom suites are three times the size of a normal hotel room! You can relax, kick your feet up and feel comfortable knowing you made the right choice for your resort lodging.Think you are sacrificing dining options, maid service or maintenance by choosing a villa option? Island Hideaway offers 24-hour guest services and security.