Lisbon, The place to be...

To each his own.....

There are myriad of  reasons for our fascination with a  place.

One sample  reason is its landscape and
picturesque sceneries that can leave every visitor spellbound.. Another reason is   palatable cuisine and a  wide choice of outdoor activities.There are also  those  who are drawn to a place mainly because of its rich history as well as its significant contributions to civilization and this  explains my fascination with the land of "FADO".

Ever since``the exploration age´´ was discussed in my history  class in high school, I have always been fascinated with this beautiful country. Portugal was one of the 4 main countries that  spearheaded the  world exploration in the 15th century  and great explorers like Vasco De Gama
who discovered Brazil and  Magellan hailed from Portugal. Its historical legacy is what  has indeed sparked my interest to visit the place and before I knew it,my  dream  finally became a reality and I found myself in its  gorgeous capital, Lisbon.

LISBON  is a hilly capital  and a sprawling city dotted with  quaint architectural buildings.The century-old wooden trams and iron funiculars add to its beauty and charm.
At every turn you will find buildings and houses whose facades are decorated wih tiles.As I wandered around, I felt like I was taken back to the 15th century when Lisbon  was still in its glory....I couldn´t help but think about the `Portuguese Renaissance´´ explorers, while exploring  the city. It was  exciting  to be walking the same path where the likes of Bartholome Dias, Vasco De Gama  and Prince Henry  could probably have passed through...In every corner, the view  is simply breathtaking.Even if there are  some buildings  that look as if they were going to crumble, the place is still lovely in its own right..

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TRIP

JERONIMOS MONASTERY
A trip to Lisbon won´t be complete without a visit to Jeronimos monastery, one of the most beautiful buildings in Portugal and a classic example of
Manueline architecture, a style unique to Portugal. It is  a fusion of  gothic, moorish  and Renaissance influences. Built by King Manuel in the 15th century, the monastery  contains the tomb of King Manuel and other Portuguese historical  figures including Vasco de Gama, whose accomplishments at sea inspired the king to build the monastery


BELEM TOWER

Classified as UNESCO heritage site,the tower is undoubtedly one of Lisbons
most iconic landmarks.Commissioned by King John II to be part of a defense system at the mouth of the Tagus river, the tower is located right across Jeronimos monastery...It is  a symbol of Portugals maritime glory as well as classic example of Manueline architecture..A must-see attraction!

DISCOVERY MONUMENT 

Shaped in the form of  a ship, this monument was built in honor of Prince Henry , The Navigator.It is located right on the spot where famous exolorers sailed from.Furthermore, Chistopher Columbus

is said to have  docked  in this place on his way back to Spain. What  a gratifying and rewarding   experience for me  to visit the place in which great voyagers from Age of Discovery had  once set foot..



MOSAIC MAP 

A stone´s throw away from Discovery monument,  a beautiful mosaic map on the ground details all the countries that all Portuguese explorers
had explored during the Age of Discovery.Very informative and educational, it is something not to be missed.





PASTEIS DE BELEM

This shop is famous for its  cinnamon -sprinkled custard...A horde of tourists  flock to this pastry shop before and after  visiting Belem Tower and 

Jeronimo´s monastery

It is always jampacked so one has to be  patient enough to wait in a long queau in order  to get their hands on  the most sought - after portuguese pastry.
As I took a bite, it melted right into my mouth..My long wait in the queau was worth it..Its taste was heavenly!It was soo good that I could eat a dozen in one sitting..

FADO SHOW-

No visit to Lisbon is complete without watching a fado show...If Flamenco is to Spain, Fado is to Portugal..Fado is a melancholic  song accompanied by guitar

or Mandolin..Its theme usually tackles death, betrayal in love, despair and suffering..Fado music is the heart of Portuguese soul.

SANTA JUSTA ELEVATOR

As I was making my way for Chiado station, I chanced upon  this extraordinary structure which is one of the city´s important landmarks and known as

"Elevator of Carmo". Built at the turn of century, this lift  is 32 meter high and connects the lower streets of the Baixa with the higher Largo to Carma Square and used to be powered by steam. At the top of the tower one  may enjoy an observation deck with a beautiful view of the city and river. 

TILE DECOR

One thing that is undeniably interesting about  Lisbon is that there are  tile decorations in every corner..no wonder why Lisbon has been dubbed as the city of tiles ..In every corner of the city,
you will find tile -decorated pathways,  and walkways . Buildings and  houses whose facades are decorated with tiles add to the uniqueness and charm of this  city...

Having experienced some  glorious things about Lisbon, I highly recommend this place to be on the bucket list
of every travel enthusiast.Quaint and Charming are two words that sum up this European gem. My trip may have ended, but a part of me remains in the city..
As its beauty and charm is beckoning, I keep tellin myself I SHALL RETURN.....