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growing and unfortunately, so is my suitcase!!!
This time next week we will be arriving into Lisbon or, as the Portuguese call it, Lisboa and I can't wait to take in this magical city...

A bit about our first stop as we embark on a 2 week odyssey of Portugal...
Lisbon is the capital and largest city of Portugal with the urban area extending beyond the city limits and a a population of over 3 million making it the 11th most populous urban area in the European Union. 

Not only is Lisbon the westernmost largest city in Europe, it is also its westernmost capital and the only one along the Atlantic coast...it lies in the western Iberian Peninsula on the Atlantic Ocean and the River Tagus (Tejo).

Recognized as a global city because of its importance in finance, commerce, media, entertainment, arts, international trade, education, and tourism, Lisbon is one of the major economic centers on the continent, with a growing financial sector and the second largest container port on Europe's Atlantic coast.

The city is the 7th most-visited in Southern Europe, after Istanbul, Rome, Barcelona, Madrid, Athens and Milan and I'm happy to say that I've been to 4 and, after this trip, 5 of them!
Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world, and the oldest city in Western Europe, predating other modern European capitals such as London, Paris and Rome by hundreds of years.  Julius Caesar made it a municipium called Felicitas Julia, adding to the name Olissipo.  Ruled by a series of Germanic tribes from the fifth century, it was captured by the Moors in the eighth century.  In 1147, the Crusaders under Afonso Henriques reconquered the city and since then it has been a major political, economic, and cultural center of Portugal. Once the center of the richest empire in Europe, Lisbon now faces one of the worst financial crises in the EU. But even as it struggles with rising debt and unemployment, it is the home to two sites listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site: Belém Tower...
and Jerónimos Monastery...
that I'm hoping we get to visit on this trip.  Furthermore, in 1994, Lisbon was the European Capital of Culture and in 1998 organised an Expo '98 (1998 Lisbon World Exposition).

Aside from it's beauty, Lisbon enjoys a Mediterranean climate with warm winters and hot summers and although it won't be beach weather while we're there, temps will be in the 70's making it ideal for sightseeing...

shopping...

Eating...
more eating...

and of course drinking...

Ahhh, I feel faint just thinking about all the fun times we're going to have...must rest!

Adeus para agora