After 8 days at sea we made a port call in Lisbon, Portugal, this morning. We were excited; both to see someplace new and to meet up with Sven and Sol, our Swedish friends I told you about earlier. We were meeting them for lunch at a place fairly close to the cruiseport, but first we had booked a commercial excursion to see as much as possible in the short amount of time we had.

Lisbon is Europe’s second-oldest capital (after Athens), once home to the world’s greatest explorers, like Vasco da Gama, Magellan and Prince Henry the Navigator, becoming the first true world city, the capital of an empire spreading over all continents — from South America (Brazil) to Asia (Macao, China; Goa, India).

The charming capital of Portugal in southern Europe, is known for its colorful buildings and great hillside views. Visitors enjoy taking nearly 150-year-old trams and guided walking tours through cobblestone streets, along with exploring historic UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as towers and monasteries. Another popular activity is catching a performance of fado, a type of Portuguese folk music played live at local restaurants and venues.

One of the most iconic Lisbon attractions is its historic trams, which have been an integral part of the city’s transportation system since 1873.

Lisbon impressed me as being a place you would like to visit and explore for at least several days if not longer. We look forward to visiting again!