Recently I had a chance to visit Lisbon Portugal, a place that I have wanted to visit for a long time, have always heard great things about the place. To be honest it was even better than I expected. Friendly people, great architecture, history plus amazing food and wine, what more can you ask for!

My Hotel in Lisbon, the Intercontinental. Really enjoyed my stay there

As usual I went for a few wanders around the place, no real plan, just see where I end up. This usually works out pretty well and this was no exception. Hope you enjoy my pics.

Sunrise from my hotel room

Lisbon

Oz’s Useless Trivia

A few facts about Lisbon

• Lisbon, or Lisboa in Portuguese, is the Capital and largest city in Portugal
• Has a population of around 2.7M (depends on which area you consider as Lisboa )
• It is the westernmost Capital in Europe and the only European Capital City on the Atlantic
• Lisboa is situated on the Atlantic Ocean and the River Tagus
• Lisboa is the 7th most visited city in Southern Europe, Rome is apparently the most visited.
• Lisboa was founded before London, Paris and Rome by centuries
• Lisboa is the Portuguese derivative of the Latin Ulyssippo named after Ulysses; and/or Roman Olissipona, for the name of the Tagus

Linha d’Água

Parque Eduardo VII

The Ducks in Parque Eduardo VII

Lisbon

Blu Cafe – a good spot for Jazz, a coffee or a beer.

A few more facts about Lisbon

• Lisboa is also known as:
  • A Cidade das Sete Colinas (The City of Seven Hills)
  • Rainha do Mar (Queen of the Sea)
  • A Cidade da Tolerância (The City of Tolerance)
  • A Cidade da Luz (The City of the Light)
• Lisbon’s Motto is Muito Nobre e Sempre Leal (Very Noble and Always Loyal)

Pavilhão Carlos Lopes

The streets of Lisbon

Lisbon

Lisbon

Praça D. Pedro IV

Even more facts about Lisbon

• Lisboa has been ruled by multiple groups and nationalities throughout its existence:
  • Germanic Tribes from the 5th century
  • The Moors captured the place in the 8th century
  • Afonso Henriques and his Crusaders reconquered the place in 1147
  • Spain took over from 1580
  • Portugal reclaimed their sovereignty in 1640
  • Napoléon Bonaparte turned up in the early 18th century, the Portuguese King and Queen took an extended break at the beach house in Brazil. The French ransacked the place, bit like bad AirBnB guests these days
• Lisboa was the main departure point for Portugal’s explorers / conquerors, including Vasco da Gama
• Throughout its life Lisboa has been the site of a significant number of large / catastrophic earthquakes, including one in 1755 that destroyed a large portion of the city

Share Bikes in Lisbon, they are stored in a more orderly fashion than in Singapore!

Next up is a foodie tour of Lisbon.