"The Cradle of Discovery" Lisbon by der_geograf

As a travel destination, Lisbon is usually overshadowed in the minds of tourists by Madrid--her sister capital to the east. When I was planning my visit and I told friends and family members that I was going to Lisbon, I usually received such replies as "Why there?" or "What's there?" Admittedly, I could only come up with a few reasons--most of them related to geography and history--but as far as any other aspects of the city were concerned, I was at a total loss for words.

But a closer look at Lisbon further proves its worth as a point of interest for the outsider. The city has a host of reminders of its interesting past--castles, churches, ruins from its devastating earthquake, and monuments to some of the greatest heroes in the world of geographical study and exploration--but it also has all of the amenities and characteristics of a modern metropolis.

Fisherman preparing his line on the Tagus

The city's life has spanned several hundred years, during which it has withstood several tests ranging from natural disasters to a dictatorship, but its pulse is indicative of a city that is very much in its prime.

That first evening there, eating a delicious squid dish while sitting in the basement restaurant of the Hotel Miraparque, watching the two elderly waiters do their thing, realizing that months of planning had now come to fruition, I was struck with the feeling that my decision to visit Lisbon was going to be nothing short of unforgettable.

WELCOME TO LISBON, PORTUGAL.

• Pros:beautiful, great public transportation, low costs
• Cons:hassles from beggars (old Lisbon)
• In a nutshell:Lisbon is absolutely dynamic!!!