Portugal

Just pack your smallest bag and go for a few days to one of Europes capital and the surroundings. Actually in a few days you can do almost half of the country.

The small country on the Iberian peninsula has a remarkable good infrastructure.

I landed in Lisbon for a five day travel around the city. Portugal have well preserved history and architecture. The city is built on seven hills and I started with St Jorges Castle which is one of the main attractions. And always when you reach a main attractions there is a stunning view.

Take your time for a walk or the train to Torre de Belem and enjoy this incredible landmark, make sure to buy some natas in the nearby famous bakery "Pasteis de Belem" for a traditional portuguese pastery.

The lovely beaches in Caiscais outside Lisboa or taking 4 hour to get to the south and Lagos. So many choices and there is easy to pick them all because of the infrastructure.

In Lisboa there are some really good restaurants. Bairro Alto is a very popular place for nmightlife but also som e good coffee houses and burger restaurants. Also the old quarter of Alfama is a nice are for a stroll and find some intresting out door restaurant.

An easy bought train ticket in one of the vending machines took me to the small city of Sintra 40km North of Lisbon. Best way here is to take a trek as we did to reach the Palace of Pena, and this is really a fairy tale castle with lots of small towers and buildings in amazingly many colors.

Absolutely beautiful. And the view, of course amazing. The castle it self served as a home for several Kings during the years. Then we walk down a bit to the castle of the moors which is a protecting wall with guard towers to protect the Palace of Pena.

I slept in this wonderful small city of Sintra and the next morning With a local bus that takes you down to Cascais there is a very well worth stop in the most western part of mainland in Europe,

Cabo de Roca, This is a beautiful view point and a landmark for Portugal. Here you can see th cold Atlantic Ocean creating a mysterious mist and make the ocean so unpredictable.

There is a lot of places to go around this area of the country. A part of the roman empire in the east called Evora with the acropolis on top of the city hill. Even Evora is just a train ride from Lisbon and it could be done in a day trip but I decided to stay a night. I found that a good choice in my empty Hostel and had my best meal in Portugal. Unfortunately I don't remember the name of the restaurant.

But Evora do not offer any kind of nightlife. Everything is closed in the night.