Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon, population 2.9 million, is Portugals capital and a thriving metropolitan area. It was settled by pre-Celtic tribes, Phoenicians, Roman's, Visigoths and the Moors before modern times. It was the center of European maritime knowledge until the mid 1500s. Interestingly it managed to stay neutral through WW II thus avoiding the devastation of the war.

We visited an old Baroque summer palace, complete with the highly ornate designs of the era. Then a tour of Sinta, a bit touristy area that is becoming desirable by ex-pats.

The next day I went birding in the Tagus River estuary and found few more "lifers."Read more