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Portugal is one of the oldest states in Europe. It can trace it’s history to A.D. 1140 when, after a nine year long fight against the King of Leon-Castile, Afonso Henriques, became the country's first king. Afonso and his successors moved southward, capturing Lisbon from the Moors in 1147. The present-day boundaries were secured in 1249 by Afonso III.

Places to Visit in Portugal

• Lisbon, Great town for walking but rather hilly (either step up going to the gym before you go or take the street cars..I prefer the second option!!)
• Cascais Seafood, great shopping and lovely beaches.
• Algarve, Crowded but worth a visit as it is considered by some to have the best beaches in Europe.
• Lagos (an exotic walled town)has probably one of the best beaches of the Algarve.
• Porto, famous for it’s Port Wine (visit the wine lodges in Gaia) Lovely old town with winding streets and if you like Baroque decor, then a visit to the church Sao Francisco is in order.
• Sintra a historic city with it’s own Royal Palace. If you are on a cruise ship you will probably tour here. Expect crowds.
• Braga some think Braga is the “Cultural” capital and may be Portugal’s most beautiful city.

My favorite things

Creamy soaps from Claus Porto
“Carnaval” (in February)

Driving tips/rules.

It is mandatory to carry in your vehicle a reflective danger vest (yellow, orange or Red), Reflective warning triangle, spare bulbs and the tools to fit them, spare tire (and tools), child seats for children under 12. (Also children under 12 may NOT be in the front of the car).

You may NOT drive using headphones and listening to music/books on tape etc. Mobile phones may only be used with a hands free device.

You may NOT have a radar detector or any other device used to evade the police.

Dogs must be restrained in the car. Use headlights in tunnels always. It is illegal to overtake on the right. Motorcycles may not carry a passenger younger than 7. You MUST stop to help injured persons and call the police if involved in an accident.

Speed limits are:
120 for cars on a motorway and main trunk roads.
50 km in built up areas and rural and secondary roads.
The legal limit for drinking and driving in Portugal is 0.5g/l Fines can be between 250 Euros and up to 1250 Euros with a license suspension from one month to a year if found between 0.5 and 0.8. Levels over 0.8 face fines of 500-2500 Euros and license suspension. 1.2g/l and above ...you can expect to face up to 1 year in prison and a 3 year ban on driving.

Interesting facts

• With a population of 58 million, Italy hosts almost 40 million visitors a year, Italy is the 4th most visited country in the world.
• The city of Naples gave birth to the “PIZZA”.
• Almost 20% of Italy’s population is over 65 years of age.
• Italy is slightly larger than the state of Arizona.
• Rome is further north than New York City.
• In Rome and Naples, it only snows briefly once every few years.
• Italians are responsible for the invention of things such as the typewriter, thermometer, piano, eyeglasses, cologne, and even the nuclear reactor.
• The average Italian consumes 26 gallons of wine and 25 kilograms of pasta per year, and half a pound of bread per day.

Local food/drink

For Italians, mealtime is meant for family and enjoyment. Many stores close during Italian mealtimes as Italians spend time with their families. It’s not uncommon for stores to close for several hours during lunch. Many school children also go home for lunch to spend time with their families.

Of course, Italy is known for pasta. Pasta is the Italian word for dough. The dough is cut into many different shapes and dried. Then it is boiled until it has reached a certain softness and texture. Pasta is usually mixed with tomato sauce, meat, cheese, vegetables, sauces, and more in many combinations.

Some other Italian favorites are pizza, gelato (ice cream), formaggio (cheese), frutta (fruit), and that’s just the beginning.

Weather

Italy’s diverse landscape results in very diverse climates as well. In the north, summers are very hot and winters are very cold (especially in the Alps, where the temperatures can be excruciating). The climate is more tempered to the south and the regions south of Rome can become extremely hot when the African wind Sirocco passes through.

April through May and October through November are by far the best times of the year to visit Italy if you wish to enjoy pleasant temperatures. August is probably the one month you would not wish to visit Italy as most Italians are on holiday and many shops are closed.

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