Lisbon, Portugal

I spent 4 days, 3 nights in Lisbon in beautiful hot weather. The food was amazing not to mention the vinho verde. I think of Lisbon as a place light on “essential sights” and heavy on atmosphere (and old fashioned street cars!) . I climbed up and down its hills, covering over 30 miles on foot through the neighborhoods of Baixa, Chaido, Bairro Alto, Alfama plus a hike out to Belem to see the Capela de Sao Jeronimo (don't wait in line, go in like your going to church), Belem Tower, and the Discoveries Monument. I also thoroughly enjoyed the top notch Gulbenkian Museum. I also happened to be in town while the beautiful purple flowers of the jacaranda trees were in bloom everywhere - gorgeous!