Many of you have asked me to share some of the photos I took on my recent trip, so  I decided to share extracts from my travel journey here, along with some of the photos. I’ll start with my first port of entry, Lisbon, today and give you a couple more impressions over the next few days. Please let me know if you’ve been to any of these places and share with all the readers what you liked most about all these destinations. I think that by sharing our experiences, we make travel so much more accessible to everyone. (Click on the photos to see a bigger version.)

Lisbon – A city of tiles

Small in comparison to other European capitals, Lisbon makes up for what it lacks in size with its charm, its many hills and the churches that are scattered throughout and that expose the high Rococo style.

All over the city, the shimmer of gold leaf and the wealth it gathered with the colonization of India and Brazil is evident. Gold, silk, spices and precious woods were brought here and a maritime nation was launched with the exploration of Vasco de Gama and his men, who found a sea route to India.

My favorite parts of the city are the great museums – small in size, but rich in objects and art. The best of all of these is the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, which houses an outstanding Lalique collection. The architecture of the building and the area where it is located, is just great. It is part of the Museo de Arte Moderno.

Because Lisbon is by the sea, fresh seafood reigns in their cuisine – and I indulged in daily fresh offerings during my visit.

I also loved seeing how tiles have been used throughout the city – in the facades of the buildings, in the hallways and in churches. It brings tilework to a very high art.

The churches throughout the city are quite magnificent, embellished with gold mantles, carved wood and frescos which, when combined with the color of the local Travertine and marble, ends up with a very soft coloration which is augmented with the Rococo swirls and fantasy.