Beautiful places around the world

Portugal Photo: Tamega River in Amarante

In Portugal, the beaches are lined with umbrellas, ....some are vibrant and colourful,others are more traditional and rustic...when you go to the beach in Portugal, food and drinks come to you, you need not leave the beach for a refreshment or bite to eat.

People wisp past you on the more popular larger beaches and if you want something they are selling on their trays, you signal them over and buy it .


They wont annoy you while you are on the beach unless you make it clear you want to buy something.

Palacio Nacional de Mafra

These are the places I'd like to visit when I go to Portugal one day.

Belem Tower is considered a masterpiece and is classified in UNESCO's International Heritage list.

Brief Description
Originally designed as a monument symbolizing the Reconquest, the Convent of the Knights Templar of Tomar (transferred in 1344 to the Knights of the Order of Christ) came to symbolize just the opposite during the Manueline period – the opening up of Portugal to other civilizations.

This is a great site which allows you to select a country and it will list all it's world heritage places.


Inside The convent of Christ in Tomar, (Portugal) is stunning.

http://www.ourplaceworldheritage.com/custom.cfm?action=WHsite&whsiteid=265

http://www.portugalvirtual.pt/_tourism/costadeprata/coimbra/ukcity.html

Some of the worlds most dramatic architecture known to civilisation exists in Portugal,and having been cut off from the world for nearly 40 years by a dictator Salazsa , this country has retained it's distinct culture and historical artefacts.

A gastronomical must for the true gourmet, this country has treasures the western world remain oblivious to ....to this very day.

Dan Brown chose the wrong country, ... then again, gaining access to some of these places with a film crew would be damn near impossible in a protective Portugal.

To this day, they remain quite protectionist and a tad stand-offish where tourists are concerned. And you would be to if you were residing in practically the most historically significant places of the civilised world.

Italy and France have had much of their architect and artefacts vandalised, stolen and lost over the years.

Smart move closing the world off for 40 years I think.

My grandmother must have been insane to have fallen in love with an Australian businessman then immigrate to Australia.

I think she was a bit of a rebel.

She's probably still kicking herself in her grave, I know I would be.

Unlike Rome, Spain and much of old Europe, 3 invasions to conquer Portugal failed.

Poor Moors.