Lisbon, Portugal and all it's happenings!

Yes, my second try in Portugal was much more sucessful than the first, although it did rain again. It didn't pour all weekend, though, which was a definate plus.

We saw all sorts of neat things while we were in Lisbon. Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and it is very different than Spain. I have descirbed Lisbon as the San Fransico of Europe. It has a suspension bridge that the one in San Fransico was desinged after. It is right on the water and the city is huge. It has a very efficient metro system and LOTS of history in it. The city is WAY to big to feel like we explored the whole thing in 4 days. I would say we only hit the tip of the iceberg...We went shopping in a shopping center right under a bull ring. That was an adventure. We also got to see the aquarium. When I went out exploring, I happened upon a National Park of Portugal, which was beautiful. We also went to a nearby city called Sintra. This is the place where all the nobles of Lisbon when to build their summer castles. It was really neat to be able to see. Also, Portugal is the number one producer of cork in the world. We got to see all sorts of cork trees and fun things that were made out of cork. It was really neat climbing in the national park because cork trees were everywhere.

The group and I also went to a huge monastary dedicated to one of the great explorers of Portugal. There were so many different parts of this city that I don't feel like I can do it justice by describing it. The architecture of this city was incredible. There weren't two buildings next to eachother that were both the same shape. Everything in Lisbon was different colors and shapes and styles. It was a haven for people that love and can apperciate architecture-needless to say the architects in our group were happy...

Anyways, I leave for Madrid by bus tomorrow. Then Thursday morning I fly out with some friends to Paris. That's right. I will be there Thursday monring through Sunday morning. Awesome trip, huh? I'm excited!

Guess what? I also voted today. I finished my absentee ballott and it will be sent in soon. My second presidental election, and I have now voted from two different countries... cool, huh? I thought so! Love you and miss you all!