TravelswithCharie

This city of seven hills has long been sidestepped by travelers to Europe. And this is a good thing for those of us who are traveling to Lisbon because it means less crowds, no lines nor jostling for the best views, no distressed people in the service sector and just plain "having the place to ourselves". But interest in Lisbon and, Portugal in general, has climbed significantly since the terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels. As travelers search for alternative destinations in Europe, Portugal sparkles as one of the best value destinations this summer.   Ruins of Santa Maria do Carmo In 1755 a powerful earthquake hit Lisbon and left the Carmo Cathedral in ruins. This is what remains of what was once the largest church in Lisbon. The bones of the Carmo are hauntingly beautiful as it reaches up to the sky. It isn't hard to pray in this church without a roof.  There's an archaeological museum at the back of the church with artifacts from other ruins and ...

Now you see it This is the Pyramid in Paris by I. M. Pei which I took on my last visit in 2014. JR, an artist best known for his works, Portraits of a Generation and Women are Heroes , has made the Pyramid disappear as only a magician can.

Here are some places and experiences you might wish to include when planning your summer travel. Plus an essential guide on tipping and a word about sayonara. Happy travels! France Art trains in France From Paris to Versailles (Condé Nast Traveler) http://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2016-05-18/france-decorates-trains-to-look-like-versailles

Customs House The current Customs House is a reconstruction of the original structure designed by James Gandon in 1781 and opened in 1791. It was burned down in 1921 by the Irish Republican Army during the Irish War of Independence. The Customs House was originally built for the purpose of collecting customs duties from ships plying the Liffey River which is across the street. It became the headquarters of local government when the port was moved downriver and is currently the home of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.

Ireland's Eye The coastal village of Howth is a short train ride from Dublin yet a world away. This is the getaway of choice to rejuvenate and clear the air, so to speak. 

Christ Church Cathedral Christ Church Cathedral or the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity is the oldest cathedral in Dublin. Founded around 1030 by the Hiberno-Norse, it has welcomed worshippers for nearly a millennium. It it is the mother church of the Church of Ireland United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough. The roof, the south nave and west walls collapsed in 1562. It was extensively rebuilt in the 1870s with Victorian Gothic features. 

The Emerald Isle We arrived in Dublin in late April to overcast skies which quickly developed into rain.  But we decided to explore anyway. The rain didn't last long and by the time we got to Fleet Street from O'Connell Street, we were walking in chilly sunshine. All that rain keeps Ireland green so it can live up to its poetic nickname, The Emerald Isle.

Puting Bato Cave The Battle of Balisong Hills (Ang Away sa Balisong) was fought between Capiznon Revolucionarios and Spanish soldiers in Pilar in 1887. The local fighters bravely defended their town's freedom against the Spanish troops whom they routed. Notice the white limestone surface of the karst formation. Pilar has a trove of karsts begging to be explored. Hinulugan Falls It's a challenging ride through rough roads to Hinulugan Falls. And then some. Hinulugan is a short hike through rainforest where the sound of rushing water is motivation enough to trudge on despite the humidity. There's another waterfall in the higher elevation which can be seen from the main road. Determined souls will love the challenge of scaling the mountain. "Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations." Pilar What's not to love about this land? We drove past sugar cane fields, streams, rice fields and small villages to Hinulugan Falls. It...

Sunrise Waking up to this. Street Cleaners "If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as a Michaelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, 'Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well'." -  Martin Luther King, Jr. Tuna "My big fish must be somewhere." Ernest Hemingway, the Old Man and the Sea Vitamin Sea   Keep calm and eat lunch. Fisherfolk “Perhaps I should not have been a fisherman, he thought. But that was the thing that I was born for.” - Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea Poetry in Motion "If all politicians fished instead of spoke publicly, we would be at peace with the world." Will Rogers Sunset "The day is done  and the darkness falls  from the wings of night." Henry W. Longfellow  ***** Ima...