Why did you love Portugal?
 

and why didnt you?

Charming, friendly, rural, inexpensive.

ttt

Likes: Sintra &amp; Obidos, both beautiful little cities. The seafood was excellent everywhere I went in Portugal. People were very friendly. Fado singing (strange, but moving). Great prices.<BR><BR>Dislikes: Parts of Lisbon were very dirty &amp; run down. Poor train system vs. most of Europe. If you don't have a car you have to take a bus many places.

Sintra and Obidos cities??? What is the American definition of a city???

I loved Portugal for the natural gentility and friendliness of its people, the faded and funky glory of Lisbon, the great wines and cheeses, the tooth-achingly sweet desserts and candies, and so on and on.<BR><BR>

Etymology of 'city': Middle English citie large or small town, from Old French cit&eacute;, from Medieval Latin civitat-, civitas, from Latin, citizenship, state, city of Rome, from civis citizen.<BR><BR>I conceed that 'town' or 'village' may convey their size better. Now back to pros &amp; cons of Portugal...

Assuming you get beyond the tour bus mandatory stops of Sintra, Lisbon, Evora, Obidos etc--you will find:<BR>authentic old world charm<BR>lovely fishing villages<BR>friendly people<BR>low prices<BR>unique architecture<BR>very ordinary food &amp; wine<BR><BR>My favs include Viano do Castello, Marvao, Nazare, Lagos and most of the minho region. You will like it !

I loved the monasteries - the Manueline architechture was amazing. Mafra, Coimbra, Batala, Queluz Palace, Belem were some standouts. Sintra was misty and romantic - the highlight. Disappointments: We drove from Lisbon to Porto &amp; back &amp; the scenery was very unremarkable- like driving around the suburbs of Miami. Also, there were few medium priced hotels - either expensive or modest &amp; charmless. (This was 8 yrs. ago, so the types of accomdations must have improved.) I wish I could have afforded to buy antiques - the quality of many items rivaled things I've seen in England &amp; France and the prices were much better.<BR>

Obidos - beautiful flowers<BR>Nazarre - lovely beach<BR>Estoril - overrated<BR>

The tiles on the buildings and the ceramics in the shops.

anymore please?