One of my favourite adventures in recent times was to the city of Lisbon, which of course is the capital city of Portugal. Lisbon is mainland Europe's westernmost capital city and the only one situated along the Atlantic coast.
Being the second oldest in Europe after Athens, the city of Lisbon is packed full of history, tremendous architecture, and amazing landmarks.
Lisbon is the largest city in Portugal with around 3 million people living in the Lisbon metropolitan area, which represents approximately 27% of the country's population
The city lies on the western coast of the Iberian Peninsula with the Atlantic Ocean and the River Tagus coming together on its seafront.
I visited the city in November and enjoyed the temperate climate and the wonderful food and drink that the city has to offer.
It was my second visit to the city and right from the off I was impressed with the architecture which is a stunning mix of the historic and the new, but also with the art that punctuates the city, often popping up when you least expect it.
This was on one of the motorway bridges from the airport to the city and caught my eye right away.
The colours of the city interest me.
In many cities, you are greeted with grey stone, albeit superbly crafted and arranged, but the city centres are often quite bland. That cannot be said about the city of Lisbon.
The Museum of Jose Saramago for instance is a very distinct building, but it sits in a row of properties, painted red, yellow, and bright white, it all adds to the feeling of modernity mixed in with heritage.
Of course, the old town is quite different from the sprawling suburbs, it keeps its tight narrow streets and alleys, turning and twisting on the hills upon which Lisbon is built.
But, although being the oldest part of the city, it is quite possibly the brightest part too. Some of the alleys were incredible, none more so than this one.
Looking from above you get a feeling for the old town, the tight streets, the colourful buildings and yes the hills, have I mentioned the hills?
You will quite often see Lisbon referred to as the City of Seven Hills and that is very true when you are walking around - other than the seafront, most of the streets are on a hill or rise up to a hill as you travel along them. Strong legs are needed!
However, when you reach the top you are rewarded with views like this.
The city of Lisbon has its masterpieces too.
Once you get down the hills towards the seafront you will start to see the landscape flatten off a little and the streets all seem to head towards the huge arch and square on the water's edge.
The Arco da Rua Augusta in Praça do Comércio.
The Arco da Rua Augusta is a stone-built commemoration of the city's reconstruction after the earthquake of 1755. It was originally designed to be a bell tower but finally transformed into a decorative arch. The arch itself lies on the apron of the Praça do Comércio, a vast open space that leads down to the sea.
The absolute artistry of the craftsmen who built it is awe-inspiring and the surrounding and adjoining architecture, again with its bright colours adds to the whole feeling.
But, true to its inclusive nature, there are numerous works of modern art dotted around the square in front of the arch, giving that contrast between the old and the new.
More history lies just up the road from the Arch with the Praça dos Restauradores - a square and monument to celebrate the restoration of Portuguese independence back in 1640.
I loved the Art Deco building on the right-hand side but of course, the obelisk is the feature point here.
Like any city, Lisbon also has its quirks and oddities.
Due to the (I won't mention them again after this) hills, the town planners had to figure out a way of improving the transport between the lower streets and the ones higher up.
They came up with a series of lifts, linked with bridges - quite an ingenious solution.
The bridge is no longer in place, but the Elevador de Santa Justa remains in operation for tourists to see Lisbon from a different angle.
One of the most striking images that you see whilst walking around the streets of Lisbon is the trams, a traditional form of public transport since their introduction in 1901.
The trams are a very distinctive yellow colour and their physical dimensions make them perfect for the narrow and often steep hills that they travel on.
I really like the bustle of the city, it is not mad like London or Paris, but more relaxed and compact with lots going on around you on the street. Every corner held something next and surprising, something different to explore and enjoy.
My final image from my trip to Lisbon is not related to an amazing landmark, it is not related to history or heritage, but it is simply a wonderful piece of modern architecture.
Away from the old town, up in the commercial district, two streets come together with a narrow amount of space between them - the solution for the architect was to construct this wonderful round-ended building.
An absolute joy.
Not only is the city of Lisbon the second oldest capital in Europe it is also the westernmost capital of mainland Europe. (only Reykjavík is more western).
It's got quite the CV and I would certainly encourage you to visit if you ever get the chance.
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