This past June I was able to visit Portugal, a beautiful coastal country on the west coast of the Iberian Peninsula. In Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, there are many streets to walk on that have stores to purchase souvenirs and you can visit many museums and churches.The famous explorer, Vasco de Gama, is buried in Jerónimos Monastery located in central Lisbon. In Lisbon you will also see many monuments that are similar to those in other countries. For example the 25 de Abril Bridge is built by the same building company that built the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Therefore, the two bridges almost look identical. Another similarity is the Christ the King statue, that overlooks the city. This statue is similar to the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro. An exciting site to see in Portugal is Cabo de Roca. Cabo de Roca is located at the most western tip of the European continent and when you arrive there, the wind is constantly blowing and the water is so crystal clear.

I found the food in Portugal to be very delicious. One of Portugal’s most famous dish is Bacalhau. Bacalhau is salted cod and most of the time it is prepared with potatoes. If you ever get the chance to visit Portugal, you must try Bacalhau. You are sure to love it!

Fatima, Portugal is a place of interest for many Catholics because Fatima is where Mary appeared to the three shepherd children, Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta. The actual shrine is a sunny, open area with no trees. Outside the main church is the Chapel of Apparitions. This chapel holds the Our Lady of Fatima statue. In Fatima you also have the opportunity to visit the houses of the three children.

I had an excellent experience in Portugal, a great country with many different exciting experiences for all ages.