Portugal Offers Something Wondrous For Every European Visitor

Portugal is a country full of wonders to be discovered. No matter what you fancy, you will find it in Portugal. The country offers ancient cities complete with castles that were once occupied by royalty and Roman ruins left over from the Roman occupation dating as far back as 138 BC. You will find nature at its very best with the many parks and preserved lands. Visit an island vineyard hand forged over 500 years from rock. The beaches are exotic and the history is grand.

The history of Portugal dates back to the Pre-Celts and offers stories of kings and explorers, battles won and castles saved, some of which can still be visited today. The people of Portugal struggled through hundreds of years to make it an independent kingdom, and subsequently a country. Historical sites are in abundance in this wondrous country. You can visit the medieval town of �bidos, the town of queens, named so because kings would give this town to their queens as a gift. Be sure to visit the churches built for the children of the queens at their time of birth. The queens' castle is still standing, as are the castle walls where you can view the aqueduct.

You won't want to miss the gothic monastery in Batalha, built by King Jo�o I in thanks to the Virgin Mary after Portugal's 1385 victory in the battle of Aljubarrota. The king and his queen are buried there in the family tomb, along with their son, Prince Henry the Navigator, who was responsible for the Age of Discovery. You can find a beautiful monument to Prince Henry the Navigator in Portugal's capital of Lisbon.

In Marv�o, Portugal you will find one of the country's tallest castles, the Castelo de Marv�o. This fortress has been considered invincible because it sits atop a rocky cliff, making it nearly impossible to access. But the trip through the rocks and thick forest are well worth it for any history buff. The Church of Santa Maria is in Marv�o and has been converted into a museum, which boasts of many archeological treasures of Portugal.

The mainland weather is a constant 55� to 64� F so it is always a good season to visit Portugal. Whether you want to spend your day boating the Tagus River or exploring the ancient cities of Portugal, you can rest assured that the temperature will be comfortable. In the wintertime you can ski in Sierra da Estrela, the mainland's highest point where the weather is significantly colder due to the 6558 ft. elevation. Or, if you like tall places, visit the Island of Pico, where 7713 ft. is the top of the volcano that is Pico Island.

It doesn't matter who you are or what kind of vacation you enjoy, Portugal has something for you. Be it beaches, parks, castles, or taverns that boast the best wine on the continent, Portugal is a place you will not want to miss on your next European getaway.

Pescadero harbors a quiet paradise of mild climate, great views and memorable food

On a crisp, crystalline winter morning, the kind of glorious day when you can understand why fog-accustomed folks here say that winter is their summer, three men of a certain age were chatting volubly in the back booth at Duarte's Tavern.

International Forecaster February 2012 (#1) - Gold, Silver, Economy + More

The following are some snippets from the most recent issue of the International Forecaster. For the full 31 page issue, please see subscription information below.

Romney’s vulture capitalism, the Balls backlash and more downgrades

David Blanchflower looks at US unemployment, the France downgrade, and why Labour has not reversed its policy.

All the world's a stage

Some members of the multi-cultural Footsbarn Travelling Theatre talk about their latest play, Indian Tempest, which has a cast that includes five theatre persons from Kerala

Washington View: Dear legislators: It’s the economy, and changes must be made

In 1992, Bill Clinton’s campaign slogan was, “It’s the economy, stupid.” In 1993, Washington employers modified the slogan to, “It’s the economy, don’t kill it,” and emblazoned it across a huge banner draped from the Association of Washington Business building near the state’s Capitol Campus, where it could be seen by elected officials driving by.