Travels in the 2nd half

  The city of Tomar, Portugal, is a wonderful place to visit. It is a small city, with an interesting history, and tourists have yet to discover it. That means spending time in Tomar offers a deep look into Portugal’s past without the large crowds that can plague major European cities. Tomar is in the geographic center of the country, about 140 km (85 mi) northeast of Lisbon. Tomar was founded in the 12th century by members of the Knights Templar, and their descendants The Military Order of Christ. It was built to be their headquarters in Portugal, and to control traffic and shipping along the Nabão River. The Templars built a castle on the hill above the river, and later added a monastery. These buildings are the main attractions of Tomar, and Travelgumbo published an excellent blog about them, which you can read here . But the city is home to many other sights, and I spent my day walking among these small museums and galleries. Tomar's Castle and Monastery   My first stop wa...

  The city of Tomar , Portugal, is a fascinating place. It sits close to the geographic center of the country, along the Nabão River. I visited Tomar on a beautiful day in August. I will write more about Tomar next week, but today I want to introduce you to what seems to me to be an often looked-over jewel of the city - Mata Nacional dos Sete Montes - Seven Hills National Forest.   This city forest occupies 39 hectares (approx. 100 acres) just below Tomar’s most famous attraction, the Castle and Convent of the Order of Christ. The Order of Christ were originally known as the Knights Templar. The park starts at the bottom of a valley, across from the city’s main tourist office. Its gates are guarded by a statue of Infante Henrique - Prince Henry the Explorer. Henry was the architect of Portuguese exploration and colonialism in the 16th century. He developed this plan while staying at the castle in Tomar. Prince Henry the Explorer Office of Tourism   The National Forest i...

  Looking to the MNAA This summer I took an extended trip to Portugal, but I only had one afternoon and evening in Lisbon. I booked a room at the Emerald House Hotel, part of the Hilton Hotel chain. The hotel is on the edge of the Tagus River in the Santos neighborhood.     In the 18th century, Santos was the home to many aristocratic families, who built large houses on the hillside leading from the river to the Estrella neighborhood. These old buildings have been preserved, serving as hotels and apartments today. There are many restaurants and clubs in the area. I enjoyed a post-flight lunch at Geographia , a restaurant the serves dishes from across the Portuguese speaking countries of the world.     The Emerald House is across the street from one of the gems of Santos’ tourist attractions - The National Museum of Ancient Art (MNAA) . Portugal’s national collection of art was initially created after the 1833 abolition of religious orders. The government closed...