Everything you need to know about Portugal

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What can a Brazilian say about Portugal, apart from mentioning it as our country's coloniser? There are so many jokes from throughout the years about our origins that consequently could, at first glance, cloud your judgement and stop Portugal from being one of your favourite places.

With beautiful countryside, from its mountains, rivers and beaches Portugal has a temperate climate with bearable winters but with long, hot summers. The other seasons, Autumn and Spring, are fresher and are the best seasons for travelling around the cities and doing all types of tours around Portugal.

Generally during these times of year, flights and hotels tend to be cheaper in Portugal. Ideally for getting the most out of your budget in Portugal, it's best to certain times of year such as bank holidays or national holidays and even avoiding flights during the weekend can save you some extra cash.

Due to the national currency being the Euro, you can also take advantage of this European Currency and travel to other countries nearby like Spain, Italy or France. The capital's airport, Lisbon has daily flights to various destinations around Europe as well as international connections to Brazil and Argentina. As if that wasn't enough, there are many ways of getting around the centre of Lisbon using public transport, with the metro being the easiest way to get around, just beside the arrivals gate. In Lisbon, one of the most common method of transport is the local tram which runs through all of the smallest streets in the city but there are also plenty of other options to get around such as by bus or metro.

One of the best ways of knowing what happens on side "b" of the city is by talking to taxi drivers. Besides, when else would you have the opportunity to be driven around in a Mercedes Benz and other expensive cars like them?

Tourist hotspots and look out points in Lisbon

Using the elevators in the city, you can get about between the lower and higher ends of Libson neighburhoods. One of the most famous elevators, is the Glória Elevator, constructed in 1885, and it will take you to the restaurant square of Badalado in Bairro Alto where you will have a beautiful view from the lookout point of Saint Peter of Alcántara. However, the Saint Justice Elevator, inaugurated in 1902, is the most famous tourist spot. It's 45m high and offers a beautiful look out point on the lower part of the city. If neither of these take your fancy, there are also the elevators Bica and Lavra.

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The Baixo neighbourhood offers the historical side of Lisbon, where you see the sights of the Chiado Square and The Triumphal Arch, which was constructed in 1775 and is now the main symbol of the city located between Augusta Street and the Business Square.

Whenever you get the chance to visit Lisbon, don't forget to visit one of the many look out spots around the city, especially for sunset as it's beautiful to see the city from above to take in all it's narrow streets, alleyways and small Portuguese style houses. The most famous look out points are Saint Steven in the Alfama district beside the well known national monument St Stephan's church, Grace's viewpoint, the Botto Machado lookout (in the area of Santa Clara), the lookout Rocha do Conde de Óbidos (Green window street) to name just a few.

One street you cannot miss is the one running from Belém Tower along to the pastry shop selling authentic Belém Pastry's. Go to the Belém Pastry House at number 84, Rua Belém beside the Monastery - Authentic Portuguese bakery selling sweet treats and savoury snacks. Ask for at least 2 Belém Pastries accompanied by Porto Wine - It's sensational.

Visiting your roots

Talking about Portugal goes way beyond the many tourist attractions such as the Monastery, St. George's Castle, Discovery Monument, Carmo Convent, National Pantheon, Star Basilica and many others.

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This magical place in the south east of Europe is one of the oldest and despite it being small, it's impossible to not fall in love with the place and recognise just a little of Brazil through each step along your travels. Walk through Lisbon's centre, reminds one of Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais and Sao Paulo yet suddently through crossing a street in Lisbon, you are reminded of the windows so characteristic of Salvador, Bahia. The Portuguese accent, which I had previously only heard on a Brazilian corner bar through a barman descended from Portugal or from my uncle impersonating the accent makes one want to ask them a simple question such as, "Where is the metro? ", just to hear the accent of the Portuguese responding, "Yes. I know". Portugal offers just a small glimpse into the wast array of the Portuguese language and is merely a small amount of offered knowledge for Brazilian tourists.

There is no journey more emotional for a Brazilian than to Portugal, as despite the struggles, it's a country that we recognise and offers us a chance to discover more about our roots.