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While Portuguese exploration of the world began in the 14th century and picked up speed in the first quarter of the 15th, it was Manuel's vision, boundless ambition and strategic planning that turned that exploration into a powerful Empire-building tool

No country's history is so interwoven with, and reflected in, its geography as Portugal's.

It's the subjective "feel" rather than objective "see" that defines one's experience at Bertrand.

However, there is one viewpoint in Lisbon that is special - in fact, every bit as special as its name - "Portas do Sol"/The Gate of the Sun - suggests.

volatility ripe with possibilities will likely remain the recurring motif of these Portuguese adventures

To be a foreign guard meant being a Swiss guard.

Trams are still extant and functional in many countries throughout the world. Arguably, they owe their longevity to a different kind of experience they provide.

Bears are ubiquitous in Bern, and they greet citizens and visitors from everywhere - both in name and in person.

While there are plenty of cities with self-explanatory names, many other cases are much more obscure, sometimes even as mysterious as Gioconda's smile.