Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon, Portugal.

A fascinating Portuguese city.

This was my very first time in Portugal and Lisbon did not disappoint. I knew that I wanted to visit this historic country, but I didn't know what I was going to do when I got there.

I researched and researched different things to do but ultimately realized that my trip would be more cultural than anything. And so it was.

As soon as I exited the airport (immigration and customs took longer here than in any country that I've visited in Europe) I made my way to the metro and purchased a reusable ticket for 0.50 euros.

I boarded the tram and exited at the Oriente stop. First stop - the Lisbon Oceanarium. You're probably thinking to yourself, "Really? An aqaurium? Surely there are better things to do?"

According to TripAdvisor, in 2015 this oceanarium won the worldwide aquarium of the year award. So, I guess you could say that it was worth the visit.

The next day was a beach day. I headed to the Lisbon coast to start things off.

Then, I made my way to a city just 40 minutes away by train, Cascais.

The beach right by the train station called the Praia da Conceicao kept me there most of the day. Before heading back to Lisbon, however, I stopped by the Boca do Inferno - or Hell's Mouth.

The next day I went to the zoo. I know, I know. So many animals this trip. Honestly, I hadn't been to a zoo or an aquarium in 15 years, and I figured that this would be as good a place as any to go again.

Now, most people head to Lisbon to drink and party all night. That's not really my scene. But, I met several people along the way that loved the nightlife. So, if that's more your thing, Lisbon is a great place for that.

For me, I enjoyed watching the sunsets every evening from the hilltop castle, catching the famous yellow tram - line 28 - as it toured the city and getting a relaxing deep tissue massage at a fraction of the cost that I would have paid in the United States.

Lisbon is an excellent city to unwind and simply enjoy the culture.

Oh, and if you love seafood - this will be a must-stop for you. Since the city is next to the ocean, you can imagine how important food from the sea is to the Portuguese.