The roots of Lisbon go back centuries. As far back as the 4th century, it was a bishopric of the nascent Catholic Church. But unlike many European cities, the history of Lisbon took an odd turn. It was conquered by Muslim invaders in the 8th century, an occupation that lasted for nearly 400 years.

The result for the modern traveler is that even such a common building as a cathedral takes on a somewhat different cast in this Portuguese city. The Sé de Lisboa, the cathedral of Santa Maria Maior, is just such an example.

After the first king of Portugal, Alfonso Henriques with help from the English, drove the Moors out of Lisbon in 1147, he began an ambitious building program. One of the first was the Lisbon Cathedral, as it has come to be known.

Like most from the Medieval period, the project continued for nearly the next 300 years. As a result, the building displays many styles, as changes were made during the effort.

The facade is relatively plain, a utilitarian set of walls that appear to the visitor like a fortress. But the interior contains many splendors. The chapel in the cloister, for example, holds architectural details that will delight anyone who enjoys cathedrals. Here one can see evidence of Lisbon’s Roman and Arab periods in the excavated central courtyard.

Built with the standard Latin cross plan, there are three aisles, a transept and a main chapel. The cloister is connected to the church on the east end. Standing in the center one can look up in the direction of the entrance at an impressive rose window.

As you do, you can easily observe the high barrel vaults that were the main innovation of medieval churches adapted from the Romans. The other rose windows admit the warm Lisbon sunshine to illuminate them with a gentle glow.

Walk to the ambulatory and spend some time admiring the Gothic tomb of Lopo Pacheco, an heroic knight in the service of King Alfonso IV. Beside his is that of his wife, Maria Vilalobos, who is depicted reading a Book of Hours.

Alfonso was once buried in the main chapel, but the tombs were destroyed in the famed 1755 earthquake that devastated much of Lisbon. Near the entrance is another surviving tomb, this one of a rich merchant named Bartolomeu Joanes.

Construction has continued off and on right up to the present. In the 18th century, after the earthquake, the main chapel was rebuilt in the Rococo style of the day. One evidence of this is the crib in Joanes’s chapel.

While no one would claim that Lisbon Cathedral is the equal of Notre Dame in Paris, its rich history - as seen throughout the building - definitely merits a visit from the Lisbon tourist.

The cathedral is in the Alfama district and is easy to reach by taking tram or bus.

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Despite the word ‘Jardim’ in the title, the Lisbon zoo is all about the animals. Small by international standards there are nevertheless over 2,000 animals ranging over 400 species housed here.

Lions roam a large display and make their presence known in a city full of distractions. Several other large cats, leopards and tigers prominently, wander to and fro as if stalking their prey.

Not far away are some animals that look as if the cats think they might serve that purpose: baboons. They scamper around, shrieking and flipping around, perfectly safe from everyone but themselves. A patient wait near the cage will show visitors how they establish dominance within the pack when that screech is turned on a member lower in the hierarchy.

Chimpanzees are close by, as well. In typical fashion, they’ll happily climb a rope, grab the top of the cage and give a shout to anyone looking. Oftentimes they’ll approach the front of the cage, looking for food and attention. Visitors will sometimes accommodate them, unleashing a wild display of cartwheels and grunts.

The elephants look on from enclosures a short walk away. Six currently call Lisbon Zoo home, some of whom were born there, others captured in the wild. They range from friendly old males to curious youngsters who wonder what all the fuss is about in the monkey cage.

The black bears perk up and notice that the elephants have stirred. That puts them in motion, ready for a meal from tourist or zookeeper. They’re not particular. But they’ll reward either with a loud growl and an amusing romp around the cage with their friends.

Wander along the cool grassways and visit some of the cattle, who laze contentedly in the hot Lisbon sun as they munch on some grass. Slake your own thirst as you watch the local species that are just enough different from those elsewhere to be interesting.

Stroll over to the Reptile House and see some of Portugal’s local species of lizard and snake. The kids will be fascinated, priming them for a visit to the Children’s Farm where they can interact with small sheep and other gentle creatures.

Unlike some zoos there are also a number of aquatic species to delight young and old alike. See the sea lions being fed, then wander over to Dolphin Bay and watch these fascinating creatures at play. After the dolphin show, stick around and have a photograph taken standing next to the friendly seal.

The zoo is easy to reach by taxi or tram. Or, walk to Parque Eduardo VII and head to the highest point. On the way, enjoy the views of the River Tagus and other sights of Lisbon.

Spend an afternoon at the Jardim Zoologico de Lisboa and see what all the excitement is about!

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For strength and durability, not to mention having your bags look good, it may be wise to look into buying a leather luggage set, especially if you do a lot of traveling. In today’s luggage industry, leather is not limited to only brown or black colors as a leather luggage set can be found in a myriad of color possibilities to match the needs as well as the personality of the owner. They are also more resistant to water and other elements when traveling through wet times of the year.

Depending on your needs, you can find a leather luggage set that contains as many pieces of luggage that you might need. Typically, a set might contain one large suitcase into which most clothing is packed, along with a smaller one for use as a carry-on bag and a suit or dress bag, equipped with a means of hanging to keep the clothes from becoming wrinkled during travel.

You can also find a leather luggage set with a matching computer bag, portfolio bag and for the men, a shaving kit bag for personal care items. Having every piece of the leather luggage set match may seem like vanity for some folks, but with all pieces serving a specific purposes it is also easier to recognize and identify all the pieces when you are picking everything up at the baggage claim area.

Personalize Luggage Set Through Choice Of Color

The use of color with leather has made astounding strides in the past few years with brown and black still the most common. A multitude of available colors can be found that might even match the person’s leather overcoat. Bright reds and oranges are some of the most common off-beat colors available in choices of a leather luggage set and are much easier to distinguish as your own in a crowded area.

Leather is also more durable that many of the other materials of which luggage is made and can withstand some of the rough treatment experienced on airlines, bus lines and even on cruise ships. While some may consider a leather luggage set an unnecessary expense, others believe that since they last longer than traditional luggage materials, it is more of an investment than a luxury.

Being able to be selective in color choices of a leather luggage set also makes them appealing to those with non-traditional tastes in the appearance they make in public. Celebrities especially, seem to be drawn to the sets that stand out from the rest, possibly due to their being able to be found quicker, as well as standing out from the rest.

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Legend has it that a pilgrim on his way to Santiago de Compostela stopped in Barcelos centuries ago. He had the misfortune of being accused of theft. In court, he declared that if the cooked rooster the judge was about to eat stood up and crowed this would prove his innocence. It did, and he was set free.

Thus, such colorful ceramic symbols of good luck are to be found in many places in Portugal. But, it is only one of the many interesting items to be found at Fiera da Ladra (Thieves’ Market) in Lisbon. Perhaps not all will have such interesting backgrounds, but there will be hundreds of bargains that will prompt a tale back home.

Every Tuesday and Saturday morning tourists and locals alike flock to the Campo de Santa Clara where they find dozens of stalls lined up along this hilly avenue. The booths offer much more than brightly painted birds, to be sure. Clothing, jewelry, antiques and many other items are for sale in this open-air market.

Located not far from the Alfama district, one of Lisbon’s neighborhoods with a strong Moorish cast, people gather here to buy and sell items in the shade of centuries-old buildings. Photographs from the end of the 19th century reveal a market that looks much like it does today. Items sold then would be considered antiques today, but the air of lively trade is just what is was then.

Beautiful silver or brass candlesticks are proudly displayed on one table. Fascinating glassware sit on another nearby. Tiles, ceramic works of art so beloved in Lisbon there’s even an entire museum dedicated to them, can be found on yet a third table.

There are clothes galore. Shoes of a sort that would be found in an upscale store. Belts handcrafted by the masters of Portugal. Dresses both relaxed and colorful as well as classic and refined. In short, anything and everything for both the bargain hunter and the seeker of the divine in couture is offered at a Thieves Market stall.

Not surprisingly, many of the items reflect Portugal’s past as a great seafaring and trading nation. Carvings from former Portuguese colonies in Africa are just one sample. White lace from Tunisia is another. African masks, small statuary and more grace the area for those who seek the exotic at a bargain price.

But there are also a wide variety of items from within the country itself that are no less interesting and collectible. Pottery from Redondo are offered by those who treasure the local art as much as the distant. Handmade toys from faraway Porto and items from a castle in nearby Sintra are just as likely to await the treasure hunter at Fiera da Ladra.

The vendors are friendly and willing to bargain with anyone who returns that goodwill. Be prepared to see the mundane and the unusual side by side. Be ready to spend. For, at the Thieves Market, those who steal are not welcome.

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Fado is to Portugal what flamenco is to Spain: a cultural symbol. But there, for the most part, the similarities end. While flamenco is energetic and vigorous, equal parts music and dance, fado is soulful.

This native form of music arose as a confluence of several sources: from the Lundum of Brazil, the songs of the Moors, the chants of the slaves from Africa and many others lost in the mists of history. But whatever the origins, fado has come to be identified with Lisbon, pure and simple.

No other form can quite so completely capture both the melancholy and the striving than fado. Arriving relatively late in Portugal’s history, in the early 19th century, it nevertheless represents both the past and present for the country’s locals and tourists alike.

Whether it is the famed Amália Rodrigues (deceased in 1999) and her Black Boat song that laments the harsh travel of the African slaves, or a modern street performer’s croon that echoes American blues ala B.B. King, fado is everywhere in Lisbon.

Visit a small tavern in the Bairro Alto district and you will inevitably hear some of the heart-wrenching sounds of the fadista. Accompanying himself on the medieval-lute like instrument that is part of the performance, he will play a song of longing that defines the Lisboa soul.

Have a fine meal at any of the upscale restaurants along the Rua das Gáveas and you may hear a variation on the style, more uptempo. Step into the Travessa da Queimada, a club converted from 17th century stables, and you will hear echoes of those long-gone horse caretakers. The drink and the food will warm your soul while the singer shreds it with his music.

Sink into the ’saudade’ (loosely translated as longing) and be prepared for a cathartic musical journey with a woman fadista. Dressed in a black shawl, her words may tell of the death of a loved one. Or, they may speak of the striving for freedom so long denied. But underneath the despair you will also hear the passion for living that embues the Portuguese people.

From the Latin word for fate, fado speaks of the inescapable. But it also tears at the heart which yearns for the future. Few other forms of expression can so skillfully capture sadness and joy and intermingle them so well.

Stroll over to the Alfama neighborhood and you will hear a slightly different style, one informed by the Moors who once dominated the area. Full of artists of all types, this area offers fado more similar to that of the students of Coimbra. Wearing the traditional heavy black cape, the strings are strummed and the song begins. Before long the tears start to flow. They are not just tears of sadness, but of readiness to embrace whatever comes.

Plan ahead and you can even attend a performance by the famed group, Madredeus. They will ensure that you don’t leave without understanding, at least with the heart if not the mind, the music that is Fado.

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Portugal has a long history of sea exploration, filled with colorful tales of discovery. This history is amply illustrated in Lisbon’s Belem section. For the traveler, there are enough things to see here to occupy several vacations.

One of the most often visited sites is the Jeronimos Monastery also known as the Monastery of the Hieronymites, built in 1502. The cloisters contain many maritime themes echoing Lisbon’s relationship to the sea in the form of carved sea monsters, coiled ropes and more. The exterior houses a garden with elaborately shaped bushes depicting many of Portugal’s coats-of-arms.

Nearby is the equally renowned Belem Tower, completed in 1515 as a fortress to guard Lisbon’s harbor. From this spot many of Portugal’s great explorers began their journeys. But the tower is of more than historical significance. It’s also a work of art. Festooned with sculptures, it will entrance any lover of outdoor art.

Covering the monument are carvings incorporating many of the themes of The Discoveries, the name given to Portugal’s long line of exploratory firsts. Dias’ trip around the Cape of Good Hope, the voyages of Magellan, Vasco da Gama’s discovery of the sea route to India and more are depicted on the walls.

That theme is continued in The Discoveries Monument. It treats many of the same heroic exploits but in a fascinating modern manner. Made of huge stone rectangles, carved figures are crowded along one ramp. The effect is that of a group of heroes rushing to see what is ahead.

Erected in 1960 it represents a three-masted ship ready to set sail on an unknown ocean, armed only with courage and curiosity. Cartographers, monks and others follow Prince Henry the Navigator as they set out on their great quest to see what is beyond the horizon. The interior contains exhibit space where visitors can see a film about Lisbon, then climb to the top for a view of the spectacular surroundings.

But Belem offers other fascinating sights.

The Ajuda Palace, constructed in the early 19th century, offers tourists a look at Lisbon’s royal past. The neo-classical facade provides one of the highlights of the architecture of the period. But even more impressive sights await within.

Filled with tapestries, marble statues and thousands of objet d’arts, the Ajuda Palace will occupy those who enjoy fine art for hours. The frescoed ceilings alone makes the trip worthwhile.

Take a breather in mid-afternoon and enjoy a refreshing drink or light meal at one of the many cafes in Belem. Then head out to see the Berardo Museum, the 25 de Abril Bridge and the dozens of other sights in this historical district of Lisbon.

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There are a multitude of reason that people would buy personalized luggage tags, but the most common ones are they make insuring you pick up the right suitcase at the luggage carousel and they can add to your sense of accomplishment. Most new suitcases include a luggage tag when purchased, with a blank slip of paper on which name, address and phone number can be written, but these just are not the same as personalized luggage tags. In most instances, they are similar in color and material to match the suitcase, making them somewhat difficult to spot at a distance.

When buying personalized luggage tags it is important to note how they attach to the luggage. Some of them may not be strong enough to withstand the rigors of repeated mishandling by some of the baggage handlers and will end up being ripped off by how they are treated or by the mechanical conveyors. You might also want to find personalized luggage tags that are a contrasting color to the bags to help identifying your bags easier.

Personalized luggage tags also limit the risk of having someone else grab your bags and change the paper insert to include their name. While this process often used in stealing luggage may take a couple of minutes, it is usually only used on expensive looking luggage and not because it holds a personalized tag.

Limit Information On Personalized Tags

It is usually best to limit the amount of information included on personalized luggage tags, or any other type of tag for that matter. Many experts advise limiting the information to name and a phone number where you can be contacted if you have been separated from your bag. Your home phone number may be fine but if you are traveling, you may want to use a cell phone, or the number of the hotel at which you will be staying.

This may not be feasible with personalized luggage tags, but you can still have the personalized ones containing your name and contact information and an additional tag for contact information while on the road. Yes, it will be a little more work, but at least you can take comfort in knowing the finder will be able to get hold of your while traveling.

Many of the available personalized luggage tags can be ordered engraved to prevent information from being swapped out and can then be permanently affixed to your bags. You will want to order enough of them for every bag you would usually carry so there is no confusion at the airport carousel.

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For people on the go, especially when they go on their motorcycles, luggage rack use is almost a necessity. Unless they have and are willing to travel with a small trailer pulled behind their bike, a motorcycle luggage rack makes packing their stuff for a trip more convenient. Initially, people traveling on their motorcycles were limited to what could fit into their saddlebags or strapped to the back fender or seat but since the addition of a small rack onto which larger luggage could be strapped more people are able to spend more time on the road.

Weight and size can have an effect on how a motorcycle handles on the road and with that in mind, the majority of available options for a motorcycle luggage rack are small units, designed to hold a single bag. There is a misconception that riders always travel light, rarely changing their clothes and do not usually need a means to carry a lot of their belongings. However, in reality, many riders will carry tents and other camping gear on a motorcycle luggage rack, while others pack a suitcase and spend their nights in motels.

Many of the racks sold attach to the back fender, much like carriers made for regular bicycles, only made stronger to withstand the extra weight and speed. Usually, a motorcycle luggage rack consists of steel bars on which the suitcase or other cargo rests, allowing for easy tie down of their belongings.

Simplicity Is Usually Best Way To Travel

While most motorcyclists understand that heading out on a road trip is going to be rife with challenges not faced in a four-wheeled conveyance, having a motorcycle luggage rack on the back of their bike can allow them to carry some of the items they would have to do without if they did not have one.

Depending on the type of motorcycles on its configuration, the rider can select from a variety of motorcycle luggage racks. Some bikes do not lend themselves to being able to hold a rack appropriately, especially those with a seat built for two people, but they may be able to adapt their bike, or the unit itself to attach firmly to the bike’s rear fender.

Those looking to find a motorcycle luggage rack for their next trip can usually visit their local bike shop or peruse many of the offerings through online resources. By knowing their bike’s limitations, they can find the motorcycle luggage rack that will serve their purpose without making it too dangerous to ride.

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With the government-run Transportation Security Agency requiring all luggage be unlocked and available for inspection, fewer people are wrapping a luggage strap around their bags to help keep them closed during rough handling at airports. Additionally, bag that are secured with a luggage strap also risk being caught up in the mechanical parts of luggage moving equipment such as conveyer belts, forcing passengers to wait until their bag is loosened from the area where it is stranded, until it is released and sent along its route.

Many bags come equipped with a luggage strap designed to go over the travelers shoulder to make transporting their bags more comfortable. Especially useful on smaller bags designed to hold suits or dresses, these straps typically snap onto the bag allowing for quick removal once they arrive at the port of debarkation. Once the bag is retrieved, the luggage strap can be reattached for more convenient transport by the traveler.

Traditionally, the suitcase will have a luggage strap as well as an identification tag that matches the bag to which it is attached. Although some people will use highly contrasting colors in their choice of strap to help them quickly identify their bags once they are reunited at the end of the trip.

Straps Help Protect Suitcase Contents

Travelers that are allowed to keep their cases locked often use a luggage strap as an extra level of protection against their bag popping open as it is being pitched into a cargo hold or onto the baggage car on a train or boat. Just in case the locking mechanism fails, the luggage strap can insure the bag remains closed and all their personal garments remain private. There is little worse than seeing your bag headed towards a carousel with the contents hanging out over the edges, held together by a piece of baling wire.

For those that use a luggage strap as means of carrying their bag, finding one with a padded portion for going over their shoulder will make carrying the bag more comfortable. Many of the less expensive straps made of a web-type material can become uncomfortable after even a short distance and can possible reduce circulation in the arm on which it is carried.

Comfort and convenience are the two areas on which the choice of a luggage strap should be made, and insuring they can do the job for which they are intended will make the relationship between the luggage strap and the suitcase a long one.

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Anyone who travels on the road a lot will know that there is a lot of risk involved when leaving your bags with the airport to load onto the plane. This is way so many people often find themselves just taking the smallest amount they can take so it can all be carried in a carry on bag. This is pretty much the only way to make sure that your belongings do not end up lost except for not traveling at all. But sometimes taking just a carry on bag is not going to happen because you may be traveling away from home for a few days or maybe even a few weeks.

So when you have to check your luggage, you may notice you are fearful of not only the airport misplacing your items but other people accidentally taking your bag home with them. While it is all done out of innocence, it can and has happened in the past. This is largely in part of a lot of the luggage looking the same. If you and someone else on the flight had the same exact black bag with no special markings on it, it is a real possibility that you or someone else could carry the wrong bag home. And this is why having something like a luggage spotter on your bag will help.

What They Do

A luggage spotter has a two-point purpose with of course the first point being for you to recognize which bag is indeed yours. And the second point is to make sure that others notice that it is not their bag. This will make sure that other people do not mistakenly take it as theirs and you will recognize it right away as it makes it way around to you. There are several different styles and colors to pick from when shopping for a luggage spotter so you are able to pick something that matches your personality.

The luggage spotter to placed on the handle of your luggage and if you have more then one bag that you travel with, it is a good idea to get a luggage spotter for each one. If you have a family that you travel with, it is also a good idea to get them each their own luggage spotter in a style and color they like so they too can keep good track of their luggage. In the end, having a luggage spotter on the handles of your luggage can save your a lot of time, frustration, and money.

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