by Susie Ma            The Rotarian -- June 2012

Rotarians attending the 2013 RI Convention, 23-26 June in Lisbon, Portugal, will experience a European capital that’s glamorous and exciting yet intimate and relaxed. You can look forward to: Nonstop views.
Lisbon sits at the mouth of the Tagus River, and the city’s hilly topography makes for outstanding vistas of the Atlantic coast.
City streets worth wandering.
Charming roads wind past Romanesque cathedrals, Gothic ruins, and classic red-roofed buildings. Take in the sights on foot or aboard one of the city’s cheery yellow trams.
Near-perfect weather.
The sun shines endlessly in the summer, and the average temperature in June is 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cultural attractions to rival any in Europe.
Sitting atop Lisbon is St. George’s Castle, former residence of Portuguese kings; the site was also home, at one time or another, to Romans, Visigoths, and Moors. On the Tagus River, from whence Portuguese explorers Vasco da Gama and Ferdinand Magellan set sail, Belém Tower stands as a monument to the country’s maritime legacy. Nearby Jerónimos Monastery showcases the ornate Manueline style of architecture typical of 16th-century Portugal.
A good deal.
These days, Lisbon is a bargain. One night at a midpriced four-star hotel costs, on average, US$80, compared with $96 in Barcelona, Spain, and $205 in Paris.
Register for the 2013 RI Convention in Lisbon .
 
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