I love Portugal.  That is all there is to it.  It is easily my favorite place so far, hands down, and I have hardly seen any of it.  I arrived yesterday in the Lisbon airport to be greeted by a warm breeze and a spectacular view of the sea.  I spent the day with my new bf from couchsurfing, Filipa.  With her, I met other couchsurfers, saw Lisbon at a slow speed through weekday traffic, explored castles and cafes in beautiful Sintra, went to the beach surrounded by cliffs for the sunset, and had delicious tea.  Every city so far in Portugal has been aesthetically pleasing: the stucco buildings with their bright colors and wrought iron twisted details, the ornately decorated placards that lurk around every corner, the everpresent forests and flowers that pervade even urban areas, the fresh and salty air, huge statues and roundabouts behind crowning every street. I can´t wait to go explore Belem today!