May28

tchau.

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it’s official

before the summer is over

i’ll be traveling

on my first trip as a retired person

 to visit portugal, the oldest nation-state in europe.

tchau.

—

‘if there is one portion of europe which was made by the sea more than another,

portugal is that slice, that portion, that belt. portugal was made by the atlantic.”

– hilaire belloc, french/english historian and writer.

 

 

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*And the award for oldest nation-state in Europe goes to… Portugal. In 1139, Portugal appointed King Afonso Henriques as its king. Lisbon is said to be four centuries older than Rome. Due to its excellent trading location, the Phoenicians settled in Lisbon around 1200 BC.

 

—

 

photo credit: planetware, the perched village of azenhas do mar at sunset, sintra, portugal

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93 responses »

  2. I read that San Marino is the oldest country in Europe (it became independent from Rome the year 301) and the second oldest was Denmark (700) but some say France, which became a country in 486. Regarding nation-states that would be first England and then France. My native country Sweden got it’s first king the year 960 but was not established in its truly independent modern form until 1523. Before that it was part on and off with various unions with Denmark and Norway. Therefore, I am a bit surpised to see it is Portugal. Perhaps it depends on how you count.

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  32. Be sure to try Black Scabbord. It is a fish found only in the deep waters around Portugal. We had it in Madeira, and I loved it so much, I had it for dinner at different restaurants 5 times in our 8 day stay. Not fishy at all — a little like Sea Bass in taste, and usually served with fruit. Amazing!!

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