Travel: On the trail of legendary ancestors in Lisbon

The Portuguese ruled Goa for over 400 years, leaving their stamp on the tiny state. Thus, the monastery became a monument to the wealth of Portugal's extraordinary Age of Discovery, and both Vasco da Gama and King Manuel I, together with other illustrious figures, rest within its hallowed, limestone walls. You can’t stop taking in the sights at every twist and turn--the whitewashed houses with tiles and wrought-iron balconies adorned with plants and flowers, an ancient church, hole-in-the-wall taverns, cafes, butcheries, bakeries. Known also as Pink Street it is famed for its Tapas eateries and is filled with restaurants and bars, coming to life at night with song and dance. A visit to another landmark was equally special for me – the Marquis of Pombal Square dominated by a statue of Sebastiao Jose de Carvalho de Melo, better known as the Marquis of Pombal, the Portuguese statesman who led the drive to rebuild the city after it was devastated by the catastrophic earthquake in 1755.