Recently, Portugal became one of the few countries in the world where same-sex marriages are allowed and legally recognized. On the 5 June 2010 a law regarding this issue was passed through the nation’s parliament.

The bill for the legalization of these marriages was proposed by the Prime Minister Jose Socrates in December the previous year. Then, in February the bill was passed through the Assembly of the Republic as the national assembly is called in Portugal. Then, the law was found valid by the Constitutional Court in the end of April. The law took effect in June after the official publication in the government newspaper Diario de Republica.

The issue created a lot of controversy in this predominantly Catholic state. It all started when a lesbian couple applied for a marriage license in 2006. After the denial they decide to go to court because they considered that it was against their rights. They claimed that this was discrimination against them because of their sexual orientation. According to the Portuguese constitution gender discrimination is banned since 1976 and sexual in 2004. In 2007 their claim was denied and they moved to the next level- the Constitutional Court. In 2009 the constitutional court declared on a very close vote that the text of the main law does not forbid or oppose same sex-marriages. Therefore, they stated that the decision must be made by the legislative power.

In 2008 two consecutive attempts to pass such a bill were rejected. Then, in 2009 the prime minister who had been recently reelected decided to put the issue for discussion again. Thanks to his party’s recent victory he managed to convince the parliament of the importance of this step towards equality in Portuguese society.

Now, Portugal is among the 7 European states that recognize same-sex marriages and the 8 worldwide.

Car rental companies that operate on the territory of Portugal are: Easy Car, Auto Europe, and Argus, Hertz, Avis and Opodo car hire.

Whether you’re aiming for a classic grand tour or looking to explore your corner of this culturally rich and scenically varied part of the world, Europe car hire offers you:

Freedom

• the freedom to go where you want to go, when you want to go there;

• visit major tourism attractions at your leisure, free from the exacting schedules of the excursion bus or tour party;

• choose your own travelling companions in favour of the random selection of the tourist group;

• enjoy the freedom to head off on your own, away from the beaten track;

• meet the locals on their own turf, in their own environment, rather than through the usual tourism hot spots;

• decide for yourself how much of the day is spent travelling and how much simply exploring or resting;

Cheap car hire

• the Europe car hire market has perhaps become even more competitive in recent years;

• as is usual, competition typically spells good news for the consumer, in terms of lower prices and better value for money (though what you might consider to be cheap, of course, may be different to another person’s idea of low cost car hire);

• the problem is more likely to be a question of finding the deal that most closely matches your own needs and circumstances, at a price to suit your own pocket;

• many of us may have spent hour upon hour scouring the internet for what appear to be good deals, perhaps even grappling with websites written in a foreign language to find a provider local to the area we are planning to visit;

• however careful, meticulous and simply time-consuming such searches, are there perhaps sites, agents or providers that have been overlooked?

• it may come as something of a welcome relief, therefore, that there are websites that take such worries away by conducting the searches on your behalf, scouring literally thousands of locations for the Europe car hire deal that potentially suits both your needs and your pocket, and presenting you with obligation-free quotes for you to consider;

• websites such as these may not even stop there, but also offer attractive deals on everything likely to be associated with your European travels;

• if you are concerned about the insurance cover for your car rental and the amount you may have to bear as excess, excess insurance policies might be offered;

• or explore Europe with even more confidence, in the knowledge that you have a trusty satellite navigation device to help show you the way;

• in addition to quotes for your Europe car hire, such sites might also offer special deals on airport car parking, airport lounges and hotels.

Being the first country of the world to adopt Christianity as a State religion in 301 A.D. this mysterious country offers some of the best religious This is the homeland of biblical Mt Ararat and the centre of Christianity in Trans-Caucasian region. It’s the land of more than 4000 years of early Christian period and medieval churches, monasteries and Armenian famous cross stones. As a matter of fact Armenian architecture is a language to talk to God.
Our Company offers also special interest tours to Armenia among them you can find:
Wine and Brandy tours – Armenia is considered to be a cradle of Wine as traditionally Noah has planted the first vineyard in Ararat valley. Armenia is famous also for its Brandy which has the honor of being called Cognac and it was Cherchil’s favorite drink. The tours will include visits to the wineries not only in Yerevan but also in special regions where wine producing has been popular for years.
Among numerous tours to Armenia for travelers preferring active holidays we recommend to do hiking in Armenia. Our land is a sacred peace with highlights always tucked away and hidden.
is becoming more and more popular. As pioneers who spare no effort in developing this kind of tours in our biblical country we are inviting you to walk Armenian mountains. The testimonials of our many holiday makers come to prove that Armenian mountains have magical positive energy on hikers and that the mountains can transfer the power and strength coming from the centuries.
Let’s visit also the History Museum where you find important archaeological collections from Stone Age through Medieval periods. And have you heard about Matenadaran manuscript depository? It’s unique in the world with its ancient manuscript collection among them the first copy of the Bible translated into Armenian and many others. Then we will continue our and will walk along the famous Mashtots Avenue to discover more. On your right side you will see Cascade. This is one of the most favorite places of “Yerevanians” as only for the top of the many stairs you can see the most beautiful view opening over Yerevan city guarded by Mother Armenia statue. Just in front of Cascade the most musical part of our city is situated. Two great musicians are standing here. Komitas – the founder of modern Armenian classical music and Aram Khachaturian – a prominent world famous Armenian composer, the author of the music of Saber Dance, Spartacus and Gayane ballets. Then we will continue The next stop is fruit market where you will find Armenian local produce: fruits, vegetables, spices, dried fruits and much more.

Praça do Comércio filled with classical arcades and buildings, this majestic square is among car hire lisbon loveliest sites, the site of the royal palace for 400 years prior to the earthquake of 1755.

Rua Augusta is an engaging thoroughfare brimming with outdoor dining, mosaic sidewalks and quaint boutiques.

Cascais a fishing community since the 12th century, the area blossomed during the 19th century into a lively forum of great food, water sports including windsurfing, pedal boats, water skiing, and sunny relaxation.

Avenida da Liberdade established following the devastating earthquake of 1755, the promenade has charming fountains and café tables set amidst a monument honoring WWI casualties and has been the site of numerous events over the years.

Cristo Rei is a 90-foot tall statue of Jesus that stands atop a 270-foot high base erected during the late 1940s to publicly thank God for sparing Portugal during WWII.

Elevador de Santa Justa built in 1902 by Raoul Mesnier takes you from Baixa to the Barrio Alto in a jiffy, where you can get an amazing view of the city.

Padrão dos Descobrimentos is a stunning 179-foot tall monument with the sculpture of a ship featuring statues of Prince Henry and 32 other leading figures of the period commemorating the Age of Discoveries.

Ponte 25 de Abril a stately suspension bridge connects the two banks of the River Tagus and was completed in 1959.

Praça dos Restauradores square contains the majestic obelisk that commemorates Portugal’s liberation from Spain and was built in 1886. Avendia Palace Hotel and the Foz Palace are both housed in the plaza.

Budget, Auto Jardim, Avis, Europcar, Hertz, National/Alamo and Sixt/Auro Rent are the car hire companies in Lisbon.

Choose the best in your budget.

The Treaty of Lisbon is one of the cornerstones of European integration and the European Union. It is an international agreement that introduces changes to the two previous treaties that constitute the constitution of the European Union. It was signed on December 13^th 2007 in Lisbon by all current EU member states. The two predecessor agreements were the Rome Treaty and the Maastricht Treaty.

The Lisbon Treaty is just a step in the movement for further internal integration within the European Union. It follows the results made by the Treaty of Amsterdam in 1997 and the Treaty of Nice in 2001. The Lisbon Treaty is the answer to the failed attempt to create European Union Constitution. That initiative was abandoned in 2005 when two countries- France and the Netherlands decided that they are against a constitution that spans over the whole organization. Nonetheless, the Lisbon treaty managed to pass most of the changes envisioned in the failed constitution.

One of the main parts of the Lisbon Treaty is the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. It includes 55 articles which govern political, economic and social rights of all EU citizens. This charter is legally binding for all signed countries. Its goal is that the human rights stated by the European Convention on Human Rights are upheld in all EU member states. So far there have been to countries that have chosen not to abide by this Charter- these are the United Kingdom and Poland.

The other main points where changes were implemented are: the Central Bank, the judiciary system, the Council of Ministers, the European Council, the European Parliament, national parliaments, the European Commission and issues regarding foreign relations and security. The Lisbon Treaty has been one of the most far-reaching reformist documents passed within the European Union.

best car hire lisbon companies that offer their services in Lisbon and Portugal are Easy Car, Auto Europe, and Argus, Hertz, Avis and Opodo car hire.

Oceanarium:

A visit to the Europe’s largest Oceanarium, is a wonderful and a unique experience. Located in the city of Lisbon, the Oceanarium consists of about 16,000 animals and over 450 various species of plants and it is the second best aquarium in the world. The highlight of this aquarium is the central tank which consists of many species such as sharks, barracudas, rays, large shoals of fish and many others. This aquarium is the first ever to include the ocean habitats within a single environment. With extraordinary recreations of several ecosystems of ocean, the Antarctic tank consists of penguins and the Pacific tank consisting of otters, playing in rock pools.

Tower of Belem:

Located in the city of Lisbon, the Tower of Belem was built in the early 16^th century and is regarded as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. With several architectural styles incorporated, this structure stands as a perfect example for the Portuguese Manueline style. Because of the superb decoration on its exterior, with the striking openwork balconies, the outer walls with a stone carved rope and the Moorish watchtowers, makes this site as the most famous landmark of the Lisbon city.

Botanical Gardens:

Another outstanding attraction of the city is the Botanical Gardens. Estufa Fria or Cold Greenhouse consists of remarkable collection of tropical plants that are positioned amidst the mock waterfalls and grottoes. This Cold Greenhouse id further categorized in to 3 zones: first contains winter plants, second consists of tropical species and the third one houses the renowned fleshy plant.

cheap car hire lisbon companies in Lisbon include Easy Car, Auto Europe, and Argus, Hertz, Avis and Opodo car hire.

Lisbon situated next to the Tagus Estuary is the capital and the largest city of Portugal and a blend of the old and the new.

Sunny Lisbon with its great boulevards, monuments and beaches, great nightlife and casinos attracts millions of tourists each year.

Lisbon is rich in architecture from Roman to modern due to its historical heritage.

•             Places of interest.

Lisbon’s aquarium and oceanarium provide visitors an experience of underwater and deep sea life and their creatures including sharks and manta rays.

The Elvador da Bica the street car system used for transporting passengers up and down the steep hills of Lisbon runs close to the Tagus River is and very convenient ways to see sights.

Costa da Caparica offers Surf lovers surfing competitions, just surf or lie back in the sun and watch the action.

The Feira Popular is an amusement park with a roller coaster, a giant Ferris wheel and many other fair attractions is for the thrill seeker. Covering over 125 acres, this fair is very popular with visitors, with dozens of restaurants and kiosks selling knick knacks.

The Monumental Fountain or Fonte Monumental as it is locally known with its size and waterfalls brings a new life into its surroundings when lit at night making it a popular object of photography.

Very popular among the children is The Zoological Park.

The Marina de Cascais along the west coast of Lisbon offers some of the best sea food. With its numerous restaurants, eateries and shops it is a place to relax and see the boats come in and go out of the marina.

The Lisbon Maritime Museum and the Lisbon Planetarium take the visitors through the maritime history and the universe in which we live.

Campo Pequeno Bullring which holds bull fights in summer is among the many monuments and landmarks worth seeing in Lisbon. Among these are, Jeronimos Monastery with its beautiful frescos, vaulted ceiling and ornamented stone columns, the Castle of Sao Jorge known for its medieval architecture, Casa dos Bicos or House of nozzles called so for the many points and peaks it has, the National Library and Arco da Rua Augusta a stone arch way with its many statues.

•             Lisbon Portela Airport.

The airport is situated 7Kms north of The Castle of Sao Jorge in Lisbon, and has two terminals.

The airport has bank, post office, ATMs, currency exchange counters and internet access in the airport.

The departures area offers a wide range of fast food outlets, cafes, snack bars and restaurants, while shops include duty free too. Baby care areas, first aid and showers are available too.

Besides this the airport has facilities for business and conferencing, and special facilities for the disabled.

Budget, Auto Jardim, Avis, Europcar, Hertz, National/Alamo and Sixt/Auro Rent are the car rental companies with desks at the airport.