Around the World
I've lived in three totally different countries, three different cities. This is my tribute to each of them. Also make sure to check out my wife's website which features additional pictures.
Key words: American, Portuguese, USA
I was born in Porto, Portugal. Though I also lived in the suburbs of Porto, such as Vila Nova de Gaia and Maia, one can say I lived in Porto for over two decades. Porto is a big city: its metropolitan area, including Gaia and Maia, has over 1,500,000 inhabitants. While there are some wonderful places in Porto, such as the beaches to the north, Foz, or Parque da Cidade, Porto is admittedly a dark, sad city. I tend to see Porto like I see my family: I didn't choose it but for the good and for the worse it's part of who I am. Due to the courage and bravery of its population in the 19th century civil war, in particular during Porto's siege, Porto is known as "Cidade Invicta" or "Undefeated City."
Photos of Porto by Ricardo Magalhães 
Apart from Lisboa, Óbidos, and the beaches in Algarve, Portugal is not a place I would recommend to tourists. There's not much to see when compared to other European countries, even though the nightlife in Portugal is--I was told--fantastic. Personally, I don't go out much so I can't say if that's true or not.
In 1999 I moved to Belgium, to the beautiful city of Namur. One problem of Namur is the French language, but I got along with a dictionary. Even though I'm not a party guy, Namur is the most boring city on the face of the earth. As I said many times, the most enjoyable thing to do in Namur is work. Still, it is a very nice city that I recommend visiting if you're in the neighborhood.
Despite the rainy weather, Belgium is a beautiful country that is well worth visiting. The Flemish side of Belgium is the most enjoyable with many relatively small, wonderful cities like Gent, Antwerp, Brugge, and Leuven. My favorite cities in the French-side are Namur, Dinant, and Durbuy, which are worth a visit. The countryside of Belgium is also quite beautiful, particularly the Ardennes. If you are thinking of visiting Belgium, just one final warning: do not go to Ličge or Charleroi! Really.
After a brief interlude back in Porto, I moved again in 2004 to the United States of America. Presently, I live in Brookline, a town right next to Boston, Massachusetts. Brookline is a very nice place to live, even if pricey. Boston is less confusing than New York or Los Angeles and much more open-minded than other parts of the US, so I'm really liking it here.
