Friday 14th May
Some of us having waved His Holiness off at the end of the road (says she so casually, as if it happens every day!), we left Fatima on an excursion to Obidos, which is pronounced Oobidoosh, to our childish amusement, an ancient walled town which was a delight. Later we went on to Nazare, which is a small seaside town and port.
Most of our group lunched handsomely and cheaply in what was I think a pretty authentic restaurant, having been urged to sample the famous local sardines, which were very good. Packed lunch which had been provided by the hotel was of course consumed on the journey! After some mooching around, we went on the funicular up to another part of the town on the cliff top. This afforded an amazing view of the bay (cue blazing sunshine) and more delightful old houses. There was a lovely church up there with a jaw-droppingly gorgeous and ornate gold reredos.
Everywhere we went, swallows, swifts and house martins were swooping and screeching. While we were on the cliff-top part of the town, I watched an industrious pair building their nest on the side of a house near to the eaves. Earlier on I had seen a pair of swallows feeding their young.
When we got back to Fatima a Youth Pilgrimage was in full swing, as it seems is always the case on the days around the 13th, worship being thundered out once again on what must be one of the world’s most powerful P.A. systems.
We all tried to say the Rosary daily – as Our Lady told us to – and attend Mass whenever possible, but some of us have been too footsore and weary to attend the evening observances every night. Hopefully, we are forgiven for our human frailty.
Most of our group lunched handsomely and cheaply in what was I think a pretty authentic restaurant, having been urged to sample the famous local sardines, which were very good. Packed lunch which had been provided by the hotel was of course consumed on the journey! After some mooching around, we went on the funicular up to another part of the town on the cliff top. This afforded an amazing view of the bay (cue blazing sunshine) and more delightful old houses. There was a lovely church up there with a jaw-droppingly gorgeous and ornate gold reredos.
Everywhere we went, swallows, swifts and house martins were swooping and screeching. While we were on the cliff-top part of the town, I watched an industrious pair building their nest on the side of a house near to the eaves. Earlier on I had seen a pair of swallows feeding their young.
When we got back to Fatima a Youth Pilgrimage was in full swing, as it seems is always the case on the days around the 13th, worship being thundered out once again on what must be one of the world’s most powerful P.A. systems.
We all tried to say the Rosary daily – as Our Lady told us to – and attend Mass whenever possible, but some of us have been too footsore and weary to attend the evening observances every night. Hopefully, we are forgiven for our human frailty.
