Lisbon & Fatima

Upon our arrival in Lisbon, we took a bus ride to Fatima to do a short pilgrimage.  We arrived the week before the anniversary of Our Lady's first apparition to the 3 children of Fatima during 1917. There were only a couple of thousand people at the plaza, rather than the 250,000 that arrive for the anniversary.  We lit a candle at the small shrine on the actual spot of the apparitions and proceeded to the basilica. 

Jacinta and Francisco Marto, who both died of influenza before they reached the age of 11, were proclaimed blessed in 2000 by Pope John Paul. The third visionary, Sister Lucia dos Santos, a 97-year-old nun, died in 2005. Inside the basilica are the graves of all 3. The decoration above the grave of Jacinta is beautiful in its simplicity.

Back in Lisbon, we proceeded through the stone arch which dominates the waterfront and is the entrance to a large pedestrian mall.  The mall was full of tourists and the people of Lisbon enjoying a wonderful spring Saturday evening.  We had a great meal at one of the local restaurants off the plaza.

 We didn't have time for a cable car ride through the city, but we will need to return to visit this great port city!