A Side Trip to Fátima

Fátima is a pilgrimage site of its own. A sanctuary where Mother Mary presented herself 101 years ago to three Shepherd children.  I went back and forth on whether to include it in this trip. Back and forth on if to walk it or not. I had concluded that if we were to do it then I wasn’t going to walk it, it’s a side trip and not the pilgrimage we are on.

We woke in Golega, and  slept very well! It was pouring outside. We packed up and went to the closest place for coffee. My ankle/heel was killing me. There in the restaurant the girls were massaging my foot. When I got up to go to the bathroom, they would later tell me they discussed that they were worried about me and that they wanted to show me support no matter what it involved. We already looked like drowned rats having come in from the rain. I didn’t know what to do, new shoes, more ibuprofen than I should take...

It occurred to me we could get transportation to Fátima, do this side trip and go from there.  Rainy, cold and windy!!! Fátima is usually approached from Santarém, Golega or Tomar so it just fit into our plans. Our taxi driver was a recent widow, who was very nice.  As we rested in the car, he talked about his wife and showed me pictures, that then made me tear up. We got out and gave him huge hugs. 

Fátima was very busy, filled with “ made in China” religious items and almost resembled stores you’d see at Disney but with a different theme. We did have a wonderful lunch where our server claimed relationship to one of the little shepherds Mother Mary visited. We bought candles and made prayers to many!