Where Do Pilgrims Stop ?

Firstly before leaving Vila Cha, I returned to the beach on the Sunday evening after my long day in Porto, to be rewarded with a great sunset,

which suddenly broke out from all the surrounding cloud… I took many pictures, these just being a few… 

Monday morning, a leisurely start, and I was driving South, unsure of my final destination.. wanting to find some sunshine… as I drove South , after a few hours, I saw signs for, and realised how close I was to … Fatima – I’d seen this signpost in Porto, and should have realised it meant  something for me…I’d started my Camino last year at Lourdes in France, and now could call in to that other great pilgrimage site- Fatima… I found somewhere to park Wally, thinking I’d just call through for a brief visit, however once inside realised I should stay longer – the tourist people in the shrine were very helpful, advising me where I could park … so I did, as memories flooded back of seeing the area full of over 1 million people…how many years ago ? .. and reading at mass at the shrine . I managed to find mass just starting, thought it was going to be in English, however I’d got my times wrong… Portugese, and very nicely sung ! I was then able to remember all my friends, and people around the world, needing various prayers ( you know who you are ) and light a special candle remembering them all…..  before wandering around for a while, relaxing before the 9-30 p.m. Rosary and candlelight procession, even though it’s before the ‘official pilgrimage season’ there were still several hundred people gathered at the shrine, for the rosary, said in languages from around the world – Portugese,French,English,Indian, Hungarian,Slovakian + others- before we all processed around the square singing and the final blessing.. it was quite chilly by now, the stars above twinkling… I returned to Wally for a peaceful nights sleep, and a marvellous alarm call at 7 a.m. from the bells of the Basilica… ‘Ave Maria’… A pilgrims time to move on…