My diary - March 22-24, 1972

March 22, 1972  Wed.

David, Mom, and Becky in front of the special tree in Fatima

Dad drinking holy water with Becky in Fatima

Rose scented Rosary from Fatima

Dear Diary:

We got up at 7:00 & went down to eat breakfast. Our tour guide, a middle age man, took us all over. 12 hours total. Mom bought us rosary beads from Fatima, rose scented, & a key chain in Obiso. We saw many monasteries. One had the river flowing in kitchen to catch fish, other had tomb of Henry the Navegator. We got holy water. I bought a rooster. David got a sweater. We went to Nazare fishing town, Fatima etc. We ate in room. Mom & Dad went out to eat. We ate lunch at a inn. Food not to good. Mom & Dad bought us each a candy bar.

Attention! Sites seen on March 22,1972 Obide Church St. Maria, great wall, Monastery of Alcobaca, Peter Justifer tomb & wife, Monastery de Victoria: Henry Navegator buried there, Fatima.

BYE!

Rooster that I purchased!

Note: The guide had a crush on my mom and kept calling her “Mi Lady” which I thought was hilarious. We saw so many monasteries and sites. One of my favorites was the Monastery of Alcobaça which had a stream through the kitchen and we were told of the tragic love story of Pedro and Inės who have huge tombs across from each other at the monastery. A renowned religious pilgrimage site, Fatima was very impressive and is part of the Portuguese Camino. Pilgrims celebrate the apparition of the Virgin Mary before three shepherd children. The rosaries that Mom bought us still smell like roses today. On the back of the photo of Dad drinking holy water, I wrote that he was getting converted. How lucky we were to be able to experience this trip!

Mom walking with our tour guide in Fatima, Portugal

The Monastery of Alcobaça

March 23, 1972 Thurs.

Dear Diary:

We had breakfast in our rooms. Well I sure took notes today & yesterday. We went to the Cathedral, St. Anthongs church, Alfama, St. Jorges castle (like a zoo loads of bird etc.), national  bird of Portugal is large crows, Market I got some clog shoes hearts all over. I also saw pig’s heads hanging allover, insides of animals etc. Museum of coaches, San Jerominos Monastery: Vasco de Gama buried there. Belles Tower just saw outside, Estoril city & Cacais we ate lunch & went to Palacio Real in Sintra. Saw were water was made to pass thorough by Romans & saw best view of Portugal. We kids walked to snack bar & ate. Mom & Dad went out.

BYE!

Note: I wrote that the national bird was a large crow, but the rooster of Barcelos is the national bird. The markets were similar to Latin America with hanging beef carcasses for sale. I loved all the architecture and I am so lucky that I kept scrapbooks with postcards and photos of the trip.

March 24,1972 Fri.

Dear Diary:

We didn’t go to many places but had fun. Left a little after 10:00. We went to Arabida (Olive section) We went to Sensibra, a fishing village & we ate at the St. Felipes Castle. A real castle. We had fun on the way back we waved at the cars we passed. Especially motorcycles (guys only) They usually waved back. Cutest bickcycle rider! We went over the 3d largest bridge in world. We took pictures of a huge Jesus Christ Statue. A car went by with a sailor & the sailor almost fell out saying something to me. We ate at Sancho. The elevator boys always go Oh Boy! when we get out so I had to go mail a postcard so I ask him (me) and he played dumb then last chance he said it real loud.

BYE!

Note: I suppose I was quite the flirt waving at cars and bicycles, lol.  Not sure what the elevator conversation was about as I didn’t speak Portuguese and he didn’t speak Spanish or English. Fun times!

Monument to Henry the Navigator

Key chain with Gallo de Barcelos