Fatima is a town about 80 miles north of Lisbon. This is where the Virgin Mary appeared to three children once a month for six months in 1917. These apparitions are recognized by the Catholic Church and thousands of pilgrims visit the shrine and basilica - that were since built over the apparitions sight - every day. Many pilgrims claim that their faith is tested when they go on a pilgrimage. These pilgrims - Tess and I - were on this trip.
Our flight to Lisbon, as we should have expected, was delayed. As such, we were unable to check in to our hotel after we arrived and had to scramble to make our tour bus. In the mad rush, Tess left her cell phone in the taxi that took us to the tour group meeting place. Also in the mad rush, we were unable to purchase local sim cards and so I was not able to call her phone. We made it to the bus, but unable to concentrate because we were so worried. Not so much of the loss but more on what's on the phone - Tess had pictures and links to sensitive info and documents, and credit cards configured in Apple Wallet.
I remember I had an app, Find iPhone, that can locate, trigger an alarm, report a loss, and wipe out another gadget on the same account. I immediately tried to locate Tess's phone but it appeared that whoever found the phone had already turned it off. However, I was able to set the phone to wipe itself out as soon as it's connected to the Internet. We felt a little better and vowed not to let this ruin our Fatima visit.
Another jet-prop ride. This one was not only late, it also had a scary hard landing in Lisbon. Ouch!
Final approach into Lisbon, Portugal.
One of a few stopovers on the way to Fatima - Alcobaca Monastery. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it's also the burial place of Portuguese kings.
Tomb of King Pedro I.
Entrance to Alcobaca Monastery, built in the early 12th century, is the first gothic edifice in Portugal.
Lunch with some of the friends we made on the tour - an Indian and an Italian couple.
This small shrine was built over the site where Our Lady of Fatima appeared to three children.
The Fatima Basilica is almost as big as St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and dwarfs the shrine next to it.
The basilica is also the burial place of the three children whom Mary appeared to.
Back in Lisbon, fantastic dinner at Chao de Pedra.
The quote from a poem on the wall loosely translates, "Rocks along the path, I will carefully tread so one day I will reach my castle."
