Xmas 2019 Canaries Cruise - Lisbon Page

It took 90 minutes drive through the countryside to get to Fatimá. This place is a hoot. Ken wanted to go to get photos for a 1st World War talk, as the kid shepherds who claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary had done so in 1916 when Portuguese troops were in the Western Front trenches. Ken assumes that the older girl was schizophrenic & persuaded the other 2 of what she had ‘seen’.

The 1950s Church & half the basilica

The original 1920s little Chapel in a shed

The 1950s Church

There is an original chapel from the 1920s, a church with a big bell tower from the 1950s & a new church opposite from 2006. Pilgrims come here on May 13th, the anniversary of the alleged apparition & it is a huge local industry.

The basilica & 2006 new church at the other end

Inside the 1950s Church

Tile stations of the Cross

1950s altar piece

Modern stained glass

The 1950s Church

Inside the Modern Church

Modern Holy Family

This sort of level of superstition is appalling. While my objection to religion is intellectual, Avis’ is visceral loathing, so she is not keen on this type of trip unless I can justify it for photos for my talks. The rubbish shops have numerous statuettes of the VM as described by this girl, who ended up in a Carmelite convent. The sheer volume of the tat bespeaks of the huge number of pilgrims.