Itinerary Highlights - Page 4
FatimaI'm not Catholic and definitely went into the Fatima visit with no expectations. But I found it the most emotional experience of the tour - we arrived during a Sunday mass during the pilgrimage period and I was truly moved by the sight of the pilgrims arriving. Many of them broke down in emotional relief or in physical pain (or perhaps both) during the final marble pathway approaching the shrine (where people shuffled on their knees - most used some padding, but a few did not). Also, be sure to check out the store display of wax body parts (used for prayers) and the modern basilica.
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PortoOr 'the city of tile' as I'll remember it. The last stop on the tour, we had a surprising variety of activities planned, including a contemporary art museum, a riverboat tour, and more cathedrals! (Again, a lot of their elaborate baroque decorations have survived intact.) While it needs a little rejuvenation, Porto does reminds me of the other historical harbor cities I've visited in Europe (Copenhagen comes to mind).
Porto does have a large tourism quotient, but step away from the main tourist areas and you'll easily find the life of the working city too. Even though we already saw the waterfront on our boat tour, I really enjoyed walking along the waterfront (and also be sure to walk across the bridge to get great views). |