Our Lady of Fatima

The story behind Our Lady of Fatima is based on three apparitions reported by three shepherd children from the region in Portugal, dating back to 1917. The area is also known as Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima. Every year, thousands of people assemble at Fatima on pilgrimages, so the city is spotted with chapels, hospitals and hostels.

The cathedral is a picturesque building at the bottom of the hill. There were many people walking to the bottom of the hill on their knees; I guess it is a form of penitence. I looked like a very painful, long walk, some people had on kneepads, one woman did the entire journey while carrying a small baby.

Inside the cathedral mass was in service. I only stayed for a short bit, but it was beautiful; the benches were filled with people and other people lined the back of the walls.

The markets surrounding the cathedral weren't too much fun; the stalls were basically filled with the same items. One strange set of items were replacement body parts for a doll or statue; I couldn't tell if they were for prayer for a particular ailment or for replacements for a beloved statue.

I enjoyed the trip, but was a bit lost on a lot of the elements not being Catholic.