Guadalupe, Santarem and Fatima

We have brekky and leave our hotel. We head for the Monoliths near Guadalupe. 

The rock formations date from between the sixth - fourth century BC. 

They would have had carvings all over butvthey have eroded over time. The rock formations are aligned with another monolith and relate to sunrise and sunset at harvest time. They are thoughtvto be sacred sites and they give off a feeling of stillness and contemplation. 

It is getting warmer so we head off. We dicide to stop for lunch at Santarem - a typical local restaurant. We share a few roast chickens - yum!

We drive back to Fatima using local roads and enjoy the scenery. 

Ed makes plans to see Stella and Armindo tomorrow but she later drops into the apartment. She looks great and remembers everyone back home. Mum she says - Hello! 

We seperate for dinner as the kids want Chinese and Joaquim  will only eat Portugese food. Our meal is lovely - prawns, curried pork and a special fried rice. The kids remember more from our last holiday here when they see a familiar ice cream - ice cream in a penguin cup. 

We meet back up and head to the Sanctuary for mass. The weathet had changed but we brave it. I meet a lovely nun from Spain and we do our best to communicate. 

After mass - bed. 

God bless!