Lisbon, Portugal

Hello from Lisbon. I would say hello in Portuguese but I have no idea how to say anything in Portuguese. As a matter of fact none of us do. We can occasionally make out words or phrases because the words sometimes resemble Spanish. No,  I no have plans on learning Portugues because I have enough trouble with Spanish.   Ramsey you should come here. You would like it.

Lisbon is built on hills, lots and lots and lots of hills. It is a challenge to walk and a tremendous challenge to drive in. The roads are not logical and were not planned nor wide enough for modern travel on anything but a goat or came. Our GPS loses it electronic mind all the time. Our "hotel" is not a hotel but an apartment that is located on a street that ONLY specialized vehicles can drive on of which cabs are one. The nearest parking space is 200 yards DOWNHILL from the apartment. So we put the bags into a cab to take them to the apartment. Our apartment is on the 4th or 5th floor with the steepest stairs I have ever been on. The stairs resemble a ladder. Holy moly.

We visited Fatima today which is one of the 3 miracles sites for Catholics. It seems 3 kids around 1916-17 were visited every month from May to October on the 13th day by the Mother Mary. Now pilgrims come here every month on the 13th but the largest group occurs on October 13th which is in a few days. I am told it will be around 100,000 people with a 1.25 million being there on the Pope's last visit. The area where they congregate is several hundred meters wide and long and barren. The crowd must be something to see. I wondered where 100,000 + people  all stay and eat for 3 days because the town can't support that many people. i guess it is a Catholic Woodstock of sorts.

Yesterday we visisted Coimbra, Portugal where thee University of Coimbra is. UC started in 1290 and is one of the oldest continuous universities in the world. I must admit it was cool to see.

It is bedtime. See Yall tomorrow.