We left Fatima and headed to Lisbon via a beautiful coastline ride and the charming town of Sintra. The coastline drive allowed us time to gaze into the Atlantic from the most western tip of Europe. We culminated the day with Mass with Father Tad and a five hour walking tour of Lisbon.

Now Lisbon on foot…

Our family has a GREAT devotion to St. Anthony of Padua, imagine our delight when we cane upon his birth place. We have been to visit his place of work and death in Padua, Italy twice…and now his life’s journey from start to finish. An immense blessing for us. It was such a simple tomb and memorial-so reflective of how he lived his life.

And then on with our city tour…

Lisbon is a beautiful old city built on 7 hills. It has many ‘secret’ passage ways and ancient elevators and funiculars to get you up and down the hills.

And now on our flight home…through JFK and then on to Detroit!! Thank you for taking the time to share in our journey. Please know I truly keep this humble blog, not in boastfulness, but in the hope that those who can not make this kind of journey but truly enjoy the cultures of the world might join in the experience with us….and ‘virtually’ experience the universal love of our shared humanity…

In closing…..my favorite pic of the trip:

I broke into years when I saw the niece of the three shepherds of the miracle of Fatima embrace and kiss Tad’s hands. She sits every day in a small alcove on a stone passageway to the second apparition if the shepherd children-praying a beautiful rosary. It was SO moving…I can’t even explain it…I felt like I was in the presence of living saints…

Thus it becomes, without question, my favorite pic of the trip….

Shalom….

….And who do we meet on the rolling walkway at the airport in Detroit….our dear Fletcher Road neighbors…Roger and Helen!! What a coincidence-but wonderful-welcome home!!

Until we meet again!!!