Lisbon, Portugal. Excursion: Fátima & Batalha

Yesterday was a sea day and life went on as usual for staff.  I helped Judy (from the Shore Excursions Department) with tour brochure folding and Paul popped his nose around the door - probably checking up on me.  He took over the brochure stapling for a few minutes then had to get back to work.   The brochures didn't take very long to collate - it was quite a small brochure for the next cruise voyage across the Atlantic.

A bit later on Paul and I took a walk past the ship's infirmary to say 'hi' to the staff; and to enquire if someone could give me a yellow fever injection in preparation for a cruise to areas where yellow fever is prevalent.  Yes, one of the nurses could give me the vaccination and the crew doctor would sign it off.  Whilst waiting Paul started to have a bit if fun with the electric blood pressure monitor, thermometer and pulse monitor, testing them out on himself and then me!  Well, the nurse did need my blood pressure readings so it wasn't in vain.  I could have happily smacked Paul, but it was rather funny.

Having had my vaccination we headed back to the cabin to get ready for a formal dinner night.  It would be the last one that we would attend for this cruise.  Fortunately the guests, at the table we hosted, got on very well and we ended up being almost the last ones to leave the dining room.

We arrived in Lisbon without any hiccups.  The day was sunny but chilly, with a good wind blowing.

The tour I went on was the same one that I had been on last time we were in Lisbon.  I wanted to see parts of the Batalha Monastery that I had missed seeing at that time due to a guest falling and who I stayed with to keep her company.  Joy from the security department came with me as an extra escort (James had come with me the last time).

We left Lisbon (known as the City of 7 Hills), driving past museums, Vasco da Gama Bridge, a 16th century convent which is now a tile museum, past cereals factory and out into the countryside towards Batalha.

Then the 'fun' started.

Four guests went missing at the beginning of the tour.  Our guide, Andrea, asked me and Joy to look for them, giving us entry tickets for us and the missing people - should we find them.  Andrea couldn’t hold up the tour group and had to get started.  Joy and I looked all over monastery grounds, the nearby shops and re-checked the toilets for the missing guests but we couldn’t find them.  

After quite some time I went inside the church to look for Andrea to advise that we couldn’t find the guests.  When I found Andrea she was over half way through the tour and she advised that the four missing people had gone into the church without waiting for the group and had somehow slipped past the ticket desk too.  Naturally I was quite upset because people sometimes don't listen to guides' instructions.  And of course I had missed seeing the monastery properly again!  I held my tongue and kept my composure though.

The next part of the visit was the Sanctuary of Fátima.  Inside the massive courtyard area Andrea talked about the sanctuary and what we could see during our visit after which we had time to wander around the site on our own.  Having managed to see the sanctuary during my last visit, I had a wander around some of the shops and that were outside the sanctuary.  I ended up purchasing a small cork rucksack that would be big enough to hold my camera and a lightweight jacket or cardigan.  I was quite pleased.  Fortunately I didn't make an immediate purchase because I discovered that prices varied greatly.  The end result was my purchase was about half the price than that of another shop (for the exact same thing)!

We were very hungry by the time we re-boarded the bus.  I wished that there had been a break for lunch between the visit to the monastery and the sanctuary, but I was grateful to be on the tour nevertheless.  Lunch at Hotel Cinquinta where we had pork, a fish dish, vegetables, salads and dessert.  Wine and water served with meal as was coffee (afterwards).

On the way back back to the port Andrea put on a CD with Portuguese music to give us an idea of different styles of singing.  We entered Lisbon from a different way than when we left, this time passing the airport, football stadium, University of Lisbon, the library, bull-fighting arena (Campeo Puqueno) where bull fighting still takes place but the bulls are not killed.  We also past some art nouveau buildings, Park Edward 7th, St George Cinema, Restoration Square, St George Castle, Augusta Arch and Lisbon Cathedral.

I was tired by the time we got back to the ship but I couldn't put my feet up.  After dinner Paul and I had some packing to do in preparation for our departure off the ship tomorrow.

Tomorrow is another day.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Batalha Monastery - the bits I managed to see

 

 Fάtima