What are the chances of meeting your favourite couple in Lisbon, but live in Ohio?!!!

And it happened during Steemfest too.

Off to Fatima...see you later Steemfest!

I usually let my cousin in Ohio know whenever I travel outside UK. This way, somebody at least know where I am, without worrying my family. That was Day 1, on a thursday. 

"Are you still in Lisbon?"

Of course! Steemfest was in Lisbon! 

From her text, I assumed they will just be staying in Lisbon, in foresight I thought I can be made available on a Saturday from Steemfest. The activities for that day were less, most especially in the morning. But perhaps I can join them for dinner in the evenings?

Nope, that didn't happen. They had a full day that friday hiking. And friday night during Steemfest was of partying, having our own DJ and #Bernie! Gosh, what time did we leave the venue at dawn? 

So, the meaty part was, they will be leaving Lisbon that Saturday. And I was like, BUT I HAVE NOT SEEN YOU YET!!! The last time I saw them was 6 years ago when I visited Ohio. And these past years, our communication was only through Facebook. I can imagine those endless invites to visit them, year after year, a couple of my own heart basically.

It was a bush 100 years ago in 1916, now a huge tree where the Apparition chapel of Our Lady of Fatima was built.

Fatima

An hour and a half drive, north-east of Lisbon, it became a prominent place for Catholic pilgrims since Mama Mary's apparition in 1916, to the 3 little shepherds. It plays second to Lourdes, France with the number of pilgrims year after year. This year in May was the 100th years anniversary.

Inside the basilica are the tombs.

With the anticipated meet-up

Without having met them yet, I've learnt they will be driving to Fatima that Saturday. And all of a sudden, everything fell into place.

Arriving in Lisbon the day before steemfest, I was contemplating going straight to Fatima from the airport. In my years of stay abroad, I don't frequent Lisbon, BUT I DO FATIMA. Alone. Or i brought friends who wanted to tag along. Lisbon was always for a short stay, depending on my flights to and from Fatima.

I decided against this initial plan and thought, why not that Saturday? There's not much to do! Obviously, this plan was in the context of still not experiencing the beauty of Steemfest. What stopped me was, that's a couple of days of missing Steemfest still. Priorities?

My mom won't be happy if she've learnt that. Not forgetting some guilt on my part for excluding going to Fatima this time. With what happened last May, I should have known better. 

Facing the chapel from the steps of the Basilica.

Fatima, May 2017

I flew to Lisbon with no hotel booking in Fatima. This to attend the 100th years anniversary of Mama Mary's apparition. With so many people in attendance, the hotels were fully booked, if ever there were rooms available, they were awfully expensive...like 10 times of it's usual price maybe!! So armed with my backpack and my sleeping bag ( which I've never done before!!) a couple of days before the festivity, I went. Come what may? There will be people, besides they might not even be sleeping throughout the night! 

What are the chances of meeting somebody in your hostel with the same dilemma? 

Less than 10 minutes upon arrival. I couldn't move yes, but an overwhelming peace enveloped me. In front of me was a stranger, yet I felt that he wasn't. A feeling of gratitude perhaps, I knew I wanted to laugh out loud. Pure JOY. 

The drive to Fatima

When told of where their hotel was, I laughed. Their hotel building can be seen when getting out of the building of my hostel. The Pastel de Nata shop was also in the street before their building. What an appropriate gift to give and so early in the morning.

Fatima is accessible very easily, and buses run every 30 minutes from Fatima to Lisbon, which its' station is very near the basilica. Suffice to say, they stayed in Fatima as they were driving further north till Porto the following days.

On reflection, I knew I should have gone this time even for 1 day where I usually stay for a few days. Coincidences is beautiful. 

I can get used to it.

All images are mine, taken with my Samsung Galaxy S7. Credit to PicsArt.