FATIMA

Fatima was an unforgettable experience for different reasons. The first one, in order of time, was the feeling of being in a kind of “school trip” had on us. Personally, I wasn’t involved in a bus trip since high school. As soon as we got on the bus, a space-time bubble was created and it took us back at our teens, we became giggly adolescents again, although we tried to hide it.

Fernando kept making jokes: his technique is very dry, which makes him tell them with a serious expression on his face, so he can save (his) appearances. It seems a stupid thing but it’s not, laughing, sharing and sometimes feeling a kid are good for your health!! And here is the second reason, always in time order. Ours was a seniors trip, a lot of seniors, there were five full buses, around 250 people. The majority of them were older than us, and it was the first time for us to see so many elderly people all together.

Seeing Aneta, Miriam and other youths organizing with the joy and enthusiasm for those moments of meeting and recreation made this day unforgettable. Moments of kindness and affection towards us were common; during the journey a lady sang a Portuguese song to us from the microphone and at the restaurant we started taking it in turns to sing. A table sang us a song from Eros Ramazzotti, that is very famous here, and we replied with “Volare oh oh” and so on, passing through “Santa Lucia” we arrived at the Portuguese national anthem. Without these youths from various associations, the day probably would have ended up with a group of 250 elderly staying at home watching television. We can't wait to actively collaborate with them.

The choice of a place like Fatima also has a deep religious meaning for each Christian, let alone for the Portuguese. During one of the sightings the Virgin Mary, she told a young shepherd that Portugal is the only country that will always keep the faith dogma.

The one who is believer is simple and humble. These features make this people precious in a world that runs after consumerism. Personally, I am a believer and going to Fatima was for me a soul joy for which I am very grateful to Spin.