Coimbra and Fátima

We fell in love with Portugal and its people as soon as we got to Coimbra. It is the third biggest city in Portugal and has the most ancient and said to the best university in the country.

We had a great view of the city from our hotel. We took a picture with Mommy Cres from Toronto.

Our first night we walked through their old town and up the street to their busier area with bars and clubs.

Like the university students who hung out in the area, we sat ourselves at the patio to enjoy good conversation and good cervejas. I had their Portuguese beer called super bock, Len had coffee and my cousins enjoyed caipirinhas.

Of course we had some natas, egg tarts, also!

On special occasions, students there dress like the kids from Harry Potter with their suits, cape and matching hats. They were willing to pose for us and loved having people from Los Angeles in their country. Apparently it doesn't happen often.

The next day we roamed the hilly cobbled streets of Coimbra with our new friends, an old Filipino couple from Toronto (Mommy Cres is pictured above with us). At 77 years old, they are both so amazing and healthy.

We managed to fit in some shopping for beautiful tiles and souvenirs and have more natas before the tour headed out again.

That same day we saw a monastery in Batalha and stopped for port wine tasting.

We also made a stop at the Sanctuary of Fátima which was the highlight of the day.

Our Lady Fátima was known to have shared apparitions to three shepherd children. She became popular due to events of prophesy, like the fall of the Berlin wall. We saw missionary groups camping out at the sanctuary grounds. I'm not much of a catholic but I can't help but be amazed at places like these, how people have so much faith and hope. My cousins and I lit a couple candles and I filled up a bottle with holy water to take home to Lola.