Salamanca

Time to leave Lisbon, which was way too soon as I'd have liked more time to properly have a look at this city. However the coach won't wait for me so off we head at 8 am. We have a full days travel ahead to return to Spain. We stop at the Holy Fatima which supposedly was where Mary appeared to 3 shepherd children in 1917 during five consecutive months on the 13th of each month and told them each a secret. Simon, our guide was a bit vague about it all, but I'm para phrasing his version of the story. Apparently the first secret was showing one of the children what hell would look like and the 2nd foretold  World War 2. The 3rd secret hadn't been released yet as (and this is where I got really confused) because the 3rd child is still alive. And it supposedly has been written down and locked away somewhere really safe within the church. So I'm guessing that when the last of these three kids dues they may open the secret then???? There was also something about the local mayor kidnapping the children as he didn't want their story to get out. And Simon's story trailed off at that point but I figured the children must have been released because their story certainly got out! However... My care factor wasn't real high while hearing the story and visiting the supposed site was equally underwhelming even though there is a huge basilica built there and if you are truly a believer you can go on the path at the top of the open courtyard all the way to the steps of the basilica on your knees, and they provide knee pads if you want them! You can light candles and take part in communion too if you so desire. Instead we headed for coffee and a Portugese tart (of the egg custard variety) at a nearby cafe amongst all the souvenir shops that various sized Virgin Mary statues, rosaries and other catholic symbols 'stuff'. Apologies to my dear Catholic armchair travellers as I'm sure it may have had more positive impact and meaning  to you, but was totally wasted on me. Then back on the coach until we stopped about midday at a very average highway rest stop restaurant then back on the coach again with one more short roadside service station stop (where I bought a small bottle of Moscatello because I really liked the bottle. It had plastic castanets attached to it so I will be able to practice me flamenco dancing when I get home... And after tasting the contents last night my dancing may look more like an epileptic fit!!!!) then we arrived at Salamanca. Just enough time to try the Moscatello and decide to tip the remaining contents down the sink and then for a walk down the main mall into a bus square which truly resembled St Marks square in Venice. Chose one of the numerous outdoor cafes for our dinner and after a couple of Sangrias I settled in the chicken with Russian salad. Had no idea what to expect but was pleasantly surprised to get thinly grilled chicken breast with lettuce topped with a mayonnaise, tuna and a slice of tomato and chips. The service was quite poor so the only tip these guys were going to get was to tell them to look both ways before they cross the road... A pleasant walk back to our hotel and then Shelley and Mark came to our room for a drink of a dessert wine that Jo had previously bought. I declined as that sweet stuff, irrespective of what side of the hill the grapes were grown on, makes my teeth feel furry. Good company and good chat but time for bed.
Tomorrow is the last night with this tour group. Can't remember if I mentioned when we started this tour, that we found out that it in fact 2 tours back to back, however only 6 of us from the 39 are doing the extended tour which covers northern Spain. So tomorrow morning when everyone else departs the hotel fir the airport we have to check out by 8.30 to transfer to another hotel to start with the next group. Sounds like a lot of faffing about to me as we will miss the welcome reception for the new tour tomorrow night because we will be having our farewell dinner with the current group. Will let you know how that pans out.