My Constant Companion

Excellent day, but my screen is flickering like mad, so this will be short... I've tried to fix it, but not succeeding.

Went to Cabo de Espichel, the tip of the Setúbal peninsula, below Lisbon. On the top of one of the towering cliffs is a defunct place of pilgrimage to Our Lady of the Cape of Espichel, which received thousands of pilgrims in the 19th C, including the royal family. There was even an opera house (now roofless) where the stars of the day came to perform. One of those times I'd love to be able to time travel, what must it have been like?? In the extra, you can see the two arms of buildings stretching out from the church - ground floor was for shops (locals were given dispensation to sell without paying rent, by the king, Dom João), and top floor accommodation for pilgrims.

Today it was deserted except for a few tourists, including some good looking and well behaved lads on off-road bikes.

Gratefuls:
- Netty and family arriving safely in their (freezing) house in NY
- us arriving safely home and the cats both fine and very glad to see us
- sun streaming through the clouds, lighting up the sea in shining streaks