Fatima

Sandra, what a wonderful gift! The RS guide may not cover Fatima (I'd guess), but there are a number of books that focus on pilgrimage sites. One is Catholic Shrines of Western Europe. You might also search Amazon to see what comes up; I see one called Sacred Places of Portugal. Those books will give you some general background. This is the website of the shrine: http://www.santuario-fatima.pt/portal/index.php?lang=EN/&#59; it provides info on liturgical schedule, etc, and may have housing info. And this website gives some info about sacred sites in Portugal: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/portugal/sacred-sites I've not been to Fatima, but I find active convents/monasteries (vs a historical building that used to be a convent/monastery) to be nice lodging for pilgrimage sites... chapel and Mass available at the lodging, quiet, clean, safe. I find them via the internet, but there are also several books that provide some information. You might search Amazon for books on staying in convents/monasteries/religious guesthouses. One word of warning: it's rare to find English spoken, so if that's a problem, you might want to stick with a hotel. However, I have no language skills, but have been able to work around the language issue.
Enjoy your trip!

Sherry, Thank you so much for the reply, will check out all of your information and REALLY thank you on language barrier! I was really thinking about hostels and your answer made my decision. Thanks again,
Sandra

language certainly need not be any concern -Pilgims are from around the world... I hope you have a wonderful Pilgrimage

Although Rick Steves Portugal does not include Fatima, he does have information about other places you might want to visit in the country. I wouldn't worry too much about language; I agree that at a pilgrimage site, there should be plenty of English. I haven't been to Fatima, but in Lisbon, Coimbra, Santarem, Tomar, and Porto, I found reasonable amounts of English. If you speak Spanish, they will understand you; if you can read Spanish, you will be able to understand most written Portuguese. However, most Portuguese do NOT speak Spanish, and spoken Portuguese sounds different enough from Spanish that it could be difficult. After Portuguese and English, the next most common language is French. Best mode of travel depends on where you are going. For most of Portugal, the buses work well; for Lisbon to Coimbra to Porto (and a few other places), the trains are also good. One thing that is not obvious. In the US, we think of Spain and Portugal as practically one country, and assume that they it's easy to see both on the same trip. They actually have very poor transit connections between them. Other than a few train and bus routes, you have to fly between them. Thus, you should plan on seeing other places in Portugal on this trip, but in 7 days you won't really have time for Spain. In addition to his Portugal book, you should get Europe Through The Back Door. This book has all the "nuts and bolts" of travel for first timers. EDIT WITH CORRECTION: according to the listing on this website (got to "Travel Store," then "Guidebooks"), the RS Portugal book does include Fatima.

I've gone many times alone and it's even easier now. When you get to the airport go straight to the info desk and someone there can give you a brochure on the 2 buses that run a main route into the city. One of them comes within one block of the bus station. The buses run often and Fatima is small enough that if you take only a small roller bag or backpack you can manage without a Taxi. I always stay at Casa Irmanas Dominicana's (they now have a website). There is a sister there named Sr. Maria de los Angeles who is multilingual, very kind and VERY HELPFUL. From there you can easily access going to the small village where the children lived and the sites of the apparitions. I would say about 98% of all is accessible on foot but if you have problems sister can arrange a taxi for you. I have done this also. From this little village you can easily take bus trips to Coimbra for the day, Santarem........the coast (the route to the two churches Bataha and another I can't remember.
The buses are good and inexpensive. Good luck with your pilgrimage. I'm hoping to go in the fall. I wait until after the feasts. May-Oct remember from the 11-13 are busy times. IF you can go at this time it is definitely memorable. The village will be a little busy but after the mass on the 13th everyone pretty much leaves. Going on my own is great. To get a better idea of the religious sites in Portugal I have just scoped out organized pilgrimages and see where they go and then investigate individually if it interests you and how to get there on the bus. Sometimes if you stay at a religious house they have others in different cities. I know the Dominican sisters have another place in Lisbon.

As I edited above, Rick includes Fatima in his book, but he doesn't include Santarem. The post above indicates that this is easy to see from Fatima. If so, do try to find time for it. It's a lovely spot, and in 2002 when I went, was not at all touristed. The woman in the central town tourist office spoke fluent English. There's a church with a famous rose window, and another (not as famous, but to me more beautiful)
with absolutely stunning azulejos (tiles).

Nigel, Zoe & Harold, Oh my, thank you so very much for the personal information you have taken the time to share! Is it better to go on your own or take a tour? The way it stands I will take the trip next year so I'll be able to check out all of your suggestions. Thanks again!
Sandra