Hi everyone!

It’s the end of our second day in beautiful Lisbon (Lisboa, as the locals call it), and I am tired and have muito (much) to do, but I promised I’d check in, so here I am!

Wow. Catholic Lisbon is ginormous. There is way too much for my OCD self, and I am struggling with my inability to film in EVERY. SINGLE. CHURCH. You know I want to.

Wow. I have to sertiously remember that if we ever take The Faithful Traveler to Rome…

I don’t like leaving something out, but with only two of us filming and only two and a half days here in Lisbon, there will be things left out. Here was my idealistic list:

  • Igreja de São Roque & Museu São Roque (Museum of Sacred Art)
  • Estrela Basilica
  • Igreja de Santo António
  • Mosteiro De São Vicente De Fora
  • Sé Cathedral
  • Madre de Deus Convent & Nat’l Azulejo Museum
  • Mosteiro dos Jerónimos
  • Igreja do Santissimo Milagre
  • Exterior Memoria Church
  • Torre de Belém
  • Monument to Christ
  • Discoveries Monument (Padrão dos Descobrimentos)
  • São Jorge Castle
  • Elevador Santa Justa
  • Cristo rei
  • Coffee at Café a Brasileira
  • Exterior Church of Santa Engracia
  • Exterior Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição Velha
  • Gilded Churches (IF WE HAVE TIME)
  • Igreja do Menino Deus
  • Igreja De Santa Catarina
  • Igreja da Pena
  • Igreja dos Anjos
  • Igreja De São Sebastião Da Pedreira
  • ALFAMA (IF WE HAVE TIME): Igreja De São Miguel Igreja De Santo Estêvão

And here is what we’ve actually covered:

  • Igreja de São Roque & Museu São Roque (Museum of Sacred Art)
  • Mosteiro De São Vicente De Fora
  • Madre de Deus Convent & Nat’l Azulejo Museum
  • Mosteiro dos Jerónimos
  • Torre de Belém
  • Monument to Christ
  • Discoveries Monument (Padrão dos Descobrimentos)
  • São Jorge Castle
  • Exterior Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição Velha

Tomorrow is our last day here, during which we will be filming at St Anthony’s old stomping grounds of

  • Igreja de Santo António
  • Sé Cathedral

Then we’re off to Santarem (which is pronounced Santa Rey–who knew?), where the Eucharistic miracle happened, and then to Fatima.

So, remember I told you that I’d be praying for you and offering all my frustrations for you? And you were probably all, “WHAT frustrations could this thankless girl have? She’s going to PORTUGAL, for crying out loud, and everyone is excited for her, and can’t wait to see what she does with the footage! WHAT is there to complain about?!”

Well, you know me. I always find something. That said, I’m not going to give you the list because, seriously, how boring would THAT be?! Suffice it to say that today was extremely challenging, and you guys got a lot of good stuff from my sufferings. LOL. But I have learned one thing as a result:

WHAT PRICE PERFECTION?

I want to do everything perfect. I’m not a perfectionist, really. I’m not. Normally, I’m pretty chill when it comes to getting things done. Just, with this show, my perfectionist has come out strong, and it’s ugly. Because why? Because NO ONE can do anything perfectly except–you got it–GOD. And guess what? I AM NOT GOD. LOL.

News flash, right?

So, yeah. I mess up al the time. And people around me… like David… but I’m not naming names… mess up, too. And then I get mad because things aren’t perfect, and then the devil laughs, because… HAHAHA! I’m producing a Catholic show to entice people to visit Catholic sites to grow in closeness to God and I’m ANGRY because things aren’t perfect!

See how the devil always sneaks in there, somehow?

Ah, but you know what Jesus told St Faustina? And probably a whole mess of other saints along the way… He doesn’t care about perfection. He doesn’t even care if we finish what we set out to do. What He cares about is the attempt. How we do it.

So, will God be happy if I create the most perfect travel series on television ever, but hate everyone around me in the meantime? Uh… no. He won’t be.

That’s today’s lesson. So guess what? This show isn’t and it won’t be perfect. But it will be as good as I and David can make it with the tools and the FABULOUS help we’ve received along the way. Which, by the way, now is the time for shout outs, because… well, it’s good to be grateful.

I am grateful for Edita Krunic–you all know her. This trip was her idea to begin with. Thank you, Edita. Next time you think about going on pilgrimage or ANYWHERE, call Select International. They rock.

I am grateful for Alexandre Marto Perreira, owner of Fatima Hotels, for listening to Edita’s brilliant idea, and for jumping aboard The Faithful Traveler’s bandwagon. Without Alex, NONE of this trip would have been possible. Thank you, Alex. And hey, next time you’re in Fatima, stay at Fatima Hotels. Tell Alex I said hi. Not going to Fatima? Dude. Totally. You have to go.

I am grateful for Ricardo Ferreira of Osiris Travel, who set us up with the best tour guide ever, Marisa. (I don’t have her last name, but when I get it, I will update this post.) Marisa (in photo below) is an amazing and patient tour guide, who also rocks as a Production Assistant. She drove us around Lisbon these first two days, and we are grateful to her for her kindness and knowledge.

I am grateful to all of the people at the amazing sites we visited so far, but especially to Dr. Alexandre Salgueiro, of the Mosteiro de São Vicente de Fora, who (oh my gosh, he’s a DOCTOR?! He looks like he’s 15…) gave me an awesome tour and who kept David from fainting after I kept him working like a dog two hours past lunchtime. (I am horrible, I tell you.)

IMG_1179

And now, I must give one last thanks, to Mr Manuel Pinto and the entire staff of the Hotel Mundial here in Lisbon for being absolutely AMAZING. WOW, what a hotel! Look at this view from the rooftop bar!

I am muita obrigada this boa noite, and am looking forward to tomorrow, during which I will continue to be grateful for this wonderful experience, for everyone’s generosity, and for The Faithful Traveler, through which I can share my absolute love of God and all things Catholic with you.

Please continue to pray for us. We have 11 days to go.