July 30 Braga

We spent Saturday night in a hotel in the park next to Bom Jesus, got up early to take pics without hundreds of folks around, went to Mass before heading down to the town of Braga. There we found thousands of young people who had assembled for pre-World Youth Day events. We mingled in with them touring the many churches of the old city. The energy and joy was palpable. It was interesting to watch as groups from different parts of the world passed one another. The groups usually carried their countries’ flag and a diocesan flag. Many had a special chant and some even a unique dance move. Fun! Braga, the third largest city in Portugal, has a population of slightly less than 200,000. Roman Emperor Augusta had Braga built in 16 BC. Five major Roman roads converge in the city. This morning, it seemed like many Braga natives turned out to sit at a coffee shop, like us, and watch the parade! It was very entertaining and uplifting.

This entrance to the city built in 1772 replaced an entrance that was torn down in the early 1500s. The entrance never had a gate to keep people out; therefore, people in Braga are known as always leaving a door open to welcome people. In the US, if someone leaves a door open, we ask if they were born in a barn. In Portugal, they ask if you were born in Braga.

We saw the best pipe organ yet in the Braga Cathedral. They started building the Cathedral in the 1500s. Like all Cathedrals, this is the home church for the Bishop of Braga. The first Bishop of Braga is said to have been installed by Saint James the Greater somewhere between the years 45 and 60. The Way of St James or “The Camino” is what we walked in Spain. The Camino ends at The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, where St James remains are located. The painting on the ceiling between the parts of the organ is a a depiction of the marriage of the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph.

In the afternoon, we drove from Braga approximately 50 miles to Gerês, a small town in the middle of Peneda-Geres National Park. August is the big holiday month as all European children are out of school. I can’t say it was overly crowded, but we certainly saw many more families than usual. Being in Gerês was like stepping back forty years in time. Just a few little cafes and two small mercados. You could hear laughter echoing from the lake as kids paddled and kayaked around.