On International Women’s Day, seven Canadian women in Portugal celebrated the new $10 banknote design, featuring civil rights champion Viola Desmond on the front and the Museum on the back. Pam Harrison met with her friends to usher in a new chapter in Canadian history. They gathered with their old $10 bills and as the reveal of the new banknote design was happening in Halifax, webcast around the world, they tossed their bills to the sky.

“A great day for women, and wonderful recognition for the Desmond family to know their beloved sister and aunt made positive change possible,” said Harrison, who is a Museum member.

Here are pictures from Easter in Portugal. They decorate the streets (4,000 Steps on my Fitbit) and this is the parade route from the church. Several families go to the fields and collect flowers in the moon light and come sunrise they decorate the streets with very special designs. It really is something to see.

At the church the men and boys gather with beautiful flower arrangements on broom sticks. They will carry them through the streets and walk over the flowers. One man will shout in Portuguese CHRIST HAS RISEN and everyone responds- alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. This will last until the parade finishes (approximately 2 Hours). They also hoist the Flower Torches high in the air while they are shouting.

They carry the cross, the lamb, the statue of Mary, and it finishes with a band. It appears like there may be a little competition for the group with the most decorated torches. Some of them were very impressive. I was told that there may be a family group, a group from work, maybe a soccer team, etc.

The original Torches used to have candles and then was a shortage of wax so the started just using flowers.

Greetings from Portugal.

It is a very small world when you belong to a social justice church- The United Church of Canada. This morning I joined friend to attend a bible study at the International Church of the Algarve. There were 11 different nationalities who all bring a different way of thinking of the scriptures. So it is an interesting discussion.

Anyway, here is God speaking to me in a very special way. After the bible study discussion we stay for lunch at which time I start working the crowd to find out where people are from, etc. thus I met this couple.

In the 80's Joan , from England, was working at Brunswick Street Mission in the soup kitchen . She was a student and volunteered weekly in an effort to feed the homeless. John was homeless and suffered from mental illness. She cared for him and they fell in love. Now they live in England where they found work caring for others. They are visiting friends in Portugal and so came this morning to bible study. John is subject to mental illness and she is still his guardian angel.

When I told them I was from Nova Scotia, Canada they were quick to share their story and delighted to have their picture taken with someone who loves BRUNSWICK STREET MISSION.

To mark the beginning of Lent the CARNAVAL is a three day celebration. There were very large crowds, street decorations, decorated store fronts, children in costumes - just lots of fun! Enjoy the pictures.