Quick, Name That Body!

 

All along the old walls are seats where you can stop and rest . After climbing the 3 blocks uphill to revisit the museum we found ourselves in no hurry to get up. This seat over looks a small garden and is high enough to catch the breeze from the sea. 

This morning we returned to the museum looking for answers as to who Joao Cardoza was. The sign announces that this is the tomb of Joao Cardoza and his heirs. Only rich, respected or famous people are laid to rest inside such an impressive church. His family most likely purchased many masses to release his soul from the fires of Purgatory. Perhaps they provided donations to build the church or purchase linens for the altar.

Incredible as it sounds, no one knew who they were! Not the docents nor the administrator of the museum. Can you imagine having people buried in your church and all you know is the name of the family nothing else? They tried to help us find out by searching the internet. I did that last night and found nothing too. So we politely suggested that before tourist season begins next week they search the church records and find out. Unless the records are lost the information is in there. No one donates to the church or is buried without it being recorded in the church records. Here they often even record what the deceased was wearing. We were thanked for our suggestion but no-one seemed overly concerned that they did not know and had not found out. 

I restrained myself from suggesting they change the sign. It should read, Here lies a famous family - we have no clue why, but are sure they were famous because they are buried here.

It is a sad scene. The pigeons have gone quite mad in the park adjacent to our hotel. Unchaperoned they stalk the females shamelessly. One male who was obviously determined had some frustrated dance moves. 

He kept following a female who was either not interested or playing hard to get. He would follow her from place to place and when she began to look at him he would start to spin. Around and around he moved in circles. It was dizzying to watch. Just this single courtship dance move was all he had and he was playing it for all it was worth. She was totally unimpressed. 

Through the flower beds they moved. Spinning like a top he continue to dash to where ever she was. The only thing she was communicating in response was total disinterest. We kept watching but things never did heat up. 

These were not the only feathered occupants who were acting strange. If they were bambi we would say they are “twitter-pated”. Here it is more accurately described as feathered creeping dementia.