LISBON ON A HOPE AND A PRAYER

On our first attempt to visit the cathedral Basilica Da Estrela. Per Wikipedia: It was built by order of Queen Maria I of Portugal, as a fulfilled promise for giving birth to a son (José, Prince of Brazil). The official name of the church is the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Construction started in 1779 and the basilica was finished in 1790, after the death of José caused by smallpox in 1788. The Estrela Basilica was the first church in the world dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
We had missed the visiting hours. . They posted a time to return. The second attempt to visit the cathedral we were told it was closed due to a funeral preparation for a local prominent family. We explained our visitation dilema to this middle aged fellow in a friars garb. We had to leave tomorrow. This was our last chance. The caretaker (who we now believe to have been an Angel, as after he unlocked the secret passage, he disappeared) said if you don't mind climbing the 10 story spiral staircase and willing to cross the roof and stay away from the ancient wiring (warning, "It goes zzzffft!" he said), then walk through the door, we could see the cathedral from above. please be careful. He then turned us loose all on our own. "Please lock the door when you come back down to leave" were his last words. We accepted and joked about the stairway to heaven,as I thought I might have a heart attack getting there. Candy and I lost our breaths and hugged and shed tears over what we were blessed to witness. So spiritual! So beautiful!