THE SEVEN SKIRTS OF NAZARÉ

Bigger boats tint the horizon while small family boats carve past adventures in the sand. They sail in the dreams and memories of older people. Soon, only old photographs will defy time and tell the story of this village.

The hope, the hardship, the grief, all hidden under the seven skirts. Seven, like the seven days of the week, like the seven waves of the sea. Some say women wore the seven skirts to count the seven waves to help the men moor the boats.

Men sailed in the search for big fish, the women waited praying for the big fish not to find their men. And for the boat to reach the sand before the seventh wave...

Many men never returned. The sea was the income of the family. The widows had to rent rooms to make a living. "Chambres, Rooms, Zimmer", they announced. This too shall pass, replaced by chains of modernized hotels. Some day soon only the photographs will bear witness of the seven skirts of Nazaré.