[ad_1]
The characteristic shops of Fátima are as they always have been: full of religious articles of all kinds, from the most traditional to the most modern. There is everything, for all tastes and purposes. As a souvenir of a pilgrimage, liturgical implements for churches, books and various postcards. But something is different these months: there are no customers.
Teresa Carreira, owner of Loja Teresa, does not hide her concern. This has been his business for over 20 years and he has never seen anything like it. “It is not a normal October 12 and 13, we have a big drop in sales, really huge, there is no comparison,” he begins by saying, while shrugging his shoulders to say that “the media is helping people not to come to Fatima “.
“A while ago, a client of mine called to tell me that he would not come because he was afraid that they would not let him enter the Sanctuary. I understand that the numbers [de infeções pela covid-19] They are increasing a lot, we are in a very difficult situation where people have to be more careful every time. But here in Fatima we all wear masks, we take care of ourselves, we use gel, we don’t let many people enter the stores, we keep our distance. People didn’t have to be afraid to come, and we need our customers in this time of a pandemic, “he says.
The last few months have not been easy. Teresa closed the store in March and reopened on May 7, but her accounts are different. “They were closed for almost three months, because the month of May did not exist. They didn’t let people in, so nothing was sold. It was one of the best months, as would also be August and October. That’s when something was done, ”he recalls. .
However, in a year in which tourism almost stopped, migrants tried to maintain their traditions. “They come on vacation from Luxembourg, Switzerland, France and they always come to Fatima. Thank God they made us sell a little bit, but nothing compared to previous years ”, Teresa guarantees.
Ana Silva is in charge of the Custódia Silva store, a family business for 35 years. Like Teresa Carreira, she does not hide the difficulties she has experienced. “It is much weaker. It is complicated, if a person did not have anything next to him, he could not bear it. We live a lot with tourism and this year we do not have, only the Portuguese buy anything, but it is not enough to maintain the stores and the employees, “he says. “On May 12 and 13 it was deserted, no people came. Now they return, little by little. But with many cases people start to be afraid. For those who make a living from tourism, this year is to forget, ”he says.
credits: Hugo David | MotherMedia
“data-title =” Loja Custódia Silva, in Fátima, October 11, 2020 – Fátima: “Here we live from tourism. And if there are no large groups, there is no tourism” – SAPO 24 “>
“October has been a very bad month, completely a disaster”
At the beginning, when it all started, it was still thought that this month would be different. It was expected that the pandemic would calm down and that the pilgrims would return with weight, with fewer restrictions or fewer fears. But that is not the case.
“The month of October has been very bad, completely a disaster. For example, in the morning we open and practically nobody walks the streets. It is our customers who know the store who are still here. They are the regular customers. Here you live from tourism. And if there are no large groups, there is no tourism. It will be a very difficult year for everyone at Fatima. People in hotels are worse, because it means a lot of money to keep them open, “says Teresa Carreira.
Ana Silva also has little hope for these two days, which would be a great pilgrimage and movement in Fatima. “In business terms, I don’t expect anything for October 12-13. They will be normal days, like any other in this phase, or even weaker, ”he shoots.
“People are afraid of getting into a lot of confusion and the Shrine can also close the enclosure, with the limit of six thousand people. But I think not even many people will come. People will not take chances. Maybe there were more people this Sunday [11 de outubro], because people did not know that they were going to close as well and risked coming. But it was an important measure for everyone’s safety. We know it is weak for us, but this year it has to be that way. We have to safeguard everyone’s life ”, recalls the merchant.
Having few clients also means reducing work teams. Five or six people usually work at Loja Teresa for this date. “These days we are going to have two people and we are not going to have a job. Nor are we going to talk to people to work when they don’t make money. Very difficult year for everyone. Every day I thank the Portuguese, because they are the ones who are helping us to endure ”, recalls Teresa. “This 12 will be very weak and 13 too. We will have to endure this year, it will be a year of crisis. But we will pray that this virus disappears and we can go back to work.”
credits: Hugo David | MotherMedia
“data-title =” Loja Teresa, in Fátima, on October 11, 2020 – Fátima: “Here we live from tourism. And if there are no large groups, there is no tourism” – SAPO 24 “>
Ana goes through the same situation. She usually has a great team in Custódia Silva’s store and, for the first time, she had to cut the number. “It is customary to have between eight and ten people, this year we will be two or three and we will not have work. One arrived, but ready. In this way we ensure lunch hours, since we do not close. This year we know that it is not a year to earn money or to pay expenses, but the important thing is to be healthy and to be here when this happens. In a year or two we’ll see, ”he says, slapping himself on the counter.
Times are tough, but traders guarantee that fear can’t win. You have to move on, continue with the business to live.
“I am not afraid to be here. Before we did not know what this virus was, now we are ready. We stay away from the client, we have hand sanitizers. Honestly, I am not afraid at all. I think if people are careful, this will not be as bad as everyone is thinking, ”says Teresa.
Ana, for her part, remembers that she cannot think only of herself, it is necessary to look for possible contacts. “When people enter the store I am careful to see if they have a mask, we have the disinfectant gel, we cannot have many people in the store. But I am not afraid for myself, which does not mean that I can not contaminate myself and have only fear of transmitting it to my older relatives, that is my fear ”, he says.
Teresa sums up the whole situation. “These are hard times. I’m sorry people are so scared. Here we live safe, we are safe and in the Shrine everything is very organized to receive the pilgrims. They are working very well, they are very organized ”, he assures.
In other stores, the atmosphere is similar. Much to sell, but few to buy. The typical arcade stores, packed and full of articles, are practically deserted. Almost no one buys candles, rosaries, an image of Our Lady to take away. When approving, the response of merchants to how the business is doing is almost always the same. Needless to say, what you see speaks for itself. Meanwhile, they wait for customers to return, which they miss so much.
credits: Hugo David | MotherMedia
“data-title =” One of the shops in the arcades of the Sanctuary, October 11, 2020 – Fátima: “Here we live from tourism. And if there are no large groups, there is no tourism” – SAPO 24 “>
