The Main Entrance

The entrance to the palace.

I had received word that Maria of Aragon was on her way here to Portugal to see me. I had word sent back that her coach approached. As the coach pulled up outside the Palace, I myself had come down to greet her and welcome her to my country.

Maria of Aragon hath travelled far to see her future husband, Manuel of Portugal. She hoped she looked good for she wanted Manuel to like her. He was after all to be her husband. Portugal seemed like a beautiful country. Spain had many ties with Portugal. They were neighbours

I could not wait to see my future wife. I am sure that I would like her. As her carriage arrived and the door opened, I approached and took her hand.

"Good morning Maria, welcome to Portugal, I am King Manuel.

Maria of Aragon smiled at King Manuel. "Good day, Your Majesty. It is a pleasure to be here."

"It is lovely. I should like to see it." said Maria of Aragon.

Maria of Aragon followed King Manuel.

I led Maria through to the Great Hall of the Palace.

"This is the Great Hall Maria, what are your thoughts on it?

"I think it is most beautiful. Thank you for showing me." She hoped that he had a good meal prepared for she was very hungry and she was tired as well. It was a long journey from Spain to Portugal.

"That sounds tasty. I look forward to it, Your Majesty." Maria of Aragon said.

Mamuel brought Maria of Aragon to the dining hall and prepared was lampreys, beef, mutton, chicken, fish, an assortment of fish, peas, carrots potatoes, salad which the Spanish love, greean beans, corn, green peppers. Maria of Aragon thought it all looked splendid. "Oh, Manuel, you outdid yourself. There is enough food to feed an army. I so look forward to eating it."

"Yes, it is very different but my sister, Isabella of Aragon loved it while she was here with you so I knew that I would like it. It is sad that my sister, Isabella, your wife was taken from us. She was a wonderful young lady. My mother used to call her mother in law. Isabella of Aragon, my sister, was very relgious as you well know." Maria of Aragon was religious as well but not nearly quite as relgious as her mother Isabella of Castile and her sister, Isabella of Aragon.

I heard her mention my beloved late first wife and it did bring a tear to my eye.

"It is indeed sad the way that she was taken from us. Your sister was a wonderful and caring person and I do miss her greatly. I have had a memorial created here for her if you would like to see it. I considered her religion too. Tell me, are you religious?

Maria of Aragon thought it was kind of Manuel to have a memorial for Isabella of Aragon. "I should like to see the memorial, indeed. Yes, I am relgious but not nearly as much so as my mother, the great Isabel of Castile or my sister, the late Queen of Portugal."

I smiled at Maria as she spoke.

"Perhaps then after the feast you would like to accompany me to see the memorial for your sister. I can tell you now that the Portuguese nobles are very fond of a match between us.

'Yes, I should like to see the memorial and it is good that the Portuguese nobles favour a match between the two of us. The Portuguese are a great people of whom I will be proud to be Queen to.'

"You need to discuss that with my mother, the great Isabel of Castile and my father, King Ferdinand of Aragon but i, personally, am in favour of it." Maria of Aragon responded, gracefully.

"That is good. I am pleased." said Maria of Aragon.