Once upon a time there was an old lady, Ms Carlota, who used to sit at the threshold of her herbs' little shop and make cloth dolls. There was a market nearby and, on those old days children always accompanied their parents or grandparents whenever they need to go to the market. It was an amusing activity, as much as it is nowadays going to a shopping mall or, perhaps, even more.
There were ducklings, rabbits, chicken, pigeons, colourful fish. All these made a dramatic mixture of sounds and flavours together with bunches of carrots and smelly cabbages. Children were never afraid of getting lost. Everybody knew everybody by their names and Lisbon seemed to be a very small town.
So, now and then, mornings were spent near Ms Carlota, looking at the dolls she used to make. Sometimes people referred to the illnesses of their own dolls and the old lady had always a word which might 'treat' them'.
This is thought to have been the very beginning of Hospital de Bonecas that has been taking care of dolls since 1830.
Years went by and the market was moved away. Children became adults – mums and grannies – who, by their turn, told their children about a small shop where time seemed to stop and children without being hurried, could role-play whenever they wanted.
They are still doing the same even today!
Photo of one of my teddy bears, after having been discharged from the Hospital.
