Trip #2 (Part III) - BARCELONA and MONASTERIO DE MONTSERRAT

The last entry on Barcelona....

The next day we took the students to the Cathedral in Barcelona. It is a beautiful building nestled in the heart of the Barrio Gótico. Here are some pictures:

Left, part of the cloister. Right, the main altar 

 The choir seat (la sillería)

We were able to climb to the top of the Cathedral and look out over Barcelona. This is my son Ethan (left) with his best friend Tay who spent a week with us. What was particularly interesting was to notice the detail located high on the towers (the one behind the boys in the picture above). An angel playing a drum and a snail. For those who built the Cathedral they were aware that no person below would see these images, but God would. For them this was His house and a place that should reflect all the beauty that it could.

Finally, this is a rain drain on the roof. It carried water from one level to another and eventually to spouts located along the edge of Cathedral. Ingenious!

Just off the Rambla (a pedestrian walkway in the heart of Barcelona) you will find the Boquería. It is a marketplace built at the beginning of the 18th century. The Boquería is famous for its wide variety of foods and tapa bars. It is an amazing place to visit with the exotic fruits, various meats and seafoods, and vegetables. Also, you will find some very unusually nuts, chocolates, dried fruits, and other sundry foods. 

As you can see, it isn't just a gastronomical but a visually artistic experience.

Barcelona is home to several buildings and a park designed by Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926). Two of the homes are located on the Passeig da Gracia. Both have been restored and are open for visits. 

Left, Casa Batllo; Right, Casa Mila (also known as La Pedrera). The Pedrera is particularly interesting with its chimneys fashioned in the form of soldiers. You can go onto the roof and wander among the soldiers.

Perhaps the most famous Gaudí building in Barcelona is the Sagrada Familia. This cathedral has been in construction for over a hundred years. Turns out that Gaudí was not too keen on making blueprints of his designs, so when he was killed in a carriage accident his followers decided to move forward in an attempt to create the "spirit" of Guadí's vision. The result has been most interesting to say the least.

 These front doors were added just last year. They were designed by a Japanese artist. The different colors are not painted but are the result of using different acids on the metal.

The interior of the Sagrada Familia is equally unique. The columns form a canopy resembling a forest of trees. The figure of the Crucified Christ hovers under an umbrella said to represent the Holy Ghost. The stained glass windows represent the seasons and flood the interior with a panoply of colors.

The students saw many of these places and much, much more. Several visited the Museu Picasso. It is a marvelous collection of his works including paintings from his earliest years. Others had the chance to try out the food, wander the Ramblas, and take in the hustle and bustle of a large port city. 

My son Seth has become very attached to Jake! 

And Megan, Natalee, and Grace aren't afraid to find it on a map and then find their way to the right spot. Love their sense of adventure.

Finally, on the road home we stopped in to the Monastery of Santa María de Montserrat, about an hour outside of Barcelona. The monastery was founded in the 9th century and has been associated with the Benedictine Order. It sits high in the mountains west of Barcelona at an altitude of 1200 meters. Today the trip to the monastery is easy. You jump on a tram (la cremallera) and within 20 minutes you have arrived. The train is interesting. It runs on a zipper-like track:

The monastery is a beautiful sight! This was our view from the Crucis de San Miguel:

From 10:30 am to 12:30 pm the monks hold masses. There are thousands of people who gather for these masses. While standing in the courtyard (above) multiple bells began to chime, calling the faithful to worship. It was a very interesting experience to be engrossed in the constant ringing of the bells.

This is one of the multiple masses. There were probably 1000 people present.

 This is a long grotto to the side of the Basilica where people come to offer prayers. There are hundreds of candles lighting up this space. What I found particularly interesting is that the candles are sold outside the entrance without any attendant to take the money. It is an "on-your-honor" system with the prices marking the different candles and a small coin box on each stand.

All of us took advantage of the beautiful scenery and paths leading to small chapels scattered all over the mountains. Some were daring enough to hike to one of the highest peaks. Jake and Quinton were two of them, with Jake coming back with evidence from his hike. You gotta love the flowers!

TOMORROW we are off to Avila, Salamanca, Toro, Tordesillas, León, and Coca....