Barcelona - Day 5

March 3, 2008

Our last day in Barcelona and everyone wanted to spend it at the beach, but unfortunately the weather turned a little cold so we headed the other direction and went up the mountain.

Montserrat, a monastery in Spain. It was quite the drive to get all the way up to the top. Sophie got sick on the drive, it was a very winding road.

The church was amazing inside, of course decorated to the max.

I love all the stained glass windows, they are so beautiful when the sun shines through.
Just another amazing door, inside the church.
The history of Montserrat is fascinating and started in 880 when a small group of shepherd children saw a bright light descending from the sky in the Montserrat mountains. In the same moment the children heard angels singing and the music filled their hearts with a radiant joy.
Overwhelmed by the experience the children ran home to frantically recall the experience to their parents. The parents were sceptical but knew their children were trustworthy and honest and so they went to where the children had experienced the visions to see if they could see what all the fuss was about.
For the whole month following the first visitation the parents were also witness to the same heavenly experiences and were left with only one conclusion. The visions were a sign from God.
A local vicar was brought to the scene and witnessed the same experiences as the children and parents. The visions occurred in the same location in a cave on Montserrat mountain. When this cave was explored by the religious elders of the community they found an image of the Virgin Mary. And from that moment on the cave became a holy sanctuary for religious pilgrims. So they say if you rub the round ball she is holding in her hand it is good luck, so of course we all gave it a good rubbing.Looking down into the church from where the Virgin sits.

Janet warming up by all the candles. A few views driving back down the mountain.
Barcelona rooftops.

After the monastery it was time to head back home. The kids thought it was the best plane ride ever because they were with their friends.
Spencer, (the boys new hero) Dallas & Logan.

Logan picked a pear, a huge one at that, for his snack on the plane.

Jesse & Clara.
Sophie & Lilly