Another yummy breakfast.
Trip today was to Montserrat Benedictine Monastary somewhere near Barcelona
.
Our guide Allan picked us up at 8:45 AM & we headed across the street to the subway. Rode subway to train station where we took a one hour train ride to Montserrat. I'm going to have to look up where we went.
Montserrat is monastary on top of a mountain noted for the Black Madonna. Founded in the 9th century, church built in 13th century, famous pilgrimage destination.
Had to ride tram to top, took 25 minute walk uphill to cross overlooking the valley, walk back was easier. Visited the church & enjoyed a buffet lunch.
Guide, Allan, was 27 year old Mexican who moved to Barcelona 10 years ago with his parents. His father is a robotic engineer & his grandfather is a medical doctor in Mexico. Allan has a masters degree in languages & can speak English, German, & French, in addition to Spanish and Catalan. He is now studying Chinese
. He teaches school during the week.
Allan is anti-Trump and decidedly left wing. We had great discussions. I told him the US would like people like his family to move to the US because they had skills. He thinks Trump may invade Mexico.
It was a good tour.
We decided to take the 30 minute walk to the Barcelona Cathedral for 7 PM mass. Got lost in all the skinny winding streets but found lots of shopping and a place to have coffee. A nice policeman directed us to the church. The mass was in Spanish, so we did not understand a word, but we knew exactly what was happening.
Put 5 Euros in the collection sock, whereas most people dropped only a few coins in. Mass lasted 48 minutes.
Found pizza place for dinner. Also had salad sangria.
Walked back to hotel. Rack had over 20,000 steps. Temp 17 C.
On walk back happened upon some sort of protest march with adults and kids wanting more money for schools. Lots of music, signs, & marching. Fun
Sat Nov 12, 2016
Saturday, November 12, 2016
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain and Canary Islands
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2025-02-08
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jackday
2016-11-14
There goes Joe again. Always talking politics.
jackday
2016-11-18
I think Allan is mixed up. Mexico is invading the US.