Oct 14: Day 12: Barcelona

We wake up to a beautiful day for our stop in Barcelona.

Charlene has arranged a private minibus to take us to Montserrat, a Benedictine Monastery founded in the 9th century. It is high up on a mountain top about 1 hour outside Barcelona and also home to the Escolania, one of Europe’s oldest boys choir. Together today on tour are Charlene & Sam, Jim & Jane, Ramah, Midge & Michael, Harry & Judi, Mary Kay and Tim & I. Although she booked a 16 passenger vehicle a real nice 30+ passenger bus showed up at the port. They must have run out of the smaller ones and we had a very comfortable hour ride to the monastery with a driver and a separate guide, Margo. She explained the area and what we were passing as we rode along. Once we reached the base of the mountain we had the choice of continuing up the mountain on the bus or riding the cable car and meeting the others at the top. Tim and I rode the cable car along with Ramah, Mary Kay, Midge & Michael and Jim. It was a clear day and the views were spectacular on the way up the mountain.

First sight of  Montserrat way up on the hill

Notice the yellow cable car in photo which we rode to top

Our ride for the day

View on way up riding cable car

Nearing the top

Once we reached the top, we looked around, took pics, and then part of us rode the funicular on up to the very top of the mountain for even more spectacular views overlooking the monastery and surroundings. There were several elementary school groups there on a field trip and it is amazing they get to visit such a beautiful and historic place.

Courtyard entrance to Monastery

Funnicular tracks to top of mountain

Once at top of mountain this was the view off the other side

Ride back down hill

 By choosing to take the funicular on up we missed touching the famous Black Madonna in the chapel, but we did get back in time to hear the boy’s choir sing. They were angelic!

We had about 40 minutes afterwards to do a little shopping and we found several goodies. We bought some cheese and a jar of huge walnuts in honey. Also found a very pretty Christmas ornament for my travel collection. Our time in port today was shorter than the other days so it was time to head back to the ship.

Huge mountainside cemetary we passed on way back to ship

Columbus monument with him pointing to sea

It was a very enjoyable day and as we were going through the terminal building we stopped in the port’s duty free gift shop and found our granddaughter Macy a nice play dress so she will look like a Spanish flamenco dancer.