In November 2024, we could finally go on our long-planned Atlantic Ocean crossing! The trip began in Barcelona with two additional stops in Spain, followed by the Canary Islands and one stop in the Bahamas. We flew into Barcelona a few days early to see the sights before the departure.
Euros Upon60 EurosUpon arrival, we met friends at the airport and took a taxi to our hotel, the Ibis Barcelona Centro. The hotel seemed fairly new, and our taxi driver was unfamiliar with it; however, he had no trouble finding it. The cost of the taxi from the airport was about 60 Euros from the airport.
The following morning, we booked a Montserrat Monastery tour, which included hotel pick up and drop off. The guide was very prompt, very knowledgeable, and accommodating. The monastery is about a fifty-minute drive from downtown,
Upon arriving at the monastery, our guide took us on a short walking tour. The first stop was outside the school. The school has existed since the mid-14th century and educates approximately 50 boys from primary to early secondary grades from various towns in the surrounding area of Catalonia. Students must study two instruments, one of which must be an orchestral instrument and a piano. In addition, they study Musical Language and Orchestra and participate in the Boy’s Choir. It is said to be the oldest choir and music school in Europe and can be traced back to 1307; amazing! Check them out below!
The next stop was the courtyard outside of the chapel. There, we saw the outside of the apartments where the monks live. The sculptures on the lower levels were very interesting. There are about 80 Benedictine monks who live there. Benedictine monks follow the Rule of Saint Benedict, devoting their lives to prayer, working, and greeting pilgrims and visitors.
The monastery’s origins are uncertain but date back to 880 when legend says a wooden statue of the Virgin of Montserrat, known as The Back Madonna, was discovered. After that, sometime around 1011, a Santa Maria de Ripoli monastery monk came to the mountain to take charge of the existing monastery, Santa Cecelia de Montserrat, leaving the monastery under the orders of Abbot Oliba, who was the count of Berga and Ripoll. Santa Cecelia was unwilling to accept the new set of circumstances, so Oliba decided to create a new monastery called Santa Maria in the place of an old hermitage, or private retreat, of the same name. Thus, we have the present-day Montserrat Monastery. The history of the monastery is very interesting.
Gaudi’s architectural style of vibrant, multi-color buildings using ceramic mosaic tiles and stained glass, design elements that mimic natural shapes and patterns, and religious imagery inspired by his deep faith can be seen throughout the basilica. The following photos are of the Nativity Facade, representing the birth of Christ. The twisted column represents natural elements such as the trunk of the oleander tree and the turtle, the sea.
In addition, the columns of the nave are meant to represent a pine forest. If you can visit, try to schedule your tour as soon as possible. The walls of stained glass seen at sunset are simply incredible!
The final stop before our tour ended was a trip to the top of one of the towers in the Passion Facade. Thank goodness for the elevator because the trip down was 426 steep, narrow, winding steps. We couldn’t imagine climbing them! Seeing the mosaic sculptures (local fruits) up close was very nice. My favorite photo is of the cross on the Passion Facade, taken from behind.
On our final day in Barcelona, we visited another significant Barcelona landmark, Park Guell. Eusebi Güellas designed the park to be a gated community, and construction started in 1900. In 1906, Antoni Gaudi, the architect of Sagrada Familia, moved there there live with his father and niece. He lived there for several years before moving into Sagrada Familia to oversee its construction. You can see many elements of Gaudi’s design style throughout the park.
The project was a financial failure which led the project to be abandoned in 1914. The park then became a large private park/garden, which Güell allowed to be used for public events. Upon Guell’s death in 1918, his heirs offered the park to the city, which agreed to purchase the property. It was opened as a public park in 1926.
Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of the park is the design. The terrace, pictured above, slopes slightly so water drains into the hollow columns below. The benches are designed this way as well. The water then is directed into an underground cistern where it is used for drinking water and laundry. It’s amazing to think that this was all done without the aid of modern technology.
A visit to Park Guell was a nice way to wrap up our visit to Barcelona. If you are in Barcelona and get the chance, I would highly encourage you to visit the park, it was well worthwhile. Now, off to our ship!