I am very tired as a guy in our dorm snored the whole night and kept most of us up. I can´t believe the noise I heard came from a human - it was vile. It sounded like a phlegmy death rattle. At times he stopped breathing for what seems like ages and then started up again with a monstrous snort. I found myself wishing he might just stop breathing permanently.
Went to Montserrat today: a mountain with an historical monsastery up the top that contains a shrine to the patron saint of Catalonia - la Moreneta. I am not sure where the shrine was, although we may have seen it without knowing - didn´t have a guide book. There was a black Mary statue in the chapel that a lot of people were lining up to kiss so maybe that was it. I am not sure why Mary was black - again, didn´t have a guide book. The monastery also houses lÉscolania, a famous boys choir that is believed to be Europe´s oldest (dates back the the 8th century).
We had to catch a train there and then go up by cable car - our second in a week. Everyone in Barcelona and the surrounding areas seem to live in apartments - even in rural areas. We have only seen a handful of houses. I am glad Australians believe in the quarter acre block dream. Even our 350 square metres in Ringwood seems luxurious.
The views from the top of Monserrat were good - may have been great if it wasn´t raining and cloudy. We caught this tram thing called a funicular up to Sant Joan (a chapel) Apparently you can see the Pyrenees from up there. We did see some caves where hermits (a sort of monk) lived. Believe it or not but we also saw an Egytion mummy and a mummified crocodile in the museum. This place has everything! We also caught a funicular down to the Santa Cova (another chapel) where according to legend the image of the Virgin Mary apeared in a cave. She didn´t appear to us. Along the path to the chapel there were lots of religious statues created by artists which form something called the Rosari Monumental. Gaudi even worked on one piece.
All in all, a good day, except for the food (part of our 35 Euro ticket - should have got the 21 Euro one). Jon said he would rather have eaten dirt.
Went to Montserrat today: a mountain with an historical monsastery up the top that contains a shrine to the patron saint of Catalonia - la Moreneta. I am not sure where the shrine was, although we may have seen it without knowing - didn´t have a guide book. There was a black Mary statue in the chapel that a lot of people were lining up to kiss so maybe that was it. I am not sure why Mary was black - again, didn´t have a guide book. The monastery also houses lÉscolania, a famous boys choir that is believed to be Europe´s oldest (dates back the the 8th century).
We had to catch a train there and then go up by cable car - our second in a week. Everyone in Barcelona and the surrounding areas seem to live in apartments - even in rural areas. We have only seen a handful of houses. I am glad Australians believe in the quarter acre block dream. Even our 350 square metres in Ringwood seems luxurious.
The views from the top of Monserrat were good - may have been great if it wasn´t raining and cloudy. We caught this tram thing called a funicular up to Sant Joan (a chapel) Apparently you can see the Pyrenees from up there. We did see some caves where hermits (a sort of monk) lived. Believe it or not but we also saw an Egytion mummy and a mummified crocodile in the museum. This place has everything! We also caught a funicular down to the Santa Cova (another chapel) where according to legend the image of the Virgin Mary apeared in a cave. She didn´t appear to us. Along the path to the chapel there were lots of religious statues created by artists which form something called the Rosari Monumental. Gaudi even worked on one piece.
All in all, a good day, except for the food (part of our 35 Euro ticket - should have got the 21 Euro one). Jon said he would rather have eaten dirt.
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