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I'm back home on the Gold Coast after my travels through Spain and Portugal. It was a journey that took me through eras that encompass Roman, Moor and early Christian civilisations right up to present day Iberia. The people I encountered along the way made me most welcome and I enjoyed their culture and traditions. I saw amazing sights such as Antoni Gaudi's unfinished Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona, the 1333 Alhambra Palace built by the Moorish Sultans in Granada and the 1854 fairytale Pena National Palace built by King Ferdinand in Sintra, Portugal, to name a few.  I traveled the length and breadth of these two picturesque countries by train and bus and along the way enjoyed wonderful cuisine and wine varieties such as Rioja and Ribera vintages. During my two month's séjour I saw a great deal of Spain and Portugal, but in reality I just touched the surface. There is so much more to see and, at the first opportunity, I will be back to do so.

                                         

                                                                   Sagrada Familia

                                                                  Alhambra Palace

                                                                        Pena Palace

                                                                   END OF BLOG

Barcelona - Day Two

In all my years of wandering around the world today's adventure would have to be up there with the very best. I took the early train to Montserrat, about an hour northwest of Barcelona, to see the Benedictine Monastery located there. On arriving at the station I gazed shywards at the amazing rock formation that is Montserrat or "serrated mountain".    Legend says the mountain was carved by angels with golden saws, but in reality the continents shifted some ten million years ago and the land around the rock massif sank , exposing these extraordinary peaks. The monastery is nestled  at 2,400 feet, but the mountain itself rises to 4,000 feet. There are two ways to get to the monastery,  by cable car or rack train. I chose the tiny German built cable car, which ascended up a deep valley between the peaks and offered superb views. From the Monastery leval I then took the funicular up to the very top and then trekked back down to the Monastery along the Monestir de Montserrat trail. There has been  a church where the Monastery stands since the 11th century,  but the present structure was built in the middle of the 19th century and is the home for 30 monks. Montserrat's top attraction  is La Moreneta, a small wooden statue of the Black Virgin,  which was discovered in the Santa Cova or Sacred Cave in the 12th century. Legend says she was carved by St. Luke and brought to Spain by St Peter. She was hidden in the Sacred Cave during the Mudéjar or Muslim invasion and rediscovered after the Christian Reconquista. Carbon dating  puts its age at 800 years. She sits high above the Altar in the Basilica and the faithful shuffle along a long, ornate passage to have their moment with her. She is enclosed in a glass case, but the royal orb she cradles in her hands is exposed and the pilgrims can touch it. Next to the Basilica was the 15th century monks' Cloister with its delicate stone arches. In a small garden the monks have planted four symbolic trees, a palm for martyrdom,  a cypress for eternal life, an olive for peace and a laurel for victory. After leaving the Basilica I took another funicular down to the Sacred Cave. Finally I visited its superb museum with its wonderful paintings by such greats as Picasso, Monet, Renoir, Caravaggio, Dali, etc. In the evening after returning to Barcelona I attended a gala Flamenco Guitar and Dance Concert at the Palau de la Musica. The dancing by the leading male along with three females, all beautifully attired, was exquisite as was the guitar playing. A wonderful finale to my penultimate day in Barcelona and indeed in Spain.  Tomorrow I walk back up La Rambla to catch the Airport Bus at the Plaça de Catalunya to the El Prat de Llobregat Airport and wing my way home.