Wednesday June 12, 2024 – Barcelona, Spain
We arrived early and docked Port to Dock in front of a Holland America Ship – The Oosendam, in the extensive cruise terminal port. We were early and took the 8:30AM shuttle bus to the World Trade Center and walked to the Duquesa de Cardona Hotel (Passenger Colom 112, Barcelonas 95HJ W5 +34-932-689-090; info@hduquesadecardona.com; http://www.hduquesadecardona.com), arriving before 9 AM to pick up Anne’s sister Catita, who had taken the train yesterday from her home in Pamplona, Spain. To spend the day with us in and around Barcelona. She had rented a car, so the three of us got to the Train Station, where the car rental shop was, picked up the car and between Catita’s excellent driving and Anne’s flawless navigation, we were soon on the road through the 48 Kilometers of countryside to Montserrat, which was about an hour away.
We arrived just in time for the 11 AM mass, conducted by the Benedictine monks (about 16), that live there and look after the place of pilgrimages. A dozen of the monks were also priests and conducted the service. A very nice Mass, all in the Catalan language (a blend of Spanish, French, Portuguese and Latin).
For those unfamiliar with Montserrat, it is a Benedictine Abby and Monastery which hosts the sanctuary of the (black) Virgin of Montserrat. The statue was found around 880 CE and consists of a Virgin with black colored skin, seated, with a child Jesus sitting on her lap. She holds in her right hand a spherical Orb, symbolizing the cosmos and creation. Her left hand is on the shoulders of the child indicating that it is her child. The legend states that on a Saturday night in 880 AD, some boy shepherds saw a bright light coming down from the sky accompanied by beautiful music leading to the place where the Virgin lay. The following Saturday, accompanied by their parents the vision was repeated. Then on the following Saturday they were accompanied by the local priest and by the fourth Saturday many in the town had seen the vision. Apparently, when they tried to remove the statue sand take it into the town, there were violent weather systems, so the Basilica was built near the place where the virgin was found, high in the mountains. The monastery was founded in 1025 and rebuilt during the 19th and 20th centuries having a total of 70 – 80 Benedictine monks. (www.abadiamontserrat.cat). The basilica was constructed during the 16th century and reconstruction took place, after total destruction, and was begun in 1881, after being named a “minor Basilica” and the patron saint of Catalonia, by Pope Leo XIII. There is a train that goes there, which we had booked as a tour of the ship, before we knew whether or not Catita could join us. We cancelled that and drove up, giving us a lot more time as the “all aboard” time was not until 10:30 PM. The Escolania is the Boys choir that is trained there and sings during services. There is also a museum with works of art by Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso and many others. It also boasts the oldest printing press publishing house (Publicaciones de l’Abadia de Montserrat), with its first book published in 1499.
After attending Mass in Catalan, we had lunch there and purchased tickets to go above and behind the altar to the room where the statue resides, covered by a glass globe (to reduce deterioration from excess touching). It is flanked by screens all made in silver and steps going up to the room and down from the same, the entrance and exit is covered in alabaster relief scenes, The vaulted ceiling is also beautiful. After passing the room, one can go behind to a prayer chapel, to see the back of the virgin through a glass window, above this side altar. After wandering around a bit more we made our way back to the car and Barcelona.
We returned to the Hotel – Duquesa de Cardona Hotel for Tapas and a beer on the rooftop restaurant overlooking the marina, which proudly announced that the Sailing “Americas Cup” is to be held there later this year. After bidding Catita farewell, we started walking towards the World Trade Center to pick up the shuttle bus, where we were caught in a major rainstorm, soaking us within a couple of blocks. Fortunately a taxi was dropping off a passenger, and we jumped in, so were able to get back to the ship, soaked, but at least not a badly drenched had we continued walking!! Another really fun day and it was great to see Catita.
Roger & Anne Travels 