Montserrat

It's all about churches this week! We took Papou, Maria and Philippa up to Montserrat, a Benedictine monastery carved into a mountain outside Barcelona. Around 80 monks still live here. I saw some!

There are amazing views of Barcelona. If the weather is good you can see as far as Mallorca. I came here with my Grandma Chris 6 years ago.

To get there you have to take a train and then a cremallera, a rack train up the mountain. Montserrat is home to the Black Virgin (La Moreneta) and she is very special to Catalunya. She is kept in a 16th century basilica, and people queue to kiss the orb she holds in her hand. She is actually black from centuries of dirt and candle soot but Catalunyans are in denial about this.

Olympia and I lit a candle for our families and thought about those we miss and love.

with likes,
Phoebe