A Spiritual Journey In Montserrat

 As we celebrate International Women's Day this Sunday on 8 March, I am presenting here our Lady of Montserrat, popularly know as La Morenata (the dark one)  as she is one of the well known Black Madonnas. Our Lady of Montserrat is venerated in the Benedictine Monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat built right on top of the Montserrat Mountains near Barcelona, Spain.  As you can see, we arrived here on a rainy day with thick fog as we drove up the mountains to reach the peak. It is such a wonder that a Monastery with a Romanesque Basilica was built here even earlier than the 18th Century. 

The experience of Montserrat was truly an experience of getting closer to Heaven and God.  The Benedictine monks built their Monastery high up the rock formations of the Montserrat mountains to be reclusive, spiritual and closer to heaven and God as they can get.  A visit in the Monastery to see the monks sanctuary, the Basilica and Our Lady of Montserrat was truly a memorable and once in a lifetime experience. I hope you will be blessed to attend a mass there, to visit the Shrine, up close to say your prayers to Our Lady and then listen to the  angelic voices of the Escalonia Boys' choir. For me, it was an adventure and a spiritual journey that I will always treasure.

 

 Wooden statue of St Michael the Archangel welcoming the pilgrims. 

The Benedictine Monastery. 

Marble floors entrance to the Basilica of Our Lady of Montserrat. 

The whole mountain range is called Montserrat because it is composed of serrated rock formations that is 4,055 ft above sea level. 

 

 Entrance to the Basilica.

 Carved statues of the 12 Apostles with Jesus all looking up to Heaven.

Inside the golden Romanesque Basilica. 

We were lucky that there was a mass celebration when we arrived.

 

 This is the stairs entrance toward the upper chapel to be closer to Our Lady of Montserrat.

Angels carved in marble lining the entrance towards Our Lady's shrine. 

 

 

Our Lady of Montserrat was carved out of wood believed to be created by St Luke in Jerusalem. Pilgrims can rub the Globe that Our Lady is holding on her right hand while praying for their intentions.

Our Lady was originally found in a cave here in Montserrat. Then during the Napoleonic wars in the 18th Century, Napoleon's army destroyed the Monastery but Our Lady's statue was saved, hidden again in one of the caves near the Monastery. When the statue was found in the cave during the 19th Century, the statue was placed in the Romanesque Basilica where now it has performed many miracles and have established devotion from the pilgrims.

From Barcelona, pilgrims can reach the Monastery by joining a Bus Tour Group, by car or by train.

On this International Women's Day, we honour all women from all around the world regardless of our nationalities, colour, marital status and religion. We are all in solidarity to strengthen our Women's Power by spreading love, compassion and respect to everyone, just like our Our Mother Mary served as an example of goodness and faith when she lived here on Earth. 

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Enchanting Gardens of La Alhambra

Let us enter the enchanting gardens of the La Alhambra full of arabesque influences from the former Muslim Rulers of Southern Spain. Located on top of a mountain overlooking the City of Granada, the Muslim Emirs in Spain built it as a fortress in 889 then converted to a Royal Palace in the 1300s. La Alhambra is a testament to Islamic genius in Architecture, design, gardening and engineering during the Moorish era in Spain. It is now preserved for everyone to discover and appreciate. It is designated as a  UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although we visited last October during the Fall, the gardens are timeless as you will discover in our mini-tour here.

We discovered nooks with splendid views of pools and of Andalusian buildings with Islamic influences. 

Moorish poets described La Alhambra as  a pearl set in emeralds for all of the white buildings and green woods around it.
Everywhere was just so lush, refreshing and so full of different colours from the flowers and plants. 

Whilst wandering around, we heard cascading water from the fountains.
The water from the fountains sparkles under the sun.

Just wander around, don't be afraid to get lost and you will discover wonderful gardens and great views of Granada. 

 The Moors planted Orange trees, roses and myrtles.
The Duke of Wellington donated English Elm trees in 1812 planted all around the palace complex creating a dense wood park.  

Islamic influences are carved all around the walls and ceilings of the Palaces.
Look into any door and window, there is always a surrounding view of the White buildings of Granada. 

The huge hanging tree on the left side has a tale about it. In the story, one of the reigning Sultan's wife was caught with her lover in this part of the palace gardens. They kept this tree branch because it was the only witness to the lovers' rendezvous in the garden. 

A perfect design of a typical Andalusian Building painted in White with arched balconies and a water garden completing the whole scene.

Don't you think this is a perfect symmetry of design?
With the green hedges on each side, the emerald pool in the middle reflecting the Islamic Building around it. 

The Court of the Lions Fountain distributing water on all four corners of the Palace that helps to cool down the around the palace. 

The Rose Garden with the view of white buildings of Granada, the clear blue skies and Andalusia.

Everywhere in the La Alhambra was so fragrant and refreshing.
It's a place full of beauty.
With the mixture of all the elements of Islamic design, Spanish influence, cascading water fountains
and lush gardens all around it.
Truly enchanting in every way.

I wish you all a sparkling weekend with lots of sunshine!

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Exploring Barcelona

Entrance to Parc Guell with a view of the City and the Mediterranean Sea.

During a visit to Barcelona a few years ago, I discovered that Barcelona is a City that have everything. Being the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, Barcelona, is the capital of the Catalunya region of North Eastern Spain.  From my photo above, it shows why Barcelona have everything: it has magnificent Architecture and parks built mostly by Antoni Gaudi, the city has wonderful museums from the Picasso Museum, Joan Miro Museum and the Museu Nacional D'Arte De Catalunya, it offers the best of Catalan cuisine with mostly fresh seafood, tapas and Monastic Spanish Sweets, there are Centuries old Buildings in the Barri Gothic district to Art Deco Buildings in the Las Ramblas, two grand Cathedrals being the Barcelona Cathedral and the still unfinished Gaudi's masterpiece, La Sagrada Familia, fantastic shopping for Spanish clothes and leather shoes and accessories and most of all, it has the Beach at its own doorstep, known as the Costa de Brava in the Mediterranean Sea. Besides all I have mentioned above, one characteristic unique to Barcelona is the mix of rich cultural heritage with its own Catalan language and culture together with some French flair. 

Mosaic tiles created by Antoni Gaudi in Parc Guell. 

Parc Guell was designed by Antoni Gaudi from 1900 to 1914, commissioned by Count Eusebi Guell as a housing development which turned out unsuccessfully. The only good outcome is that the whole park became a Municipal park full of natural wonders designed by Gaudi now open to the public. The park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Locals come up here to unwind and to get some fresh air. 

This whole garden in the park was designed by Gaudi using all of the most  natural elements like building the stones as columns.

The whole park showcase many different plants and trees all displayed beside Gaudi's natural masterpieces.

Gaudi designed around nature instead of destroying it. On the right photo, instead of cutting the huge tree trunk, Gaudi spaced the columns between it to save the tree trunk. 

The white Mansion was the residence of Count Eusebi Guell and the Pink mansion was Gaudi's residence now known as Gaudi House Museum.

Another Gaudi masterpiece is the mosaic salamander known as El Drac (the dragon).

All around Barcelona, there are more Buildings designed by Gaudi like the Casa Mila, better known as La Pedrera. Visit the rooftop for more of Gaudi's mosaic creations like the twisted chimneys for smoke to come out better, water tanks shaped as snails and stairs used as water tanks. All of Gaudi's whimsical designs focused around natural elements of plants and animals. They were not placed there for aesthetic purposes only but to make the structure and building function effectively. The shape of the building here was curved so that light will be evenly distributed in all parts of the Building.  A very modern design during that time in the early 1900s. This building was designated UNESCO World Heritage site. 

La Sagrada Familia is the most famous masterpiece of  Antoni Gaudi. It remains unfinished because Gaudi died at an early age of 37 yrs when he was hit by a tram car on the streets of Barcelona. I share here what Gaudi designed and built depicting the Birth of Jesus Christ (left photo). As you can see, it is quite aged and eroding. On this side, Gaudi used natural elements again to build the Cathedral. For example, he built turtles at the bottom to support the Palm Trees trunk which were the columns rising all the way up. You saw from Parc Guell the Palm Trees which was an inspiration for Gaudi. Then on the other side of the Cathedral (right photo) is the newer construction depicting the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ. The new construction still follows Gaudi's vision and principles in designing this Cathedral. Truly magnificent on all sides which you will discover when you get a chance to visit it.

I always believe that we must keep an open mind when it comes to Art. Discover the modernist creations of Joan Miro. On Montjuic area of Barcelona, lies the Fundacio Miro Museum. It showcase a majority of Miro's colourful and modern artworks and sculptures. Here is a view of Barcelona.

It is not E.T.

Miro's interpretation of a Woman and a Man. What do you think?

The Museum's park is perfect for a stroll with great views of the City.

Another Museum to visit with spectacular views of the City is The Museu Nacional D'Art de Catalunya up in the Parc Montjuic area of Barcelona. The Museum exhibits works of art from Catalan artists from the Romanesque to the Gothic collections plus some works of arts from El Greco, Velasquez, Rubens among other famous artists. There are also special Exhibits currently showing like the The Battle of Tetouan of Fortuny.

When in Barcelona, one area you will definitely not miss is the Las Ramblas. The Las Ramblas is a pedestrian only boulevard connecting Placa de Catalunya to the Waterfront. We stayed at the Le Meridien Barcelona which is literally beside the Las Ramblas near the Placa de Catalunya. We walked all the way  passing by gorgeous Art Deco buildings and the Placa Real (many restaurants there) all the way down to Columbus Circle and then the Waterfront. Las Ramblas is a very busy boulevard and even has one of Barcelona's largest market the St Joseph Market.

Inside St Joseph Market, commonly known as La Boqueria. As you know, I love markets so I never miss going in and discovering places like this. Look at the so colourful and exotic fruits here.

Walking along the Las Ramblas, we discovered some Art Deco Buildings (left photo). When we turned on one of the streets along the Las Ramblas, we discovered the area of Barri Gothic (right photo), the oldest part of the City.

A Spanish musician playing with the Guitar in the Barri Gothic area.

The Barcelona Cathedral is located in the Barri Gothic area of Barcelona. Inside is a very Baroque style. One of the highlights of our visit there was on the rooftop for a 360 degrees view of the City.

The glass building on the horizon is the W Hotel Barcelona located by the Barcelona Boardwalk and facing the Mediterranean Sea. As I mentioned above, Barcelona has the Beach at its doorstep. The W Hotel is the best place to stay if you just want to hang out on the Beach.

The famous and historical Els Quatre Gats Restaurant since 1897 located at the Barri Gothic area of Barcelona. Famous Spanish painters would hang out in this restaurant and donate their art works for a free meal. One of the large painting on display was a replica of the self portrait by Ramon Casas: Ramon Casas and Pere Romeu on a Tandem, 1897 (bicycle ride). The original is exhibited at the Museu National Catalunya. Pablo Picasso had his first one man show here in the restaurant. This restaurant was also one of the setting in the Bestseller novel Shadow Of The Wind written by Carlo Ruiz Zafon. I highly recommend reading this book as it is set in Barcelona with a plot full of mystery, thriller and a love story which I believe best describes Barcelona too.


Thank you for reading and exploring Barcelona with me.

May you all have a wonderful weekend.

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