I Love Water!

Gaudi Gallery

Just some of the many pics I took of Gaudi’s work. Click the image to enlarge.

It’s a small world

Here’s the situation. We’re in Barcelona, right. It’s October 2008. We’re walking down the sidewalk in front of the El Corte Ingles department store. The store on Placa de Catalunya to be exact. 

Someone we don’t know, a stranger, is sitting at the bus stop. Vic spys this button on their backpack.  

Obama/Biden button on a backpack in Barcelona

“Okey Dokey!”

Said the the Renaissance Hotel shuttle driver as he brought the van to a stop at the Barcelona Airport.

Our Trip to Montserrat – October 2, 2008

Our trip to Montserrat began with us taking the Barcelona Metro to the Espanya station. We had to catch the R5 train to Monistrol de Montserrat. 

Between language barriers and the inability to operate a ticket machine, we barely made it on the 9:36 train. We made it with only seconds to spare which is good since the trains leave once an hour.  But that is where our good luck ends. The train was packed. A school group was taking a field trip to the Monastery. We had to stand for the entire trip – over an hour long. 

The R5 train makes two stops for Monastery visitors. The first stop is for visitors holding tickets to take the cable car up to the Monastery. The second stop is for  visitors holding tickets to take the rack train to the Monastery. We bought tickets for the rack train. There was no way we were taking the cable car. Here’s a photo I took to give you some perspective.

Cable Car to Monastery

After our arrival, we immediately walked our way up to Placa de Santa Maria. It was here that we ran into our school group on the steps of the placa. This was the last time I saw them during our visit.

Placa de Santa Maria

We continued up the steps towards the arched portals. As we entered the courtyard and later the Basilica, I recorded the following video. 

 

View the high quality version of the video here.

For lunch, we ate at the Monastery cafeteria. The food was good and affordably priced.

After lunch, we took the Sant Joan Funicular to the top of the mountain.

Funicular de Sant Joan

From the top of the mountain, we followed the Pilgrim’s path to the Sant Miguel Cross.

Shawn and Vic on top of the mountain overlooking Montserrat.

 

The high quality version is located here.

Jamie overlooking Monastery

Earlier in the day, the line to see the Black Madonna was crazy long and we couldn’t bring ourselves to stand in it especially after standing for an hour on the train. When we returned to the Monastery from our walk, we noticed that most of the visitors had left the grounds so we headed back to the Basilica. We were able to walk straight up to the shrine and touch her right hand.

Vic touching the right hand of the Black Madonna.

 

Here’s the two minute version of our 15 minute train ride down the mountain.

 

 Higher quality version is located here.

Links of Interest:

Montserrat Visitor Site

Train Information

View Larger Map

Columbus Day Outing

Today we took the Atlantic Beach day trip I wrote about last year. The temps were forecasted to reach 80 degrees and the tourists are long gone.

First we started at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. Admission is $8 per person.

Lisa in front of the Living Shipwreck tank

 This is our first visit to the aquarium since the renovation. They did a great job!

Tidal Marsh Walk

Larry and I

Lisa the Hermit Crab

We went to lunch at the Crab’s Claw restaurant. It was OK. Larry and I had the crab cake sandwich while Lisa had the hamburger. They do not season their food. The only food with any flavor was the barbecue sauce on the bacon wrapped scallops. Our sandwiches came with a potato salad made from red-skinned potatoes and mayonnaise. Nothing else. I was disappointed.

After lunch, we traveled up Hwy 58 to Fort Macon State Park. We spent a good hour visiting the exhibits and walking the grounds of the fort.

Fort Macon

Fort Macon

We also went down to the park’s beach. 

Beach at Fort Macon State Park

Palau Nacional

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3_eWxLCHvg&fmt=18

Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya

The Catalan National Art Museum is located in the Palau Nacional on Montjuic. The palace was originally built for the 1929 International Exhibition. The musem is known for its collection of 12th century medieval Romanesque frescoes.

The Catalan National Art Museum is listed as one of the 1000 places to see before you die. I visited the museum on Sunday October 5, 2008.

Catalan National Art Museum

Admission to the museum is free on the first Sunday of every month.

 

http://www.mnac.cat/index.jsp?lan=003

 

Google Map 

Motorcycle/Scooter Parking

Check out the parking spaces for motorcycles and scooters. 

 

Motorcycle Parking Space

Look! Maggie’s Spanish Relative!

 

Maggie's Spanish Relative