Barcelona 1 - 3 October

We all stayed in an apartment in Barcelona for three days and spent our time wandering, relaxing and washing all our biking clothes and gear to get ready for our next adventure. We had visited the block buster sites on a previous visit to Barcelona, so we headed to some of the places we hadn't see before.
First we took the train, then the cable car, to the hills to see the Monestir de Montserrat. 

This is the Benedictine monastery with 30 monks. It has been Catalunya's most important pilgrimage site for a thousand years.

Montserrat means serrated mountain and you can see why. It is said they were carved by angels with golden saws.

Outside the Basilica. This seems to be the thing to do.

The Neo Renaissance facade of the Basilica features Christ and the Apostles.

The biggest draw card at Monserrat is the 12th Century La Moreneta, the small wooden statue of the Black Virgin above the main alter. Many pilgrims queue up for hours to file past her and touch her orb.

Each day at one the 50 member Escolania, one of the oldest and most renown boy's choirs in Europe, sing. The choir started in the 13th Century.

Part of the Ave Maria Path with hundreds of votive candles.

Joy, Dan and Judith outside the monk's cloisters.

Bill and Dan in the funicular, going even higher up.

Looking down to the monastery.

There are quite a few hiking trails at the top.

Judith hiking the downhill loop back to the Monastery.

On the top of the world.

Another view of the monastery.

Passing a cross situated on a very dramatic point.