Seniors in Spain 2018: 7/16/2018-Barcelona-Day trip to Montserrat, dinner at Lokal

Dorie, Blue, and Ronan meet us at Serra Pastisseries for breakfast at 9:30 AM. It was raining earlier but it's stopped now. Ronan has a large glass of orange juice and a frosted donut. I got a donut too but it's eggs, bacon, toast for the others. I didn't take pictures so not sure who got what! Too busy thinking about today's day trip. Blue goes to get the car and will pick us up right at the corner. It's about 45 minutes once we leave Barcelona city to get to Montserrat. Hope the weather will be ok there.

Ronan enjoys his breakfast

Someone's order of bacon and scrambled eggs-think this was Blue's pick

Statue on the way out of the city

Bull ring

MONTESERRAT. Mountain top monastery. Benedictine. Catalunya's most important pilgrimage site. Here you can take in fabulous views, ride a funicular up to the top of the mountain, tour the basilica, touch the Black Virgin's orb, listen to Gregorian chants from the world's oldest boys' choir (unfortunately they were not at Montserrat the time of our visit-they were on vacation), hike down to the sacred cave where the Black Virgin was found.... Get on the A-2, then the C-55. Roads in excellent shape. Not too much traffic. It takes around 30 minutes or so to get to the base of Montserrat. Then 15 minutes driving a series of switchbacks to the site parking. Cost to park-think around €5, but less than €10. It's cold and a light rain is falling. We head to a large building to wait out the weather. There is a restaurant of sorts, restrooms, a small souvenir shop. I'm debating about buying a fleece jacket because it is cold at this elevation. Didn't think to bring any wraps or warmer clothes. I do buy a CD of the Montserrat boys choir and some postcards. Dorie is interested in a sculpture called "Stairway to Heaven" so since it's located here she steps outside to take some pictures. There's a large terrace and the views are amazing. You can see the yellow cable car. Soon the sun comes out and we decide to start exploring. First will be the Basilica and a visit to the Black Virgin/La Moreneta. The outside of the basilica is lovely. But Ronan and I get in the line to see the Black Virgin. The others will do their own thing. Ronan waits with me because he tells me he's interested in all the religions. He's so serious when we finally reach the statue. He touches the orb and I quickly take a picture as there are lots of others in line behind us. La Moreneta is a small wood statue of the Black Virgin discovered in the Sacred Cave in the 12th c. She is the patroness of Catalunya. Mary herself is behind a protective glass case but the orb she holds is exposed. You can touch it and ask for a blessing. After this statue is a small chapel where we stop to admire the ceiling, the floor, statues... Then we walk along Ave Maria Path outside where there are lots of candles. We then enter the basilica to sit and take in the beauty of our surroundings. Back outside we meet up with the others.

Stairway to Heaven

That tiny yellow speck is the cable car

Where you get the cable car

Funicular

One funicular Sant Joan goes up to the top and the other Santa Cova goes down to the Sacred Cave

Line to see La Moreneta/Black Virgin

Ronan is with me to see La Moreneta

Chapel after La Moreneta

Stained glass

Floor

Ave Maria Path

Basilica

Outside facade

It's around 2:30 PM. We are going to take the Sant Joan funicular up to the top. Then we have to hike up a path to get to the very top with views all around. Cost for round trip senior rate €11.70 per person. They really pack you into the funicular so hard to get any great pictures. The hike up the path isn't bad and the views are nice. Going back the funicular wasn't as crowded. To get back to the car Dorie and Blue will walk while Ronan and us take the cable car. The cable car is cool with stunning views and only takes 5 minutes or so. Cost was €5.50 each for Richard and me and €3.50 for Ronan. We get to the bottom before Dorie and Blue even though the car is parked closer to the monastery. Soon the car arrives, we pile in, and head back to Barcelona. It's now 5:00 PM. Back to the city we get dropped off at our hotel. Time to freshen up and change for dinner.

Crowded on the way up

View from the top

Looking down you can see another path mid left of picture which I believe goes to the Chapel of Sant Joan

Returning the funicular wasn't as crowded

We are passing a funicular on the way up

Walking to the cable car station

Our cable car

Dinner-Lokal. We meet here at 8:00 PM. This is a nice place with a lot of good tapa items on the menu. Dorie has bought a package of cured meat and some fruit with her for Ronan. Wish he'd stop being such a picky eater! I still can't get over how much he loves the cured meats of Spain. He will finish that entire package! Drinks-beer and red wine. Bread for Ronan. Olives, bread, old cow tagliata/beef with potatoes & small green peppers, tuna tataki with guacamole/roasted sesame/sesame caviar, salmon tataki with guacamole/roasted sesame/sesame caviar, 1 gazpacho/soup, patatas bravas, roasted chicken croquette, pardon small green peppers, calamari andaluza style with lemon peel. Cost without tip $115.04. Can't believe it's almost 11:00 PM! Time to call it a night. Stop at the ATM by our hotel and withdraw €400/472.24 USD. Tomorrow is a Gaudi day and we will give Ronan his birthday gift since they are leaving Barcelona tomorrow after our visit to Sagrada Familia. We will meet up with them again in Valencia on 7/20/18.