The Friends Go To Heaven

November 17, 2016

Montserrat

Montserrat from St. Michael's cross at sunrise

Stop #3 was neither city nor seashore but a monastery in the mountains NW of Barcelona.  For over a thousand years Montserrat has been a monastery and refuge, part of the Benedictine order and often called the most sacred place in Spain. It's barely accessible today, requiring either a death defying drive up a narrow, twisty road or a ride up the funicular. Since we had gotten the last two rooms at the only hotel up there, we choose to drive. Markus found it relaxing but Anja and I sat quivering the whole way.

Indeed, we were quivering nearly our whole visit because we felt exposed on the wide walkways, trails and even the plaza because it appears everything is held onto the mountain only by the grace of God. We were floating above the valley. Our first walk was to a small chapel. Markus chose to tease Anja by walking along the edge. Even on the inside of the wide path, I wasn't comfortable. What if there were an earthquake? We would be doomed.

Plaza at Montserrat

After a lovely Spanish dinner in the hotel, we visited the church, the crypt and Black Madonna when the other tourists had left. It was a lovely church but I couldn't help but wonder what was propping it up.

Sunrise wasn't until 7:30 so we walked out to St. Michael's Cross to watch it. It really did feel like a very special, very blessed space, there by ourselves on the mountain.

After Anja and Markus took off for Germany, I took the funicular up to the ridge and walked to the top of the mountain. I slowly became more comfortable with the open, floating feeling. The way down to the monastery from the top of St. Jeroni was through a wooded ravine with a gazillion concrete steps so it wasn't as frightening. I caught the last train to Barcelona at 6:30 and arrived just in time for the Magic Fountain display. I missed Anja and Markus as soon as they had left. They were such good company.