Montserrat, Day 8

Probably one of the most amazing experiences one could have in Europe is a trip to Montserrat in Catalunia, Spain. I am lost for words on how to describe it but our pictures below would tell you why.  A Montserrat-experience, however, is most special to a Bedan like me. This is because the Our Lady of Montserrat found in the Benedictine Abbey in Montserrat is the Patroness of the Benedictine Monks who run our beloved San Beda College in Manila.

We reached Montserrat through a bus that was surprisingly unfamiliar to many people in Barcelona. It was unfamiliar to others I say because we were the only passengers throughout the trip. Manang Elaine said she came to know about it in an article in a travel magazine. The fare was also very cheap. We paid only 12 Euros compared to other bus companies that charge about 5 times as much. Barcelona-Montserrat was an hour drive, although I could have driven it in only half an hour (Philippine-style) because in Spain, vehicles are allowed only to run a maximum of 90 KPH.

According to Wikipedia, "Montserrat" literally means "jagged (serrated) mountain" in Catalan which describes the peculiar aspect of the rock formation visible from a great distance. The highest summit of the mountain is called Sant Jeroni (Saint Jerome) and stands at 1,236 meters (4,055 feet) above sea-level which we were not able to reach because we ran out of time as we were scheduled to complete our Barcelona tour in the afternoon. Instead of going to the peak through the Cremallera (zipper) de Montserrat, we heard a mass instead and paid visit to Our lady of Montserrat. Then we shopped for a few souvenirs before we headed back to Barcelona.

No matter how strong the wind was, it had no chance in blowing off
from Mija her  hat and especially that pack of junk food

Overlooking part of Catalunia where we came from

A magnificent view of the west portion of the Montserreat mountain.
In the middle part you would see the Benedictine Abby.

Picture perfect. Behind us are the rock formations on the peak of the mountain. They said these rock formations are alive and growing.

With my warmest and kindest cousin, Manang Elaine, and cousin in law, Mang Jay.

Cremallera de Monserrat means zipper of Montserrat.
The railway to the peak looks like a zipper from afar thus the name Cremallera. 

Station of the Cremallera. When I took this picture I didn't notice
there was an old lady sitting in the middle of the benches. 

The Our Lady of Montserrat

Inside the church. Looks very much like our church in San Beda.

On our way back to Barcelona

Upon reaching Barcelona we had another long walk tour and had a mouth-watering meal at Restaurante Nuria at La Rambla before retiring from a long but fun day. These are the spots we visited:

1. Casa Batllo & Casa Amatler

Another great work by Gaudi

2. Casa Mila

Perhaps Gaudi was the reincarnate of the god of art 

3. Torre Agbar

The architect who made this said this work was inspired
by the rock formations in the mountains of montserrat. Cool.

4. Park Guell

When we saw this Mija & I remembered we used to make
paper/eggshell/sand mosaic like this back in our elementary days

If I did not pursue law, I would have been an architect now like Gaudi

Mija enjoying our brief rest at the beautiful Parc Guell

View of the entire Barcelona from Gaudi's Parc Guell

This incredible passageway was the highlight of our visit at Parc Guell. 

Lovers at Parc Guell

5. Placa Catalunia

Low shutterspeed did the trick in making the fountain look dashing

6. Barcelona Cathedral

At last, the interior of Barcelona Cathedral

7. Restaurante Nuria

Mija & I enjoyed our short stopover at Barcelona because of these people close to our hearts

Barcelona, Day 7

Day 7 was the day I highly anticipated because it was the day we shifted from Rome to Barcelona to visit my paternal relatives. We departed at 9:45 A.M. via Iberia Airlines and arrived after 2 hours. Manang Elaine, our oldest cousin, and her youngest child Tati fetched us at the airport. Then we took a taxi to their home at Sant Erasme where we were met by manang Elaine's husband Manong Jay. We took a few minutes rest after taking a hearty and delicious Spanish meal prepared by Mamay Cely (my father's eldest sibling) then took off for a long walk tour. These were the spots we visited in Barcelona:

1. Sagrada Familia

The structure is sui generis. Nothing comes close to it in terms of design  It is till incomplete, though, 
up to this date due to Antoni Gaudi's (designer) untimely death when less than a quarter of the 
structure was finished. They say the anticipated completion date is 2026 - 
the centennial of Gaudi's death. 

2. Arc de Triomf

Barcelona's version of Arc of Triumph.
I wonder if every European country has an Arc like this.

3. Ciutadela Park

Ciutadela Park is perfect for relaxing and unwinding.
They say just be wary of thieves.

4. Castell dels Tres Dragons

This houses Barcelona's Zoological Museum.
We didn't have the chance to enter and see their exhibits though.

5. Cathedral de Barcelona

The cathedral was closed the first time we visited
so we just took pictures here and rested our shaking kneels and aching feet.

6. Carrer del Bisbe Irurita

Posing below the neogothic-style bridge - Carrer del Bisbe Irurita

7. Ayuntamiento de Barcelona

Barcelona's City Hall.
This is where FC Barcelona soccer team gather for their victory parade
after every championship they covet according to Mamay Cely.

8. Placa Reial

Where Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo shot
one of their movies according to Manang Elaine.
I've seen the movie recently and I saw the couple walked along this plaza.
I just didn't catch the title of the movie.

9. Las Rambla

Barcelona's famous street rich with pick-pocketers. lol

10. Statute of Christopher Columbus

Statute of the discoverer of USA

11. Maremagnum

This leads to their most popular mall the Maremagnum. Sweet moment together.

Vatican, Day 6

Our 2nd day in Rome was our last chance to complete our city tour before heading to Barcelona, Spain the following day. As we did not have enough time, we literally did not waste a single minute. So, we woke up early and immediately proceeded to our destination - Vatican - through a taxi hoping we could get there before the queue to St Peter Basilica piles up. Luckily, We reached the Basilica on time when the  queue was still light. The first thing that we did inside was to mount the cupola (dome-like structure) of the Basilica. The peak of the cupola could only be reached through the stairs composed of 320 steep and small steps and a space enough only for a medium-built man like me. Mija, being a claustrophobic, chickened out and stayed at the base of the cupola while I ascended to the highest stairs i have ever climbed in my whole life. I wanted Mija to come with me so she could also see the beauty of Rome viewed from above but no sweet talks could get the fear out of her system. The view from the peak of cupola was spectacular!

Up up to cupola!

Mija was all smile as she reached the 1st stage of the cupola.
She remembered this wall was mentioned
in the book Angels & Demons.

Mija's 1st attempt to climb the
2nd stage (peak) of the cupola.
From this point she backed out.

At first I thought I wouldn't fit here...

Spectacular! Breathtaking! Magnificent!

After descending from the peak we shopped for souvenirs at the cupola souvenir shop. Then we descended to the Tombs of the Popes. Cameras were not allowed inside but I still managed to get away with pictures of the tombs of my favorite Pope John Paul II and other great popes like St. Peter, Pope Paul VI, and Pope John Paul I. After the Tombs of the Popes, we entered St. Peter Basilaca and we took a lot of decent pictures of its magnificent internal structure. On the right wing of the Basilica we saw Michaelangelo's famous sculpture the La Pieta while on its left wing we offered mass for Lola Mary and my two uncles who all passed away late last year. We also heard an italian mass inside.

This is St. Peter's throne

The stunning architecture of
St. Peter Basilica

List of Popes

Basilica's isle

La Pieta

Tomb of Pope Paul VI

Tomb of Pope John Paul I

Tomb of the great John Paul II

St. Peter's Tomb

When we finished touring inside the Basilica we both went to the Vatican Museum whose entrance is a few meters away from the Basilica. Inside the museum was the Sistine Chapel famous for its architecture and its decoration that was frescoed throughout by the greatest Renaissance artists including Michaeangelo, Raphael, Bernini, and Sandro Botticelli. The highlight of the chapel was the ceiling as painted by Michaelangelo and the center piece "Creation of Adam".

Way to the Vatican Museum. Mija paused for a picture-taking and I choreographed her posing.
It would have been perfect if she raised her right arm against the wall ala bikini model. lol 

Adam's Creation - center piece of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel

Michaelangelo's masterpice

Looking tired but still managed to smile for a picture

Day 6 was a hectic day for us and we were both exhausted and our feet trembling from fatigue. After reaching our hotel we immediately hit the sack.