Just outside of Barcelona, high up in the Catalan costal mountains, is an abbey, tucked between jagged peaks. Visiting the abbey came highly recommended, so on our way south, we scheduled a morning to spend in the church and exploring the mountains. 
We first visited a small but impressive museum about the abbey and then wandered around the huge complex, ending up in the church. Just as we entered, a monk, dressed in black robes, began leading the congregation of mainly tourists in an accappella hymn. I was unfamiliar with the latin words, but I noticed that most of the group joined in singing. I wondered what everyone had in common that I had missed.
As soon as the kids spotted the almost 90 degree funicular track that pulled two trolly cars up the mountain, they were excited at the prospect of riding to the top. Truly, the track was impressive, and secretly, some of us were a little nervous!
At the top of the mountain we went on a short hike to an additional little monastery, which clung to a cliff. It provided the perfect example of life in the middle ages and how many men and women became monks and nuns as a way to escape the dreadful world around them. In their monasteries they made copies of books, created art and worshiped.
These were all things that we had learned about and hiking out to a real life example in Spain couldn't have been a better field trip.
4 comments:
Montserrat is a pretty impressive place. That's neat that it tied in so nicely with all of the research you did beforehand.
How nice to have the time to explore and see places like Montserrat.
Dad
Wow, I've heard of Montserrat, but I had no idea how amazing it is. Again, you're visiting a lot of places I'd love to go on a Europe trip sometime!
What a fabulous experience--monks, Latin singing, and a funicular, too! I've decided that Dad should choose Spain as his trip next year, instead of Provence....
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