Two weeks before we left Spain, we got a surprise visit from some old friends, Maria and Patrick D'vaz. We met for dinner at Arenas near Plaça Espanya and then invited them to come to Montserrat with us the next day. Bob had actually never been and it is one of the most famous landmarks of Catalunya. Montserrat is a small mountain range north of Barcelona famous for its interesting shape, rounded peaks caused by errosion. It also has religious significance because in 880 AD a group of shepherd children saw a bright light descending over the Monserrat mountains and heard angels singing. Later religious elders went to the cave where the children saw the vision and found an image of the Virgin Mary. The Virgin Mary of Montserrat is different from traditional depictions of Mary in that she is black. In the Basilica there is a statue where pilgrims and tourists line up to catch a glimpse of the Black Virgin and ask from her blessings.
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| Dinner with the D'Vazs at El Mussol |
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| View of Montserrat from the monastery |
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| We hiked down to the Holy Grotto where the image of the Virgin Mary was seen. |
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