The day before yesterday, I made my way out to Montserrat, a low but almost vertical mountain in Catalonia. Visitors take the train from Barcelona and then a rack railway to Montserrat Monestary. The abbey is located on a sheer part of one of its cliffs. Visitors can visit the audio/visual presentation and museum, the basilica, as well as numerous stores, restaurants, and even a hotel (virtual Tour). Truthfully, these were not terribly interesting in comparison to the mountain itself, which is dotted with religious structures and ruins going back centuries, the area having attracted the devout for over eight hundred years.

I took the Sant Joan funicular up to the top, the Natural Park of Montserrat—what a steep ride! Full disclosure: I did not google what to visit here or where to walk, preferring to experience via exploration. Perhaps not the smart tourist thing to do…but it felt right. And I had an absolute blast, crawling up sketchy trails that were first laid five hundred years ago or more, discovering ruins, and photographing beautiful scenery! Barely anyone passed. It was like being a kid, finding adventure around every corner. Later research described the area I explored as the Hermitages trail or medieval hike. Fun stuff! There is so much on that mountain to see, but I contented myself with the hours long quest, even finding (and leaving) a shard of old pottery. Montserrat is a special place, go visit!Continue Reading