Day 14: Scandalous Shoulders and Montserrat

Today we decided to take our Barcelona day trip to Montserrat which is an old monastery outside the city. It's wayyyyy up on the mountainside so we took a neat little cable car to the top that gave us some awesome views!

The views!

And then even better, us with the views!

We then walked around the complex a bit and stalled for time until the boys choir sang at 1pm. We piled in with tons of other people (I'm talking a packed house like any preacher would love) and then waited for the little boys. It was pretty awesome hearing them sing with it echoing off the rafters of the church.

The outside of the monastery's complex

We decided to emulate the statues and their poses...

... With varying degrees of success.

Inside the church part of the monastery, so much gold

And then the boys choir!

We then got back in the line for the crypt that we had abandoned earlier to see the boys choir so we could wait and see what all the fuss was about. While in line I was accosted by this lady behind us and poked and let know that I should cover my scandalous shoulders. Clearly she didn't notice all the other people who had bare shoulders and shorts hiked up into their booty. No, I was the one she was worried about--in my tank top and maxi skirt. So I put on a blouse I had brought in case this happened and still she continued to glare! Rude. Her friend also thought it appropriate to invade my personal space and stand so close to me that I could literally feel her pressing up against me. Not. Necessary.

After about 90 minutes we finally made it to the front of the line. And the front of the line meant you could touch this ball that the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus presented amongst some gold. That was it. I'm not sure it was worth the (at least) 90 minute wait. But I guess now we can say we did it!

Thats what we waited for... help me out here, Catholics, what is the symbolism of this? And then a view into a hidden chapel and an alcove

After that it was 3pm so we were ready to go and hopped the next train back to the city. We then proceeded to visit the markets and stores that were closed on Sunday. I may have bought some wonderful dresses at Zara. We also stopped by this old hospital to see the architecture. It was kinda meh.

Found near the hospital

Wizard chess! And then a pretty fountain

Lots of pooping figurines. I don't even know. And Barcelona's Arc de Triomf

However, we did have a delicious dinner! Calamari, pesto penne, caprese salad, sangria, patatas bravas, veggies, thai chicken, taglietelle with shrimp. We had a mini feast! And then followed it up with gelato. Never fails, I tell you.