First steps

The past days have seen a balance between quieter and busier times.  A highlight while still in Girona was a visit to L’Escala, where we 'time travelled' back to the Phoenicians landing at this site, with walls of their harbour still visible.  Greeks and Romans also settled here and we spent time wandering the ruins of these ancient villages.  

We left Girona feeling very thankful for the hospitality of Quim and Carolina; thank you again to these wonderful people.

 

Travel to Barcelona was by way of a high speed train. We were not fully prepared for the size of this city (population 1.6 million) and all that there is to see. This was complicated by Bob being unwell, so a hop on hop off bus was the best way to gain a feel of what we could see if there was another time.  The absolute highlight was a visit to the Sagrada Familia cathedral, designed by Gaudi and still under construction today. What a masterpiece this is, and even amidst the tourist throng, a sense that the spirit of God is very present.

 

A quick update on Sat morning 15^th March – from Montserrat, the start of our Camino (pilgrimage). Bob is still feeling quite unwell – severe cold in the head and chest – so we’ll walk only 11 km today. Yesterday (Friday) we caught trains from central Barcelona to Montserrat – the serrated mountains, where a huge, elegant cathedral has been built high among the rocky peaks. We slept in an albergue (pilgrim hostel). A dozen others also overnighted here and have already headed off.

 

We are holding off the inevitable – having to walk the first metres of an arduous 1,000 km trek over the next three months. We attended a (catholic) Mass this morning at the ornate Basilica. Didn’t understand a word, but conscious of God’s presence and our need for His strength.