ZARAGOZA TO BARCELONA
After one of our best buffet breakfasts, we headed to Barcelona. It is interesting that the sunrise appears to be later here than in NJ. At 8:30 the sun is just coming up over the mountains. Javier indicated that we will travel through the desert, but there is no sand just very dry like in Southern California.

We are stopping in Manresa where St. Ignatius came to serve the poor, pray, and do penance in a cave by the Cardoner River. He stayed in the cave for 11 months only subsisting on water. A basilica was constructed around the cave. There is also the Hospital of St. Lucy where Ignatius worked. We only stopped for a few minutes to tour the basilica and see the cave. We also watched a video about his life.

Andorra is a tiny country of only three miles. It lies between France and Spain. Right now there are no taxes so rich people have bank accounts there. However, this will be changing next year. About 20,000 people live there. They have the best ski resorts there. It is a paradise for shopping because there are no taxes-like Delaware. We did not stop there.

We passed through the Greenwich Meridian, but the time didn't change.

Our next stop is Monserrat. Monserrat (cut mountain) was once covered by the Mediterranean Sea. We will see the 6th century statue of the Black Madonna at the 12 century Benedictine Archabbey. A national park is here with lots of herbs growing. The monks use them for cooking and healing. We rode to the top of the mountain over 3000 feet above se level. It reminded me of when we visited the Benedictine Abbey in Italy. That was also a very winding and scary ride up and down the mountain. Hundreds of tourists were here and the temperature was much colder. Rain had been predicted, and luckily, it stayed away.

Our guide, Mar, told us the story of how the Black Madonna came to be. About 880 shepherd boys spotted a bright light coming from the mountain. They were curious, as most boys are, and they approached the light. They saw the statue of the Lady and ran home to tell their parents. One week later, they returned with their parents and saw her again. The fourth time they brought the bishop. When they attempted to move the Black Madonna to their church it was too heavy.They decided the Madonna wanted to stay where she was so a chapel was built there in the mountain. Over time, the chapel was enlarged with contributions from all the people. At one time, the Madonna was hidden from invaders. When the French attacked Monserrat much of the monastery was burned. Somehow the Black Madonna was not damaged. We were able to touch her hand and say a prayer.

We are headed to Barcelona. It will be warmer there, but probably not swimming weather and rain is in the forecast.