barcelona Archives - Mom's Guide To Travel

Dec 28 2016

Best Places To Live Overseas in 2017

In the early Fall, my husband and I started seriously discussing a few destinations that we would consider moving to next year. As adventurous as it sounds, sometimes it’s not easy to identify the best places to live overseas with your family.

As a family of four with extenuating circumstances, there’s more on the table to consider than just me and the hub’s personal desires.

We have to consider more complicated medical care, therapy resources, schools and a host of other factors before we’re wooed by good weather, beaches, and stable political leaders.

The idea fairy popped in my Inbox

Last week I received an email from a PR agency with an article attached from the editor of Live and Invest Overseas, the self-proclaimed “leading resource on investment, real estate, retirement, and living overseas.”

The author, Kathleen Peddicord, came up with this 2017 list of best places after asking, “where are the best places in the world to live better, reinvent one’s life, and have a grand adventure in 2017?”

The list includes locales in traditional places like Portugal, France, and Spain, as well as places you wouldn’t expect, including the Dominican Republic, Malaysian Borneo, Nicaragua, and Colombia.

My husband and I have traveled to a few of these countries, for example Barcelona, a city whose surrounding region I also loved. Others, like Portugal and Colombia are on our short list.

Following is an explanation of why the locales were identified and made the list.

Do take a look and let me know in the comments what you think.

Carvoeiro, Algarve, Portugal

Portugal is the best-kept secret of Old World Europe. For three years running, we have named its Algarve coast as the world’s best place to retire overseas.

Coastal Carvoeiro, in particular, qualifies as perhaps the most appealing place on earth to call home if you want to live on the water in a real-world (as opposed to a developing-world) setting.

The take-your-breath-away views from Carvoeiro’s rocky coast, the constant sunshine, the near-perfect weather year-round, the food, the wine, the history… it all adds up to top-shelf of living yours for a very bargain price.

Thanks to the current down value of the euro, the enviable coastal Continental lifestyle on offer in Carvoeiro is further reduced… and the cost of a very rentable home or condo is irresistibly discounted.

El Poblado, Colombia

Escobar’s dead and the city he and his goons once terrorized is today at peace.

Located in one corner of Medellín, El Poblado offers a comfortable, tranquil, idyllic way of life for a super affordable cost. At the current exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Colombian peso, the luxury-level cosmopolitan lifestyle available in El Poblado is an even greater bargain.

Medellín is culture rich and Euro chic; its people well dressed, well mannered, and welcoming. Medellín’s heart, El Poblado, is our #1 pick for city living on a budget.

Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic

Las Terrenas is quintessential Caribbean with a French twist. The big and established community of French expats living in this white-sand beach town means fresh baguette, great restaurants, and kisses on both cheeks in greeting.

Infrastructure is improving, establishing residency is easy, and the cost of living is one of the great bargains of today’s Caribbean… making Las Terrenas our #1 pick for a new life with a Caribbean Sea view.

Santa Familia, Belize

If you want to leave the troubles and the worries of our age behind, little Santa Familia village in Cayo, Belize, is calling your name. Life in Cayo is back to basics, simple, and sweet. You know your neighbors, they know you, and you all look out for each other.

Belize’s Cayo is a region of wide-open spaces, fresh air, warm sun and fertile land, making it our pick for the world’s best place to disconnect and unplug.

Pau, France

France is a country of superlatives. World’s best quality of life… best health care… best food… best art and fashion… most beautiful, most romantic city (more on this in a moment)…

To many, la vie française is the good life defined, and the charms and appeals of French Country Life are unrivalled. In this context, we suggest you consider Pau, also known as the “Green City” and the “Garden City,” thanks to its ratio of greenery per square meter per person, one of the highest of any European city.

Pau’s landscape is accessible woodlands, the steep slopes of Jurançon wine country, the history-packed Plaine de Nay and its main town of Nay and the pretty rolling countryside and ancient towns of the Gaves de Béarn.

Pau is also a university town, with close to 12,000 university students living on and off campus, helping to keep it lively.

Brits and other North Europeans have been seeking out this part of France for retirement for years. This is a very friendly bunch of people with a wide range of backgrounds and interests always ready to welcome newcomers.

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Since the 1800s, the Thai city of Chiang Mai has been luring expats from the West with its über-low cost of living, great weather (especially compared with elsewhere in Thailand), rich history and distinct culture.

The heart of Chiang Mai lies within its old city walls where ancient and modern Buddhist temples coexist with public and international schools, residential and commercial neighborhoods.

Modern Chiang Mai has grown beyond the ancient walls and offers mega-malls, huge multi-national grocery and department stores, and all other trappings of life in the 21st century.

The biggest advantage to life in Chiang Mai is its cost in general and of health care in particular. A couple can live here comfortably on as little as US$1,100 per month, and you can see an English-speaking doctor for US$20.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Playa del Carmen is a little beach town that sits about an hour south of Cancún on Mexico’s Riviera Maya. Once a sleepy fishing town, the port was inadvertently put on the map by Jacques Cousteau in 1954 when he filmed an underwater documentary of the Great Mayan Reef just offshore.

Divers began seeking out these Caribbean waters for themselves, and in the 1970s a port was built to ferry the tourists from the mainland to Cozumel.

Today Playa is home to more than 10,000 foreigners, including Europeans, Americans, Canadians, Argentinians, Venezuelans and many other nationals of all ages including 20- and 30-somethings, young families and retired couples.

Playa is also a welcoming destination for the LGBT community.

Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona Food Tour — A typical market day for the locals.

Barcelona, in the northeast of Spain on the Mediterranean Sea, is a vibrant, colorful, proud city that combines the passion of the Spanish with the efficiency and organization of the Catalans.

This is a city with a strong energy that has not been dampened by Spain’s ongoing economic woes and the economic, cultural, and administrative capital of Catalonia.

Spain’s second-biggest city is easily and quickly explored thanks to its compact, well-laid-out design… and the opportunities for diversion, entertainment, and discovery are many. Art and architecture from pre-Roman to Modernista is around every corner. This is a city of galleries, museums, monuments, theaters, restaurants and shopping… with the beach just right there.

Granada, Nicaragua

Nicaragua is a beautiful country with a troubled history that appeals to the romantic, the poet, the eco-traveler, the surfer (the break off Nicaragua’s Pacific coast is world-class) and the bargain hunter. The cost of living, of real estate and of everything else is a steal.

Geographically, Nicaragua is blessed, with two long coastlines and two big lakes, plus volcanoes, highlands, rain forest and rivers. In this regard, it’s got everything Costa Rica’s got, all less discovered, less developed and less expensive.

Architecturally, too, Nicaragua is notable. Colonial Granada is its architectural jewel. This city, one of the oldest in Latin America, is also busier and livelier today than at any other time during its near five centuries of history, attracting tourists and expats in record numbers.

When you see it, you understand why. The setting for this colonial town is like out of a fairy tale—the lake, the volcano, the mountains. At night, the backdrop is an ink-streaked sky that, just before the sun sets, illuminates the yellow and white cathedrals in ways that would have inspired Matisse to set up his easel.

Kota Kinabalu, Malaysian Borneo

This laid-back and quiet city is one of the most pleasant places to live in Asia and is incredibly welcoming. Its biggest practical advantages are the low cost of living and the high standard (and low cost) of health care. A couple could live well here on US$1,200 a month or less.

The city is small and walkable, less than 3 kilometers from end-to-end. Life revolves around the water and is lived out-of-doors. At home, you can fill your days snorkeling, diving, boating and ferry hopping from the city center to neighboring islands.

This is a little-known, low-key, low-population destination offering a tranquil, serene, close-to-nature lifestyle at a cost that’s a global bargain.

So there you have it! That’s Live and Invest Oversea’s list.

Have you been to any of these destinations? Could you see yourself relocating to them with your family?

Feb 08 2016

Barcelona The City With Something for Everyone

Barcelona street — Barcelona has something for everyone. Football, art, and amazing food? You bet.

I loved the ten busy days that I stayed in the Barcelona area. Not only did I visit Barcelona the city but I also visited the Catalon region and was blown away by the diversity of things to do there. I visited castles, monasteries, vineyards, museums, Medieval towns and spiritual retreats all in the same trip.

Whether it is food, wine, art or history, Barcelona has something for everyone.

The following post which originally appeared on The Hipmunk Tailwind blog, illustrates the eclectic mix of activities in this cosmopolitan European city.

The seaside center of Catalonian culture, Barcelona, is one of Spain’s most scintillating cities. Top travel destinations often claim to “have it all,” but this is particularly true for Barcelona, where tourists can marvel at Gothic and Modernist architecture by day and sway to the saucy rhythms of Iberian party music by night.

Barcelona is cosmopolitan yet historic, charming yet wild and filled with sublime flavors and Michelin star restaurants. The city’s renowned gastronomy draws on unique influences from the Basque country and Catalonian region, creating a hip mix of modern and traditional Spanish flavors you won’t find anywhere else, even within Spain itself.

Sound captivating? It is. The shorter your trip to Barcelona, the longer you’ll want to stay, but then again, the longer you stay, the harder it is to leave. It’s no secret that Barcelona draws you in almost immediately, but now the only question is: Draws you into where? Hipmunk hotels in Barcelona are some of the finest in the world, and you’ll wish you never had to check out.

Art and Eats: Hotel Arts Barcelona

Not many hotels can claim to be more unique than this — a skyscraper located right on the beach with unparalleled views of the Mediterranean. As its name suggests, Hotel Arts celebrates the artistic spirit at the core of Barcelona. Your taste buds will go wild with the hotel’s six different restaurants featuring renowned chefs and exquisite cuisine. As far as architecture goes, the hotel considers itself part of Barcelona’s recent “cultural renaissance,” which means if you’re looking for a place in step with this dynamic city, this is it. Sip specialty drinks at a pool adjacent to the glistening Mediterranean Sea and sit in the shadow of Frank Gehry’s famous fish sculpture, one of the city’s most celebrated contemporary works of art.

Football and Fanfare: Princesa Sofia Gran Hotel

It’s impossible to mention Barcelona without at least touching upon the one sport that rivets the population like no other. If you’re a soccer — football in Spain– fan, get in the game by staying at Princesa Sofia Gran Hotel, just two blocks from the home of the world-famous Barcelona Football Club, the Camp Nou Stadium. Wondering why the hotel has a regal rather than a sports-themed name? That’s because it’s even closer, just one short block away, from the Royal Palace. But with the hotel’s lush five-star luxury, you won’t need to visit the nearby estate to feel like nobility.

Sights and Sounds: Olivia Plaza Hotel Barcelona

Located in the midst of the hustle and bustle, Olivia Plaza Hotel is ideal for those serial sightseers. It’s just steps away from Olivia Plaza and La Rambla, the boulevard famous for shopping and entertainment. Its prime location is also right near Catalunya, a subway hub, so those looking to explore the city inside and out will have easy access to the train network. You’ll be within walking distance to the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art with the classic Arco de Triunfo in the other direction, and you’re likely to see some major landmarks just by strolling the streets around this prime hotel.

Nature and Relaxation: ABaC Restaurant & Hotel

The city of Barcelona itself is so exciting that it’s easy to stay within its bounds and forget the inspiring landscapes that surround it. That won’t happen with this stylish hotel, located near the picturesque foothills surrounding the city. This proximity to nature, as well as its excellent spa and wellness center, makes Hipmunk ABaC the ideal location in Barcelona if you just want to relax and allow the vibrant spirit of the city to rejuvenate you.

May 18 2015

How To Devour Barcelona In A Day On A Barcelona Food Tour

On my first full day in Spain, I woke up early to go on a cultural journey with Devour Barcelona Food Tours. Even under the fog of jet lag, I was excited and curious.

In my experience, food tours are a great opportunity to:

Meet other travelers
Meet the locals
Combine sightseeing with food
Visit small spots that may not be on anyone’s “Top 10” or 10 Best” list but are equally as awesome (if not better)
Get the inside track on a place’s history and culture

At the end of the day, Barcelona Food Tours was consistent with my past experiences.

Barcelona’s Gràcia Neighborhood

The 10 a.m. tour began on Passeig de Gracia, a main shopping thoroughfare, and equivalent to Manhattan’s 5^th Avenue. With Gaudi-designed tiles under our feet, the tour guide, an expat from San Francisco, provided context to where we were standing and gave us the run down of where we’d be touring for the day.

If you’re not an early riser, don’t worry. Let the expectation of cava at 10am and good food be your motivation.

The quiet and intimate Gràcia neighborhood is just a stone’s throw from the more bustling areas of Barcelona.

For centuries, this relaxed neighborhood used to sit on the outskirts of the city as an independent village. In 1897 it was annexed to Barcelona, expanding the city’s northern boundaries.

According to our guide, in the 1980s and 90s, it became a Gypsy hangout. Today it is popular for its small mom and pop shops, as well as its contribution to the gin and tonic revival.

First Stop on Our Tour

Name: Can Tosca

Address: Carrer del Torrent de l’Olla, 77

This small eatery is owned by sisters Inma and Rosa Tosca. The bar/restaurant has been in their family since 1961. The Tosca’s hospitality started our stomachs (and expectations) off right with a glass of cava. Yes, it was only 10:30 am in Spain but my body recognized that it was 4:30am back home – perfectly acceptable time to drink!

At Can Tosca, we were introduced to pan e tomate (bread and tomato), a typical part of the Catalan morning. Fresh baguettes toasted and laced with fresh raw garlic then ripe Roma tomatoes were topped with either sausage or in my case a garlic and herb type of omelette.

Funny enough I’d just said to my girlfriend the previous day that I was craving an omelette and hoped I’d get one while in Barcelona – this restaurant over-delivered on that score.

Second stop on our Tour

Name: Mercat de l’Abaceria Central

Address: Travessera de Gràcia, 186

Our second stop brought us to Mercat de l’Abaceria Central, a small local food market void of tourists. According to the locals, the best days to visit any of these markets is on a Tuesday or Wednesday, when items are freshly stocked for the week ahead.

Most stands at l’Abaceria specialize in one main food whether it’s olives, eggs, meats, cheese, pastry. You’re almost guaranteed to get the best of the best. Unfortunately in America we opt for convenience.

But that’s another discussion for another day.

Local food markets are fun. You see all sorts of meats, fish, ingredients and dishes that you may not ordinarily see in supermarkets.

At the stand of Conserves Glória we eyed rows of Spanish olives. One of the exciting characteristics of a food tour is being exposed to food combinations you may not independently try.

This olive and salt cod skewer is not something that Worldtravelmom would’ve reached for in a Barcelona buffet, however, I made a vow to try anything as long as it wasn’t red meat or pork.

The skewer turned out to be a slightly salty and flavorful combination. It was a surprisingly refreshing amuse-bouche.

Third Stop

The second stand that we visited was La Trobada del Gourmet, a stand which specialized in and offered a selection of Spanish and Catalan cheeses. We sampled three of the cheeses there, including Urgelia topped with quince fruit, a balancing combination of salty and sweet.

The smoked cheese, Idiazabal was probably my favorite with the drier Manxec coming in third place.

Fourth Stop on the tour

Name: Oli Sal

Address: Travessera de Gràcia, 170

The fifth stop of our tour landed us at a boutique olive shop, complete with a back-of-the-house tasting room.

Spain is the largest olive oil producing country in the world, with Italy following in second and Greece in third.

Much like a wine or coffee tasting, it’s appropriate to make audible sucking noises in order to aerate the oil and get the flavors circulating through your mouth and nostrils. We novices chose to either dip our pinches of bread or sip the oils gingerly from our spoons.

You quickly learn that you know very little about quality extra virgin olive oil until you’ve gone to a proper tasting. Trust me when I say that along with various notes of spices and herbs, I could taste the soil in these oils.

On the way to our next tasting, we stopped at Placa Rius i Taulet where we peered into a building that housed the costumes and characters of the neighborhood’s annual festival.

We continued to stroll through near-empty narrow streets unfit for trucks or parking. You won’t find as many tourists in Gràcia, a detail that helps it maintain much of its village charm.

Fifth Stop on the tour

Name: l’Anxoveta

Address: Carrer de Sant Domenèc, 16

At l’Anxoveta we made our own pa amb tomàquet (bread and tomato) while enjoying a glass of Penedès wine.

This appetizer was followed by a “bomba” (potato and ground beef croquette with brava sauce) for the red-meat eaters.

I enjoyed a healthy dish of potatas bravas which was spicy and filling.

The owner explained the origins of pa amb tomàquet to us in Catalòn as he sliced through crispy french bread, providing us with a demonstration before leaving us to our own devices. In between sips of beer and wine, we made our own tomato and bread with the understanding that it wouldn’t taste quite the same upon duplicating at home.

Sixth stop on the Devour Barcelona tour

Name: Pastisseria Principe

Address: Carrer de les Guilleries, 10

Not far from Placa del Sol sits Pastisseria Principe, where you will find an array of sweet handmade Syrian pastry. This was one of several stops where I appreciated the benefit of being on a food tour. Our guide shared the story behind the owner, a Syrian gentleman who had traveled to Spain in the early 80’s, fell in love, married within two months of his arrival, and shortly thereafter opened a sweets shop.

The shop is representative of the diversity that you’ll find in Barcelona.

Five minutes away, we walked through yet another one of Gràcia’s small plazas, Placa Virreina. Tranquil and still, it felt as if the few dozens of people sitting down for a cafè were all on vacation or a lazy lunch break.

The church of Sant Joan anchors the Placa Virreina with is weathered face and its black iron doors.

Seventh stop on the tour

Name: Bodega Ca’l Pep

Address: Carrer Verdi, 141

Looking much like what we’d call a dive bar in the city, this eatery was rustic and simple. The barrels where the local Perruchi red vermouth are aged sat against the walls, feet away from our wooden tables.

This vermouth isn’t what we Americans associate with classic vermouth which we use to make Martinis.

This vermouth was more like a wine. Fuet and pickled anchovies accompanied our vermouth, drawing up images for me of older Spanish men sitting table-side, smoking in a plaza, talking loudly of politics and war.

Eighth stop – home stretch

Name: La Botigueta del Bon Menjar

Address: Carrer de Santa Agata, 18-20

The primary sign above the door reads Llegums Cuites Isabel but the name of this shop is La Botigueta del Bon Menjar.

La Botigueta specializes in bean-based dishes and was designed for women who wanted to grab a quick homemade meal when they were too busy or not in the mood to cook for the evening.

First we tried a tasty spoonful of escalivada and romesco “pintxo”. The romesco sauce is a fantastic mix of ground hazelnuts, almonds, pepper, vinegar, garlic, and olive oil coupled with eggplant, roasted red pepper and an olive for garnishment.

I don’t normally opt for savory dishes with ground nuts in them but escalivada was superb. It was packed with protein and rich flavors.

For our second dish, while the majority of the group devoured small plates of homemade meatballs in a bean and pea gravy, I enjoyed a delightfully light spinach dish with chickpeas.

9^th and Final Stop (whew!)

Name: Pastisseria Ideal

Address: Carrer Gran de Gràcia, 207

If I wore buttoned jeans on this tour, they would have been undone by now. Just in time, we wobbled our way into Pastisseria Ideal for a coffee and our final treat, a mini cremat. The pastry was creamy and sweet, reminiscent of dense vanilla pudding on angel food cake.

This last stop was literally the icing on an amazing food tour that provided a tasty glimpse into Catalan cuisine.

If you’d like a gentle introduction to Catalan cuisine, I’d recommend booking a spot on Devour Barcelona Food Tour. At €65, it’s a great value for the money. And as you can see, it can easily be your breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the day.

Special Note for Families: guides will try to make an extra stop to a sweets shop for the kids’ enjoyment. In addition, children under 12 are half-priced.

Thanks to Barcelona Food Tours for inviting me on this journey into the foods and culture of the Catalan region.

May 08 2015

Barcelona State of Mind: Internal Peace On Montserrat

Montserrat means “serrated” or sawed mountain.

Earlier this week I climbed Montserrat in the province of Barcelona, Spain. No easy feat with a weak knee but I believe my sports training physically prepared me for the experience.

Montserrat in physical context

Four years ago, when I committed to run a triathlon I had to learn how to swim. When I learned how to swim I had to learn how to race. When I learned how to race I had to learn mental perseverance.

Getting in the water is only part of the battle. Physical feats aren’t about strength, they’re about mind over matter.

Most women in that first triathlon were better swimmers than me. I’d just learned how to swim months before and here I was jumping head first for a .675 mile swim.

I saw at least a dozen women start and then bail out before my heat even got into the water.

This didn’t bode well for my confidence.

Peace comes from Focus

I practiced pinpoint focus in order to put the thought of the swim, this crazy self-challenge, out of my head.

I centered my thoughts on my swim coach’s advice. “When you get in that lake, don’t look to your left, don’t look to your right, don’t look in the distance at the finish. Look at the water right in front of you, stroke after stroke. Before you know it, you’ll be done.”

So that’s what I did.

Even though my hips and shoulders ached, and my breathing labored, I focused right in front of me. I advanced forward, stroke after stroke, until I was eventually done.

Finishing the swim was an amazing high. I didn’t quit – it was the ultimate reward.

It’s that kind of attitude that led me to believe I could hike the mountain Montserrat, just outside Barcelona.

The challenge of Montserrat

I knew what I was getting into, that with a recovering ACL it was going to be a supreme challenge to walk up the mountain. I accepted the fact that it might even be painful.

But I was searching for something.

Besides wanting to honor my commitment to the trip, first, I was sold on the idea of seeing the sunrise over Montserrat. I never wake up for sunrises when I’m on press trips. I’m always too exhausted.

Second, it’s been so long since I’ve put my body through any rigorous exercise or physical challenges. My surgery was this past December and my accident last August. For obvious reasons I’ve been taking it easy, allowing my body to heal.

I think that that “crazy” gets etched in you after the first time you accomplish an extreme sporting event. And no matter how hurt or out-of-shape you are, you will either a.) come back to it or b.) push your body to its limits.

Third, I crave the adrenaline of personal accomplishment, particularly after crossing a finish line. In fact, I miss it.

Fourth, I felt that the mountain was pulling me towards it. There was something that I needed to find, some conclusion that I needed to come to.

The whole visit to Montserrat was turning into an existential experience.

It was hard for me to stay back and say “no.”

Plans, Visions, and Reality

Our guide Carlos worked with the Montserrat guides to make another plan, where even if I climbed up to the church of Sant Joan where we’d have our hot chocolate and coco (a type of sweet bread they make at Montserrat), I wouldn’t have to walk the stairs on the way down.

The vision of having hot chocolate on a hilltop underneath a sunrise with a Benedictine monk was my big motivation.

Turns out I had created an entire fantasy of a monk serving me hot chocolate from his small hermitage. There were never any plans of a monk meeting us up there. And the hermitages aren’t open unless someone has requested to use them.

I had successfully created this dream by pulling little bits and pieces of our trip together from our itinerary and unsuccessfully translating Catalan conversations between Carlos and the guides.

Needless to say I have an active imagination.

Not only was the monk serving me hot chocolate an illusion, so was the funicular that would bring me back down the mountain. Turns out it’s under maintenance until the end of May, when the high season begins.

Darn it!

So the story (and the reality) goes like this: we walked for four hours starting at the crack of dawn (6:05 am). The sun did not rise in a clear blue sky but rather behind clouds.

That picture-perfect moment that we all had envisioned became something else.

We still got to witness the break of dawn on Montserrat from a hill top. And we still captured beautiful pictures – just under different lighting.

I don’t know how much we hiked in total but we pushed ourselves relentlessly up steep inclines. Silly woman that I am, I was wearing Michael Kors fashion sneakers. NOT what you want to wear ~~walking~~ hiking up Montserrat.

Had I known I’d be hiking, I would’ve packed differently. No complaints though – I survived.

The reward of Montserrat

No doubt, the mountain is a beast, however, the views are unlike anything I have ever seen. Pilgrims, hikers and rock climbers flock to Montserrat for their own sense of accomplishment.

Your first time coming to this mountain you have to dig deep and identify your own internal motivation for pushing forward. Honestly, each degree higher that we climbed, I wanted to turn around and walk in the opposite direction.

However, I chose to continue on because there was some unknown energy pushing me forward.

One thing I realized about myself is that I do not like to quit.

Just like life, as much as things hurt, there is a beginning and an end. And even through the discomfort (my knees were screaming!), there is beauty to be found along the way.

The Beauty of Montserrat

I broke bread with new friends and enjoyed the thickest cup of hot chocolate with absolutely wonderful locals. Our guide Carlos took care of me and carried my camera most of the way.

From a fallen tree limb, he also made a walking stick for me.

I immediately thought of Moses and smiled. I was grateful for my religious upbringing, able to make the analogy.

We saw wild goats roaming on hilltops; spotted hidden caves, erected crosses and silent hermitages on a number of peaks. We traced descending ravines and dried-up streams.

I inhaled the scent of native flowers and touched precious Catalonia oak trees.

Internal peace on the mountain

A butterfly landed on my shoulder on my way down from the mountain, a physical struggle of over 850 steps. I took it as a sign of encouragement and counted quietly to ignore the pain.

We started our journey in the wilderness before nature was fully awake. And we finished it just before the heat could derail us.

As I took that 852nd step and looked back up the mountain from where I came, I exhaled a sigh of relief. Carlos and our guide Sílvia congratulated me.

I propped my walking stick up against a statue that sits at that last (or first) step, readying it for the next person.

I thought of all the pilgrims that sought this mountain over the ages for enlightenment and refuge. If they couldn’t find what they were looking for here I’m not sure where they’d find it.

Montserrat is indeed a majestic place.

As the monk who spoke to us paraphrased from German writer Johann Goethe,”You won’t find your internal peace unless you find your internal Montserrat.”

I visited Montserrat as a guest of the Diputació Barcelona to whom I am grateful for the experience. All opinions expressed are my own.