Spain || Week Three

Monday, July 25th

Adventure of the day: It was a relaxing day after getting in late from spending the weekend in Cadaques. Marta and I rode bikes into town, went to a craft store and spent time at our favorite cafe reading and doing homework.

Tuesday, July 26th

Adventure of the day: Mount Montserrat! In Montserrat, nature, spirituality and culture join together to provide a transcendent visit. According to legend, originally a cave with holy artifacts, sculptures & drawings was miraculously discovered by shepherds over 1,000 years ago. Since then, this site has grown into a Monastery that still houses 60 monks who run the facility in addition to their regular duties of prayer and service. The amount of hand carved, gold plated, hand painted detail and mosaic floors inside the basilica is incredible!"The pilgrim who walks up the mountain to the sanctuary, the stranger who discovers it's beauty and spirituality for the first time, the worshipper who makes an offering to the patron saint, the guest who finds the longed-for retreat.. All visitors will find in Montserrat an outstanding site where the geographical formations encourage us to give free reign to our imaginations, where the holiness of the sanctuary fosters devotion, where culture finds sublime expression."

Overlooking the Monastery

Wednesday, July 27th

Adventure of the day: taking a 5 hour bus tour of all the AMAZING landmarks worth seeing in Barcelona. There are so many pictures and coordinating historical stories to share... But the favorite of my eyes today: Palau Nacional & the fountains. The Palace was built around 1900 and is now home to the National Art Museum of Catalonia.

Palace & Fountains

Palace

La Familia by Guadi

Whole bus to myself #flyingsolo

Thursday, July 28th

Adventure of the day: Farris Wheel Ride on top of the mountain overlooking Barcelona

Tibidabo Basilica 

Tibidabo Basilica

Mirror on the roof of our ride

Friday, July 29th

Adventure of the day: Aquarium! Albert was concerned why anyone would want to swim with sharks - so I explained to him what adrenalin was and how crazy people (like me) LOVE doing dangerous things. #teachablemoment? Heading to Cadaques for the next 3 weeks!

Saturday, July 30th

Adventure of the day: Octopus Fishing. Well, Jorge did the fishing - I only held it. 

Sunday, July 31st

Adventure of the day: kaiaking! ...I can't get over the view of the city. Pictures can't capture the magic of this village ❤️

after a light rain, God showed us His most beautiful promise

Sunday Night Sunset

_____________

XOXO,

Abby

Spain || Week Two

Monday, July 18th

Adventure of the day: baking muffins with the kids, building a castle fort, cooking lunch for Mama and shopping in town. One thing I learned in the City Center today, body language does not need to be interpreted. 

Makeup free. Sea-salty hair. Gap cap.

Tuesday, July 19th

Adventure of the day: hiking 4 miles with Marta & Albert and taking a slight (2.5 mile) detour... Tonight, I went to the Barcelona History Museum. The museum brings you underground where they have excavated an entire town with artifacts dating back to 15BC. It was incredible!

At the History Museum, located in the Gothic District, I learned that some of the first humans settled in this area - they have artifacts from 4,000+ BC. 

Monestir de Montserrat

Wednesday, July 20th

Adventure of the day: Pajama Pamper Party with Marta while Albert was at a doctors appointment and then attending the mid-week church service overlooking the most beautiful mountain range! 

Thursday, July 21st

Adventure of the day: falling in love. His name is GAUDI and he was an architect, painter, sculptor, creator, innovator, philanthropist and proud Catalan. The kids and I spent a few hours at the Gaudi Museum and a new friend took me on a walking tour of Guadi's Art throughout the city. We ended the tour by climbing to the top of the 2nd highest peak for the best view of the city lit by the sun setting. 

Unfinished Church by Guadi

Two Guadi Buildings in Barcelona

Friday, July 22nd

Adventure of the day: taking the Telefèric de Montjuïc (cable car) to the top of a mountain overlooking the sea with beautiful panoramic views of the city. At the top of the mountain is a Fortress built in the 11th century that was upgraded to a castle around 1700AD. 

Castle/Fortress

So excited for our cable car ride!

Saturday, July 23rd

Adventure of the day: Exploring Cadaques and hearing so clearly from God! This village is paradise ❤️

Playing in the Mediterranean Sea

Sunday, July 24th

Adventure of the day: admiring Marta play violin in the village while the sun set & assisting Albert sell lemonade! 

"Paradise"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This week I had a couple of really remarkable moments and had the opportunity to pray for two different strangers! To be across the world and in just the right spot for God to move is an incredible experience. Isolation and being out-of-routine is exactly what the doctor ordered to refocus my mind and life. #sograteful

much love!

Abby

Spain || Week One

Wednesday, July 13th

Adventure of the day: getting lost in the streets of Barcelona and ending up in front of the Cathedral.

Marta, Albert and I ventured into Barcelona on our own today which take about 20 minutes by train. We got off in the center of the city and started walking toward what we thought was the Museum of Ideas and Inventions. We walked 20 minutes in the wrong direction before we stopped and asked for help. With the guidance of a handful of helpful natives and Marta's interpreting, we made it past the Cathedral to the museum behind it. 

Thursday, July 14th

Adventure of the day: biking to San Cugat City Center, admiring the Monastery, eating ice cream and drinking espresso with Marta. [Thank you, Brice, for the American Eagle backpack!]

Albert had piano class today so Marta and I took bikes to the Sant Cugat City Center which is centered on a Monastery that was built in the 6th Century. Marta and I found a cozy cafe and read for a while before heading back home by bike.

 Friday, July 15th

Adventure of the day: going to an art store in Sant Cugart with Marta and then getting an amazing coffee. Also, taking the train to Barcelona and wondering the streets all by myseeeelf! [I did miss my stop on the way home but for a girl who has never used public transportation.. This is a big feat!!]

In the afternoon, I was some time to myself and decided to head into Barcelona and do touristy things - took pictures of every building, admired the sea and the sail boats, watched street performers with awe and popped in and out of shops. There is so much history and art around every corner!

Saturday, July 16th

Adventure of the day: going to the BEST market in Barcelona called La Boqueria. We purchased fresh fish (which had been swimming in the Mediterranean yesterday), veggies, fruit, beans and, of course, an espresso. 

I learned the ins and outs of buying from this type of market - I completely underestimated the price we've paid to replace this experience with convenience. 
Jorge, the kid's dad, took Marta and I to the biggest market in Barcelona this morning. He pointed out the different shops and types of food available. Afterwards, we went to meet Albert and his mom, Anna, for a piano recital. 

Sunday, July 27th

Adventure of the day: venturing into Barcelona for church in the morning, beach in the afternoon, and then traditional Spanish dinner with extended family.

It was an hour commute and 7,000 steps, but I made my way to International Church in Barcelona for a 10AM service. I got a little teary eyed toward the end of the service feeling like I have a community to belong to in Spain! I had been speaking to Brice about feeling all alone so I'm hoping to make some connections here. ICB is a lot like Passion Church with enthusiastically welcoming atmosphere, great worship and an inspiring message. In the bottom picture, it's the Mediterranean Sea on the left, the city of Barcelona in the background and a sailboat port to the right. ⛵️