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 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. ⛵️

Training for the Camino (Pt 1)

Preparing for El Camino de Santiago del Norte
(or lack of preparation)

(If you are new to Coffee, Crafts & Conversation, here is the basis of my recent posts: My next great adventure is beginning on July 10th, 2016 when I'll be flying to Spain for the summer. July & August will be spent with a wonderful family serving as their aupair and the last month I'll be hiking El Camino de Santiago [which is a 500 mile pilgrimage] through the country with a friend.)

El Camino de Santiago del Norte is also known as The Way of St. James - northern route.
In preparation for our 500 mile hike across Spain, Debbie and I got in one good practice hike in addition to the training we've been doing separately, as an indicator of where our endurance is.

Debbie and I @ the beginning of the walk

Feeling strong 1/2 way through!

We wore our hiking shoes and backpacks that were purchased for the trip. Debbie bought a 25L REI Daypack and mine is 40L REI Trail Pack - we were professionally fitted at REI and choose the backpack that was most comfortable. They will only weigh 12-15LBS with minimal supplies, clothing and only one "luxury" item. I haven't decided if my luxury item will be mascara or a light scarf. (I'll post our packing list when it gets closer!)

Practice hike on 6/18/16

We made 12 miles in 3.5 hours stopping for a 30 minute break twice. It was a good pace - one I think we'll be able to maintain for the entire 26 day trip. Our best-case-scenario goal will be to walk 20 miles per day.

We made it!

We came out of the woods looking a little delusional but EXCITED for the trip! The journey is not about getting to the end or reaching the daily goal, the journey is about.. the journey. It's about deepening our friendship with each other, seeking the Lord and hearing from Him along The Way.

I've heard it said that on the Camino 3 things, at the very least, will change from within.

1. You'll be reminded on one thing
2. You'll learn one thing
3. You'll let go of one thing

-----

We'll be walking Camino del Norte (806KM)

T

he Northern Way follows the gorgeous Northern coast of Spain starting in Saint-Jean-Peid-de-Port and going through Bilbao, Laredo, Santander, Gijion and then to Santiago de Compostela which is approximately 500 miles.

"The Camino del Norte starts in the Basque Country, in the chic sea-side city of San Sebastián (Donosti in Basque), a real paradise for foodies: it is in fact in the top 10 cities with highest number of Michelin stars in Europe. The Northern Way follows the coast line for most of the way so you can discover charming fishing villages, swim in beautiful sandy beaches and taste delicious seafood. Feel inspired at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao; stroll by the elegant royal palace in Santander; sample Asturias famous cider; stay in lively seaside towns and admire the natural beauty of the Northern coast of ‘Green Spain’." (http://caminoways.com/ways/northern-way-camino-del-norte)

Pilgrims have been trekking this route or a variation of it for over 1,000 years with anywhere from 100-1,500 starting at different points each day! Some walk it to honor the Apostle James and others in the midst of their own spiritual journey. Along the route are centuries of historic and religious European architecture.

Debbie and I will be starting the day with a devotional based on a book from Tony Stoltzfus called Questions for Jesus. At the end of the daily devotion are 3-4 big questions for Jesus to meditate on during the day.

After all, Matthew & James were disciples of Jesus together and Matthew 7:7 says, 

“Ask, and it will be given to you; 

seek, and you will find; 

knock, and it will be opened to you."

James is talking to early Jewish Christians in James 1:5 when he says,

"If any of you lacks wisdom, 

you should ask God, 

who gives generously to 

all without finding fault, 

and it will be given to you."

Thanks for joining me along The Way!

XOXO,

Abby

Summer Adventure!!

The countdown is ON until July 10th when I leave my family’s business, comfortable home, amazing friends & family, incredible boyfriend and fly off to SPAIN for 3 months.

The trip originated with an inquiry to my friend/mentor Debbie begging for a trip to shake up our lives – we’d been talking about doing a mission trip to Jamaica or Kanya to get a new perspective and appreciation for life. Debbie suggested doing El Camino de Santiago. My eyes watered – I’d always wanted to do a pilgrimage! El Camino de Santiago (also known as The Way of St. James) is most famously known as the route that the disciples of James, the brother of John and disciple of Jesus, carried his body after he was murdered and buried his bones in Santiago where a big cathedral was built in his honor.

The Camino sea shell guides the way

Thousands of pilgrims a year have walked this route - some with the same basis of faith and some without. But everyone finishes a different person. The walk is known to deepen your faith and broaden your perspective.

Debbie & I decided we were going to take 3 weeks, fly to Spain, walk 500 miles and come home as different people. 

*

Out of the blue, a friend of mine posted on facebook that he has a friend in Barcelona that was looking for an AuPair for the summer. On a whim, I sent an email to the family and waited (very impatiently) for a response. They replied, we had a FaceTime interview the next week and after interviewing a few other applicants, they offered me the job the following week.

The deal is, I’ll fly to Barcelona on July 10^th and we’ll spend the weekdays in the city and the weekends at their summer home in Cadaques in September and then in August we’ll be going full-time to the summer home on the Mediterranean Sea in Caqaques.

Cadaques, Spain

Debbie will fly in on September 11th and we’ll head to Saint-Jean-Peid-de-Port, Spain in order to begin our 500 mile walk to Santiago along the northern coast of the country. Along the route, we’ll stay in hostiles, eat with locals and walk 12-20 miles a day through the Pyrenees Mountains. We are prepared for blisters, scraps, lost toe nails, laughter, tears, good food, uncomfortable beds, new friends, and most importantly, we’re prepare to hear from God along The Way.

The Northern Route on El Camino de Santiago

Pilgrims trekking through the Pyrenees Mountains

Please join me along the way – each vulnerable, precious moment of the journey.

XOXO,

Abby