saltwatersteve.com/travel

Today we went to Montserrat, a monestary that was built where an image of the Virgin Mary was seen on rock. Hiked around a bit but when a scout group arrived to do some rock climbing, we got out of there. They took out a rock drill and started drilling the rock right next to the saint shrine! Went up to see the monastery where the main sanctuary is overlooked by the Black Mary, built where the vision was seen on the rock. Had a picnic lunch at the playground w/ the difficult climbing wall w/ no top out, and took the gondola back down to catch the train home. We went to the place d’Espanya where they have light shows at night, then went near Sagrada Familia to Xiqui Park for Ben’s friend’s bday party. Insanity. Kids shooting each other w/ air powered nerf ball guns. Alex, Meghan and I walked to the seafront where along the way we saw a bullfight arena, kids playing soccer, and kids doing fireworks. Near the seafront they built all the Olympics stuff. Walked south towards where La Rambla meets the sea at the port area. Wandered around some of these neighborhoods and found a packed seafood tapas restaurant where we were introduced to bombas - potatoes, meat, etc, rolled into a ball, w/ sauce on it. Alex suggested we get buta and mussels con salsa, which were amazing. He told us about how Benjamin was eating some meat now and how all the locals think he’s so cute. Apparently, he’s taking advantage of it since he knows Catalan (that’s what he speaks in school). He’ll regularly ask people if they’ll ‘lend’ him some candy, and old women will pinch his cheeks. After eating, we went around the docks and saw the statue of Christopher Colombus. Wandered back up La Rambla and saw a street performer dressed in a gorilla suit scaring the crap out of girls walking by - funny stuff. Stopped at a cafe for ice cream - mora was great. Walked all the way back up to the hotel and made plans w/ Alex for Sunday’s early start.