Montserrat and La Morena
"Rosa de abril, morena de la sierra..."
After having been so close to Montserrat just the weekend before, Oriol told me to pack my bag and prepare myself, we were heading to Montserrat so I could finally see the grandness of the very strange mountain and its monastery and legend. We were happily accompanied by Gisela, Alfred, Pau, Ilari, David and none other than Mollie, the mountain dog. The day was perfect for walking up a mossy trail, with fog, old stones and tiles depicting the different saints of Catalunya.
Once we got to the top, we were welcomed by a very touristy but lovely monastery with fog licking the tip of the oddly shaped mountain, one of a kind in the region, and fairly new buildings, relatively speaking, that housed the infamous Patron saint of Catlunya, La Morena.
Legend has it that one day long ago, two shepherds were walking the mountain when they came across a cave which housed the small wooden statue of the saint. Ordered by the bishop, they began to carry the wooden statue down the mountain, but with each step,they found it heavier and heavier to carry, finally leaving it in a small "ermita" until they built her current home. The reason, they say, that she is black is the candles that they found surrounding her that had burnished her, only making her even more unique.
Gisela was set on visiting her, until she realized the line was horribly long. In the meantime, I made my way around the church and the countless of people with the same idea. Although it was chaotic and a bit stressful, I found that watching the people light their candles, make their wishes and believe in something was inspiring and relaxing. Belief, legend, faith, whatever it is, is enough to help someone dream and overcome whatever they need to overcome and perhaps that in itself is enough to appreciate the day, life and all its mysteries.
Just looking at the rocks makes you wonder how a masterpiece like this came about and whether one believes in magic or the simple explanation of cause and effect, they are there and they are unique.
Even Mollie took time out with Oriol to do a little reflection and to either wonder about when on earth we were going to feed her again or perhaps actually marvelling at the fog as it slowly made its way out and gave us a view of the mountains and their phallic tips...
We all finally gathered up again and our offering was a handmade bouquet by Alfred, two coffees almost finished and us with everything to give and live.
After having been so close to Montserrat just the weekend before, Oriol told me to pack my bag and prepare myself, we were heading to Montserrat so I could finally see the grandness of the very strange mountain and its monastery and legend. We were happily accompanied by Gisela, Alfred, Pau, Ilari, David and none other than Mollie, the mountain dog. The day was perfect for walking up a mossy trail, with fog, old stones and tiles depicting the different saints of Catalunya.
Once we got to the top, we were welcomed by a very touristy but lovely monastery with fog licking the tip of the oddly shaped mountain, one of a kind in the region, and fairly new buildings, relatively speaking, that housed the infamous Patron saint of Catlunya, La Morena.
Legend has it that one day long ago, two shepherds were walking the mountain when they came across a cave which housed the small wooden statue of the saint. Ordered by the bishop, they began to carry the wooden statue down the mountain, but with each step,they found it heavier and heavier to carry, finally leaving it in a small "ermita" until they built her current home. The reason, they say, that she is black is the candles that they found surrounding her that had burnished her, only making her even more unique.
Gisela was set on visiting her, until she realized the line was horribly long. In the meantime, I made my way around the church and the countless of people with the same idea. Although it was chaotic and a bit stressful, I found that watching the people light their candles, make their wishes and believe in something was inspiring and relaxing. Belief, legend, faith, whatever it is, is enough to help someone dream and overcome whatever they need to overcome and perhaps that in itself is enough to appreciate the day, life and all its mysteries.
Just looking at the rocks makes you wonder how a masterpiece like this came about and whether one believes in magic or the simple explanation of cause and effect, they are there and they are unique.
Even Mollie took time out with Oriol to do a little reflection and to either wonder about when on earth we were going to feed her again or perhaps actually marvelling at the fog as it slowly made its way out and gave us a view of the mountains and their phallic tips...
We all finally gathered up again and our offering was a handmade bouquet by Alfred, two coffees almost finished and us with everything to give and live.
posted by Heidi Schmidt at 8:33 PM
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