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Thursday, November 4, 2010

Amazing skies of Montserrat Monastery in Spain

Looking down, as we walk toward the cathedral, we see clouds with the sun above.

Brilliant blue skies over the beautiful monastery of Montserrat.

Distant mountains hidden by clouds, with blue sky above them.

Driving down from the monastery, re-entering the clouds.
Following our Spain-Portugal-Canary Islands cruise with Royal Caribbean, we took advantage of a shore excursion the ship offered to the beautiful monastery in the midst of Parc Natural de la Muntanya de Montserrat. (If you don't recognize the language as Spanish, French or English, it is Catalan, the second official language of Catalunya.) About an hour from the Barcelona Airport (El Prat de Llobregat), high in the foothills of the Pyrenees, is an abbey and a boys' school. It is an amazing and fascinating place, surrounded by rounded cliffs of bare pink conglomerate sedimentary rock. The Benedictine abbey is located on one of the ledges of Mount Montserrat, and is the home of Santa Marie de Montserrat, the black Madonna and child. Catalans to this day believe the Madonna possesses spiritual powers and that the wooden statue was carved by Luke in Jerusalem and brought to Spain by Peter. The complex, which was under construction from the 11th to the 15th century, contains the monastery, a library, a cathedral and an art museum with works by El Greco, Picasso and Dali.

Photos by Richard Schear and Kay Davies

Posted by Kay for the Skywatch Friday meme.

32 comments:

Sylvia K said...

Stunning, gorgeous captures as always, Kay! I do love the first one, but the vivid blue skies in the second one blew my mind! I remember lots of blue skies like that from when I lived in Spain and visited in Portugal! Love driving through the clouds, too! Hope you have a wonderful weekend! Enjoy!

Sylvia

LifeRamblings said...

absolutely gorgeous. love the different textures in the sky.

Lesley said...

Oh, this is breathtaking!

clairz said...

What an amazing place. These photos are beautiful, thank you for sharing them. It's always so nice to visit your blog!

Beverley Baird said...

These photos are gorgeous Kay! What a fabulous tour that must have been! I've never been there but looks like a great place to visit!

Powell River Books said...

Those are really impressive rock formations around the monastery. I love the earthy colours. - Margy

The Chair Speaks said...

Absolutely beautiful and serene.

Ebie said...

Hi Kay, beautiful pictures! There is something magical, mystical, and misty in the first shot!


I want to visit the places where you visited...

Anonymous said...

Wow wow wow! Those shots are amazing!

Kay L. Davies said...

@ ladyfi -- Thank you so much, but we could only photograph what was there. The scenery was amazing, not us.
-- Kay and Dick

Unknown said...

oh my gosh, these are absolutely beautiful! the first photo is breathtaking. couldn't stop looking at these photos.

Rajesh said...

Beautiful place for monastery. The images are awesome.

Kay said...

Wow! That is really, really gorgeous! What a beautiful monastery. You had such a glorious day to enjoy all that magnificence.

Mr Puddy said...

Amazing Place !

eileeninmd said...

Looks like a gorgeous place to visit, Kay! The cruises from Spain sounds very nice.

Reader Wil said...

Thank you for this interesting virtual trip. Your photos are impressive! Especially the first one is far beyond my comprehension. How could such a view appear! In my country everything is flat and low and not breathtaking like this.Spain is also beautiful.

Cezar and Léia said...

Awesome pictures Kay, congratulations!
The first shot, with the glorious sky is something very special, brings so lovely energies to my heart, thanks dear friend.I would love to visit this Monastery, how special place!Lucky you!
Léia

EG CameraGirl said...

Hmmm. Looks like a place I would love to visit!

Judy said...

Kay, these are beautiful!! I cannot decide whether the first or the last is my favourite shot, and I spent a long time scrolling between the two! Sigh! I will just have to look again!

Anonymous said...

Aloha, Kay. I spent 3 months in England, France, Switzerland, Italy, and Germany -- but never stepped foot in Portugal or Spain. Your pictures make me want to go.

Unknown said...

Wow! Amazing sites. Need to add that to my list of places to see. Thanks for visiting my blog.

Mara said...

Beautiful photos. I would have loved to see it with you.

Gattina said...

Strange and beautiful pictures ! especially the first one !

Dimple said...

Dramatic pictures. The different points of view give a complete picture of the environment of the monastery. I like the last one best because the clouds frame the monastery so well.

Susan at Stony River said...

Such a beautiful place -- but the clouds in these shots seem SO perfect for it! Congratulations on capturing such beauty, I loved every photo.

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

Those pinnacles behind the monastery looks like humans.

Francisca said...

Kay, what a lovely surprise that must have been to come up through the clouds and find this glorious place. The monastery is gorgeous architecture, and the skies and views you and Dick captured are stunning.

[I added a PS to my bridge reflection photo today: I realized I had forgotten to mention that the lights flash and rotate colours and that is why I had dubbed it Rainbow Bridge. My photo shows only the blue. Silly me! :-D]

Mª Zélia said...

Querida Kay, sua generosidade vai além... Ver magníficas imagens deixa-nos inertes e sem fôlego, elas têm o poder de despertar sentimentos lindos!
Uma feliz semana!

Verna Luga said...

HI Kay. After so much heartaches I've felt.. I feel so relieved seeing your photos... they are awesome ... thanks for always checking on my blog... all the best.

Linnea said...

Wow! Those scenes and views are unreal. What fabulous weather you had for visiting and photographing. Thanks for stopping by at mine. Enjoy the day...

Johnny Nutcase said...

beautiful clouds! what a gorgeous, peaceful spot!

Unknown said...

This place is gorgeous and you captured some amazing skies. Great photos!