The Inaugural Vista's Official Trippingpara Mayhem in the Mediterranean Review

[trippingpara]

Obviously, the main site here is the monastery perched on top of the jagged mountaintop. Our guide, a cute Irish lass walked us around explaining everything about the monastery. It was funny to hear her speak Spanish or Catalan to others with an Irish brogue. She had wanted to study Spanish so what better way then to pack up your bags and move to Spain!

 

Any ways the monastery, Santa Maria de Montserrat, is a Benedictine abbey notable for enshrining the statute of the Virgin of Montserrat (the Black Virgin) which is Catalonia's favorite saint. The Escolania, Montserrat’s Boys’ Choir, is one of the oldest in Europe, and performs during religious ceremonies and communal prayers in the basilica.

 

Well, enough of my blabbering on, here are some shots of the impressive monastery and its grounds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's a train that goes to the very top and is like a 75% grade up!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[lovelearnteach]

Very nice review and awesome pix, thank-you so much for sharing your vacation!

[trippingpara]

Very nice review and awesome pix, thank-you so much for sharing your vacation!

 

 

You're very welcome and thank you so much for such kind words, I appreciate it!

[trippingpara]

Here are some photos around the buildings of the monastery...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[trippingpara]

We were able to go into the actual basilica but since there was mass going on, we were not able to take any photographs (sorry, there were no accidental malfunctions of my camera at that time). The famous Montserrat’s Boys’ Choir, the Escolania were there performing as they always do during services. Very impressive. Wish we could have seen their regular full concert. That would have been awesome! The basilica was standing room only for the mass so we had to quietly step in for a few minutes and then exit back out.

 

Afterwards, we were given some free time to walk around, shop or hike. We decided to hike to a giant cross statue that was mounted across the valley. It afforded a great view of the entire valley floor as well as the monastery itself. It was a healthy hike upgrade through a beautiful alpine forest that suddenly broke open right at the cross statue. Wow!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[sjn911]

I have been saving this review for a dreaming Sunday. Thank you so very much. Diet, health work and working work are all being inspired by the Med cruise dreams that are more and more possible with a new ship and Carnival and those that write these reviews.. Thank you so much.

[jimbo5544]

 

We were able to go into the actual basilica but since there was mass going on, we were not able to take any photographs (sorry, there were no accidental malfunctions of my camera at that time). The famous Montserrat’s Boys’ Choir, the Escolania were there performing as they always do during services. Very impressive. Wish we could have seen their regular full concert. That would have been awesome! The basilica was standing room only for the mass so we had to quietly step in for a few minutes and then exit back out.

 

 

 

Afterwards, we were given some free time to walk around, shop or hike. We decided to hike to a giant cross statue that was mounted across the valley. It afforded a great view of the entire valley floor as well as the monastery itself. It was a healthy hike upgrade through a beautiful alpine forest that suddenly broke open right at the cross statue. Wow!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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We did Montserrat on our last med cruise. While getting there was very interesting, is was spectacular. Your review is fantastic! Thanks for doing it. I know it's a lot of work, but you should be proud of the results. Thanks!

Edited August 22, 2016 by jimbo5544

[trippingpara]

Jimbo, thank you very much for such kind words! You did a great job on yours as well. I love to read other people's reviews to see how their experiences compared to ours. We loved Montserrat! The views from up there were mind boggling!

[trippingpara]

I have been saving this review for a dreaming Sunday. Thank you so very much. Diet, health work and working work are all being inspired by the Med cruise dreams that are more and more possible with a new ship and Carnival and those that write these reviews.. Thank you so much.

 

 

I'm so glad that you've enjoyed my review! Med cruises are very special and so worth it! It was quite the transition from our normal Caribbean cruises. If a Med cruise isn't on your bucket list, you really need to consider adding it!! We're already looking at the Horizon and anxious to see where she's going to be sailing on her first season.

[Shih-tzu]

Disappointed that you're camera wasn't working during the Nun Run :-( Looking at that train that was on the 75% grade....reminds me of a roller coaster first glance... What am I supposed to read once this review is done:confused:

[cavcmy]

.... ours. We loved Montserrat! The views from up there were mind boggling!

 

Love love love your review and pics! I will be in withdrawal when it's over. From a purely selfish standpoint, can you tell me which side of the van to sit on to get the best of the best views? Thanks much.

 

Carley

[trippingpara]

Disappointed that you're camera wasn't working during the Nun Run :-( Looking at that train that was on the 75% grade....reminds me of a roller coaster first glance... What am I supposed to read once this review is done:confused:

 

Luckily for me (as the photographer and post graphical editor), the camera did work properly, otherwise I would have been exposed (both literally and figuratively) to FAR more than I really wanted to be. Now I like to try and immerse myself into the local culture as much as possible, but seeing the local's junk was just a wee bit too immersive! (see what I did there..."junk" and "wee bit" - man I crack myself up sometimes!!)

 

Now luckily for you, there are a plethora of fantastic reviewers on CC, so I'm quite sure you will be able to find another review to hold your interest. At least until next year when I get to write about your area (which you will probably then hate me as I will undoubtedly pick on the locals for saying "eh" all the time...oh wait, I already do that!) Never mind then, hate away!

[trippingpara]

Love love love your review and pics! I will be in withdrawal when it's over. From a purely selfish standpoint, can you tell me which side of the van to sit on to get the best of the best views? Thanks much.

 

Carley

 

Carley,

Thank you so much for leaving me such a glowing comment!! I really appreciate that. There are a couple ways up the mountain so I suppose it would depend on which route you took. However, I believe that we took the standard or normal route from Barcelona so it will probably be the same route you might take. In that case, I would recommend sitting on the left side of the van as the majority of the route up had the views on the left side while the right side faced the mountain walls. I hope this helps!

Cheers,

Trip

[trippingpara]

A few more shots from our hike to the cross statue...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After our hike, we entered a small deli and grabbed a prosciutto panini and a soda. We wolfed that down and did some quick shopping. There was also a small market of vendors selling local cheeses and candies which were outstanding!!! But alas, our time here at Montserrat was coming to an end. But have no fear...it was now time to experience Cava!

 

 

 

Coming up...Cava winery tour and tasting...YUM!!!

 

 

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Edited August 26, 2016 by trippingpara

[thecakebox]

Which apartments did you stay at in Barcelona? We are on this cruise oct 1 and I'm always looking to see if I could have picked a better hotel :)

[cavcmy]

Carley,

Thank you so much for leaving me such a glowing comment!! I really appreciate that. There are a couple ways up the mountain so I suppose it would depend on which route you took. However, I believe that we took the standard or normal route from Barcelona so it will probably be the same route you might take. In that case, I would recommend sitting on the left side of the van as the majority of the route up had the views on the left side while the right side faced the mountain walls. I hope this helps!

Cheers,

Trip

 

The left side it is! Thank you for sharing this info. Appreciate you.

 

Carley

[trippingpara]

Which apartments did you stay at in Barcelona? We are on this cruise oct 1 and I'm always looking to see if I could have picked a better hotel :)

 

We stayed at the Ramblas 102 Apartments.

[trippingpara]

The left side it is! Thank you for sharing this info. Appreciate you.

 

Carley

 

 

You are very welcome!!

[trippingpara]

We drove down from the mountain and headed deeper into the Penedès region of Catalonia. This is the heart of the cava wine producing area of Spain. By law, cava wine can only be produced there. Much like champagne can only be produced in Champagne, France (everything else is sparkling wine). Cava is very similar to champagne as it too, is a sparkling wine. However, it tastes very different (at least to me - which is all that really matters! Glad to see you agree with me).

 

Our destination today was the small, private winery of Art Cava. It's a family owned and operated winery that produces both white and rosé cava. As we pulled up, we had to wait for another tour group that was en route. We headed inside to wait for them outside of the bright Catalonia sun. Here are some photos as we waited at the winery.

 

 

 

Lady Trip couldn't wait to get the taste testing started!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Edited August 27, 2016 by trippingpara

[trippingpara]

The other tour group finally arrived and we were then led outside to see the actual vineyard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The flag for Catalonia's freedom - there is a large fight going on (a peaceful one) for Catalonia to break away from Spain to become its own country. You could see these flags flying everywhere throughout Barcelona and the surrounding region.

 

 

 

Our host at the winery

 

 

 

An ancient olive tree still thriving in the courtyard of the family's home

 

 

 

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[trippingpara]

After touring the actual vineyard and learning about how they saved the cava industry by learning how to graft the roots of American grapes to the stems of the Spanish grapes, we went to tour the family's house and their wine operations. If you're wondering why they grafted American grapes onto their local grapes it is because the American grapes are resistant to a disease in the soil that ravages the local crops.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now THAT'S a wine cellar!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[trippingpara]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[trippingpara]

Sorry for the delay here. We were visiting Trippette down in Virginia Beach and enjoying the blasting of Tropical Storm Hermine. I walked across the beach during the height of the storm to get some pictures (I know, surprising huh?). It was like walking into a sandblaster. Ouch!! Anyways, I apologize for my delay in writing on here. Let's see if I can wrap this puppy up and put her to bed. Thanks for everyone's patience (if anyone is even left reading!)

[trippingpara]

As seen in the previous pictures, we got a tour of their winery operations as well as some taste testing of their cavas. I'm not the biggest wine drinker in the world, but holy crap that was some good cava! We all got several glasses of cava and even a few refills. By the time we got ready to head back to Barcelona, everyone was pretty happy if you know what I mean!

 

It was quite a talkative group on our way back to the city. Once we arrived in Barcelona, the bus went one by one to again drop everyone off at their hotel/apartment. The Rosesgts and us were the last to be dropped off so we decided to get off the bus together and hang out some more. We strolled along Las Ramblas enjoying the sites and each others' company. We walked back to the Rosesgts' hotel which happened to be at Hotel Gaudí which sat right across the street from Palau Güell.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was the view of Palau Güell from their balcony

 

 

 

We then decided to head back out to Las Ramblas for dinner. We stopped at a nice restaurant in Plaça Reial. I believe the restaurant was called Rossini. I wish I could remember what we had. Whatever it was, it was delicious!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I just couldn't end my review without a little dash of food porn!

 

 

 

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[trippingpara]

When we arrived back at our apartment, we weren't quite ready to hit the sack. This was going to be our last night in Barcelona and we wanted to enjoy some more of it and soak as much in as we could. So we decided to head back out and enjoy some more of Las Ramblas and the Barri Gòtic area of Barcelona. This is the center of the old city of Barcelona and dates back to the Roman settlement of Barcelona.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We finally gave up and called it a night. We made our way back to our apartment and had a quick nightcap out on our terrace. Its hard to believe that our awesome Med cruise has finally come to an end!

 

 

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Edited September 5, 2016 by trippingpara