Temps de Flors

Temps de Flors is a very popular festival here in Girona.

Basically it is different types of art forms using flowers or objects that mimic flowers.

Everything is done in an abstract way, making it much more fun!

Girona is an absolute tourist disaster due to this festival.

Our neighborhood is stuffed with people and it takes twice as long to get anywhere.

Nicole and I have been doing the rounds early in the morning (well, early for the Catalans).

We drop Eston at school and then walk around town to see the displays.

This is the display on our block...

Dyed cauliflower...

At the Cathedral...

Lumps of clay...

This one is Eston's favorite...the spider web...

We always check out a few displays on our walk home from school.

Eston is very respectful and observes everything very carefully.

I love it.

Here he is yesterday:

Montserrat

 Okay, now the photos of Montserrat.

We headed up there yesterday after another marvelous cooking class.

It made for a long day (left Girona at 9:30am and did not return until 8pm).

I am trying to fit in all of these things before the baby is born!

Blurb from the website:

Santa Maria de Montserrat is the name of the Benedictine Monastery. One interesting fact about the monastery is that it is home to the world’s oldest continuing press—its first book was published in 1499. Santa Maria de Montserrat is also a significant religious retreat. Many travelers visit Santa Maria de Montserrat to listen to the famous boys’ choir, one of the oldest choirs in Europe.

Montserrat Mountain translates as “serrated mountain,” which is a reference to its jagged formation. Located more than 4,000 feet above sea level, Montserrat Barcelona offers spectacular hikes and views. 

It is believed by some that Virgin Mary visited the Holy Grotto of the monastery. Another popular story tells how the site for the Holy Grotto was chosen. The story goes that during the year 880, a group of shepherd children saw a bright light in the Montserrat mountains. At the same time, the children saw angels and heard beautiful singing. After the children told their parents, the parents also experienced the same phenomenon and interpreted it as a sign from God. Visitors today can walk to the Holy Grotto to see for themselves where this story was supposed to have taken place.

 We parked at the bottom of the hill and took the train up the mountain...quite an experience!

 We then took the funiculars to two different sites on top of the mountain...

It was a super interesting experience and I would like to return to really explore the trails, so maybe once the baby is born I can return and do a longer hike!

Rupit

Rory leaves for Gran Canaria tomorrow and he had a rest day today, so I talked him into a short little excursion to the village of Rupit.

I could not find much information about Rupit, though I read that several noble families settled here in 968.  The houses are built into the cliffside and the roads are made from natural stone, so it is really striking.

There is an old swinging bridge that takes you to the village, so we crossed over the frozen river and explored the tiny village.

Yes, frozen river.

Did I forget to mention that it began to lightly snow as we parked the car?

Rupit is at a higher elevation and it was very cold today.

Eating my sandwich as we cross the bridge...

we had intended to have a bit of a picnic, but the flurries prevented that from happening!

 In the summer people flock to Rupit for the river and cooler temperatures, but I am fairly certain we were the only tourists in town today!

Here is one of the limestone streets...

 You can see a bit of snow sprinkled on the trees...

 The houses are built into the cliffs and it is truly incredible to see how they have just molded everything together...

 This is the inside of the Saint Miguel church.

It was built in the 13th century as the population of Rupit was increasing.

Well, this was as far as we could get, hence the reflection in the photo.

The dome was added sometime in the 16th or 17th centuries (could not find an exact date).

 I know it sounds tacky, but this house reminded me of something one would see at Disneyland...

 Way back when, the apothecary (pharmacist/chemist) was considered to be one of the most prestigious people in town.

Esteve Beguerie was the apothecary in Rupit and he had the following Latin phrase inscribed in stone in 1688:

"God, of the earth, created the medicines and the wise man will not get sick of them."

 The trees with their light dusting of snow!

 And the sun comes out as we drive down into the valley...