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Susan Withenshaw

Joined September 2016 Message
  • Susan WithenshawBarcelona Bound 2017
    Day38

    Coming Home

     November 4, 2017 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C

    Today we say good-bye to Barcelona. I have really enjoyed the sites and the weather here. Definately on the return list.

    We checked through security and were greeted with these faces. How did you enjoy your experience?

    Once again I have added stamps to my passport and seen another corner of the world thanks to the Best Guy ever. Thanks Babe for letting me hop into your suitcase so to speak.

    We grabbed an early bite at McDonald's and look what beverage you can purchase with your meal

    I hope everyone has enjoyed travelling along as much as we enjoyed showing you the sites. 129,726, more steps around the world

    Until we travel again
    Cheers    Read more

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  • Susan WithenshawBarcelona Bound 2017
    Day37

    Day 6 - The Bacilica

     November 3, 2017 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    Today is All Saints day so there was Mass in the Bacilica and we were not able to spend a great deal of time there. We did go in and observe for few moments. From the back of the nave we could see the line of people passing by the Black Madonna.

    The Black Madonna is sometimes referred to by other names including "the Virgin of Montserrat" and "La Moreneta" the statue sits behind a sheet of glass. However, one of her hands that is holding a sphere is not behind the glass. It is tradition for you to kiss or touch the Virgin's hand whilst opening out your othrr to Jesus.

    The Black Madonna was believed to have been carved in Jerusalem at the beginning of the religion. It is a wooden sculpture. It is one of the most famous Black Madonna statues in the world. In 1844 Pope Leo XIII declared the Virgin of Montserrat the patroness of Catalonia

    Here are the few shots I was able to take    Read more

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  • Susan WithenshawBarcelona Bound 2017
    Day37

    Day 7 - Last Night Out

     November 3, 2017, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    We have enjoyed good food and drink here, but saved the best for last. Our meal was traditional Palletta, Spanish wine and of course chocolate. After dinner we enjoyed digestive of Lemonchello and home made Grape. Best night we've had

    We end this day with 22,983 steps, some a little slower than others, but we're on holidays.

    Tomorrow we rise at 4:30, yes that's AM to catch our flights home. We fly to Munich then on to Toronto. Bryan thought we should just stay awake until 4:30 then go to the airport so we could sleep on the way home. I think that was the Grape talking.    Read more

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  • Susan WithenshawBarcelona Bound 2017
    Day37

    Day 6 - Montserrat Monestary

     November 3, 2017 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    We were up early and on the bus for an hour ride to the Monestary.

    Montserrat is a multi-peaked rocky range with an elevaton of 1,236 m near Barcelona. This is the home of the Santa Maria de Montserrat Benedictine Monestary. The mountain Montserrat has been of religious significance since pre-christian time. Before Christ a temple to worship Venus was built by the Romans. In the first written mention of 880 AD the adoption of the construction by the first monestary was reported. They were hermit monks who built various hermitages on the Montserrat. The monestary was founded by expanding the hermitage of Santa Maria in 1025

    At the beginning of the 19rh century the Abby was twice burned down and sacked by Napoleon' s troops, in 1811 and 1812, and many of its treasures were lost. In 1835 the Abby was closed until restoration in 1844.

    In 1880 Montserrat celebrated 1000 years of existence and on Sep 11, 1881, to coincide with the Catalan national day where Pope Leo XIII proclaimed the Virgin of Montserrat patron of Catalonia. This makes this officially the oldest building I have been in at 1137 years.

    This is still a functioning monestary with 70 practicing monks. The monestary also houses a boys school for young men to the age of 14. The Escolania, the boys choir, is one of the oldest in Europe and performs during religious ceremonies and communal prayers in the Bacilica.    Read more

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  • Susan WithenshawBarcelona Bound 2017
    Day37

    Day 5 - Ending the Day

     November 3, 2017 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    After a day of exploring we strolled La Ramble. Lots to keep you busy here. Shops, food and drink. I finished the day with 15,786 steps and I think my noise has finally stopped running.

    We are off to Montserrat Monestary and the wine tour tomorrow (Thursday)
    Cheers!    Read more

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  • Susan WithenshawBarcelona Bound 2017
    Day37

    Day 7 - What did my guy find

     November 3, 2017, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 6 °C

    So as I'm tripping around to all these sites my guy is tagging along enjoying the scenery, the taverns on every corner and of course Gelato

    We stopped for a break at this shop to enjoy gelato outside the church. Soo many flavors, not enough time:)Read more

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  • Susan WithenshawBarcelona Bound 2017
    Day37

    Day 7 - Santa Maria del Pi Treasure

     November 3, 2017, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 6 °C

    I'm not sure of the history here, it seemed unclear whether the treasure was the tangible wealth or an analogy of the Devine. You decide, either way these are stunning

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  • Susan WithenshawBarcelona Bound 2017
    Day37

    Day 7 - Santa Maria del Pi

     November 3, 2017, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 6 °C

    This church dates back to the 14th century and is located in the Barri Gothic quarter of Barcelona. The name of the church is derived from a single pine tree that stood in front of the church. Unfortunately the original structure was destroyed by fire in 1936 and later restored in the 60s.

    The architecture is gothic, but there is a Romanesque door with a beautiful 12 sided rose window above the entrance. The window was covered from the outside as it is under restoration, but hopefully my interior photos show some of its glory.    Read more

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  • Susan WithenshawBarcelona Bound 2017
    Day37

    Day 7 - The Opera House

     November 3, 2017, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 6 °C

    Well I didn't make it inside because of rehearsal, but here's the history. The first thing I do in the next city we visit is to go to the opera house. I told Bryan he had to take me back to Vienna cause now I have two things to redo there, drink hot chocolate and visit the opera

    The famous opera house of Barcelona was constructed in 1847. During a fire in 1994 the auditorium and stage were completely destroyed. Things were rebuilt and opened again in 2000. The theater hosts world class opera, dance and musical performances

    The theater has a 5 tier horseshoe shaped auditorium which can seat 2,292 people. It is one of the largest opera houses in the world

    Maybe next time    Read more

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  • Susan WithenshawBarcelona Bound 2017
    Day37

    Day 7 - The Chocolate Museum

     November 3, 2017, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 6 °C

    This 14 year old museum is devoted to chocolate. There is 600 sq m of exhibition space which focuses on the connection between the region and chocolate.

    Chocolate was not that popular at first as without any sweetner the coco bean is quite bitter. The ancient Aztecs and Mayan civilizations traded chocolate like money. They also created an awful tasting drink called Xocoati used for medicinal purposes. See chocolate really can make things better

    Chocolate came to Europe via Mexico starting in 1520. A Cistercian monk shipped it along with the chocolate recipe to the abbot. At the Cistercian Monestary of Poblet there is a room with a chimney above the cloister, the chocolate room, where monks would enjoy this drink. At first the drink was cold until the Austrians heated it creating the first hot chocolate beverage. See I knew I liked Vienna for a reason.

    But I must say you need to eat more chocolate people, we didn't even make the consumption list per person a year and I can't do it all on my own. Check out the list:

    Switzerland 10kg
    Great Britain 7kg
    Germany 7kg
    USA 5kg
    France 4kg
    Japan 3kg
    Spain 2kg    Read more

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