Monserrat

Today, I went on a Three–Country Tour from Barcelona that included Spain, France, and Andorra. A fun tour that got us out of the city and into the countryside. I also got to add a new country: Andorra. This was a small–group tour and we were on a small bus. Among my tour mates were a family from South Korea, a family from the Philippines, a man from Australia, and a young woman traveling on her own, I think, from Colorado––an international group. We also had a great tour guide, Sergio. Photo: Monserrat Mountain. All three peaks are part of the mountain.

Spanish Countryside

Driving through the Spanish countryside.

Baga

Our first stop was in Baga, Spain. We had a rest stop here and a walk–around.

Baga

Baga is in the Catalonia region of Spain as can be seen from the Catalan flags hanging from the balconies.

Baga

There were many interesting buildings in Baga such as this decorated building. Baga is a place for rural tourism and also for winter sports. Its population is very small, under 2,500, but with many vacation homes.

Baga

Baga also boasts the Sant Esteve de Baga parish church, built between the 14th and 15th centuries.

Spanish Countryside

Back on the road through farm country.

Spanish Countryside and the Pyrenees

Looking at the Pyrenees Mountain where we were headed. The Pyrenees are the natural border between Spain and France.

French Countryside

We are now in the Pyrenees. A railroad runs between the small towns and villages here.

French Countryside

Interesting houses along the road.

French Countryside

More of the buildings along the road.

Ax-Les-Thermes

Our next stop was in France in Ax–Les–Thermes, a small commune with hot springs. It is also a ski resort with a population under 1,500.

Ax-Les-Thermes

Walking into the village of Ax–Les–Thermes.

Ax-Les-Thermes

A colorful side street.

Ax-Les-Thermes

The main street with restaurants and stores. We ate lunch here.

Ax-Les-Thermes

A pretty square in the village.

I have put my photos up to Ax–Les–Thermes on a slideshow. Go to http://www.peggysphotos.com/three–country–tour–1/ (Slide Shows, Western Europe, Spain/France/Andorra, “Three–Country Tour–1).

Heading to Andorra

We are on our way from Ax–Les–Thermes to Andorra, which is sandwiched between France and Spain.

Andorra Border

Andorra is neither a member of the European Union nor of the United Nations. We had to have our passports stamped to enter the country.

Andorra

Andorra is the sixth–smallest nation in Europe. In order of being the smallest: Vatican City, Monaco, San Marino, Liechtenstein, Malta, Andorra, Luxembourg, Cypress, and Kosovo. Andorra’s population is about 77,000 but it gets about 10 million tourists visiting it each year. Andorra is a principality ruled by two princes: the Catholic Bishop of Urgell in Catalonia and the President of France. Its official language in Catalan, but Spanish, Portuguese, and French are also spoken. Its currency is the euro. Its capital is Andorra la Vella, the highest capital city in Europe, shown in the photo.

Canillo Andorra

From the capital, we headed up a mountain to the parish of Canillo Andorra, the religious center of Andorra and also a ski center with pastoral fields.

Canillo Andorra

Ski and recreation village.

Canillo Andorra

Many cows in the pastures.

Sant Joan de Casselles

We drove past the Sant Joan de Caselles church, built in the 11–12 centuries, one of the best–preserved Romanesque churches in the Pyrenees.

Andorra la Vella

A view of Andorra la Vella, Andorra’s capital city.

Andorra la Vella

A shopping street in Andorra la Vella. The whole of Andorra is duty–free, so attracting many visitors to its designer and other stores.

Andorra la Vella

There are also many sculptures and artistic fountains in Andorra la Vella.

Spanish Countryside

We returned to Barcelona through Spain.

Our Tour Guide

A photo of our great tour guide, Sergio.

I have put my photos of our tour to Andorra on a slideshow. Go to http://www.peggysphotos.com/three–country–tour–2/ (Slide Shows, Western Europe, Spain/France/Andorra, “Three–Country Tour–2”).

Palau de la Musica Catalana

While I was on the Three–Country tour, my daughter, Britt, took a morning tour of the Palau de la Musica Catalana in Barcelona. To see her photos of the Palau de Musica, go to http://www.peggysphotos.com/palau–de–la–musica–catalana/ (Slide Shows, Western Europe, Spain–1, Barcelona 2019, “Palau de la Musica Catalana”).

Monserrat

In the afternoon, Britt took a tour of the Benedictine Monastery on Monserrat. She went up the mountain by the cog railroad. She didn’t think her tour guide was very good. When you go there on a tour, you are usually given enough time only to visit either the monastery or to go up the Sant Joan Funicular for better views and sacred sites. However, you can go on your own to Montserrat via a train that leaves from the Placa Espanya station in Barcelona and then go up via either cable car or the cog railroad. We took the train from Barcelona to the cog railroad when I was here in 2006. This way, you have all the time that you want at Monserrat.

Monserrat

The main attraction at Monserrat is the statue of the Virgin of Montserrat, the patron saint of Catalonia. The statue is also called the Black Madonna and is believed to have been carved from wood in Jerusalem at the beginning of Christianity.

Monserrat–MOVIE

This Benedictine monk was leading other monks in song climbing up the stairs to see the Black Madonna.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/WpS3Y–ZvvzU

I have put Britt’s photos of Monserrat on a slide show. Go to http://www.peggysphotos.com/montserrat–2/ (Slide Shows, Western Europe, Spain–1, Barcelona 2019, “Monserrat”).