As true "mountain people" in search of some cooler weather, we journeyed to Montserrat, about an hour and a half's train and cable car ride from our current abode. At a bit less than 1000m above sea level, it's about the same altitude as our home in Katoomba. It was in fact marginally cooler than the city of Barcelona but it became oppressively humid as the day progressed. In spite of this, we managed to take in some magnificent scenery, have a couple of funicular rides & check out the Basilica of Montserrat. This houses the Black Madonna of Montserrat, a probably Romanic Madonna dating back to the 12th Century. The face was originally white but became blackened as a result of the soot from devotees' candles...it's now maintained in its black state. A 3 hour
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