Continuing my Journey

I was very blessed to travel through parts of Spain and France during Easter. After a 10 day adventure all of us felt we were away a lot longer and each of us experienced some shift in our own individual spiritual growth.

 We spent Good Friday through to Easter Sunday in Madrid. We headed down to Plaza de Jesus at the Basilica del Cristo de la Medinaceli early evening for the Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno (religious procession). So many people there, but it was cancelled since it was raining. Great photos of previous year's procession can be seen in the following link http://www.flickr.com/photos/pacoposse/4494549024/ . On Easter Sunday we went to mass at Catedral de San Isidor. At the beginning of the mass the priest stated we are all very busy today so it will be quick. Somehow he cut down an hour service to 24 minutes. Also that morning we went to Plaza Mayor to watch "Tamborada del Domingo de Resureccion". It was load and the vibrating sounds worked through your body. Great experience and moved me to tears. Also inspires me to buy a huge drum and beat loud and proud too! That morning as well there were many coin and stamp collectors showing their stuff (buying and selling). A very popular hobby for the Madridian.

We also travelled to Lourdes. What a wonderful town! It is bigger and busier than I expected. Every time we visited Assisi, Italy there is a sense of peace and tranquility. It is as if you forget you worries and concerns in life and be still and connected to a higher level of consciousness. Lourdes feel different. You immediately feel a sense of hope, inspiration and connectedness to a community of faithful. In Lourdes is saw my eldest daughter moved to tears on many occasions. This place touched her deeply (astrologically speaking ...due to her Sun in Cancer in 3rd house). She mostly weep ed (joyfully) while participating in "The Torchlight Marian Procession. This occurs 9pm every night and goes for about 1.5 to 2 hours. Everyone carries a lighted candle and sing hymns. At 3:30pm every day the Rosary is said together at the Grotto and then at the end there is a Blessing of Children. Being at the Grotto moved me more than I expected. Everyone has some wound ( whether physical, emotional or spiritual) and since going to Lourdes old wounds are starting to heal. Memories have come up  and I have the courage, love and wisdom to deal with them so the pain can be released. You can drink and bathe in the blessed waters. If you can't get to Lourdes and still want this miraculous healing say the rosary (with dedications to Mother Mary) or simple pray to Mother Earth (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swsMlu8Zo90&feature=related ). One can watch Lourdes live as well http://www.lourdes-france.org/index.php?contexte=en&id=405. The Blessed Sacrament Procession occurs daily at 5pm and includes the blessing of the sick. Watching this service humbles ones heart. We were lucky enough to be there on a Wednesday so that we could participate in the International Mass (also occurs on a Sunday). The energy from the faithful was uplifting. The Undergound Basilica of St Pius X is huge (about 3 football fields). Mass is said in 6 different language. Hymns are mainly sung in Latin as well a other languages.

I believe when in a country you should eat and drink what locals traditionally eat and eat seasonal foods, so you are getting the best out of the region you are in. I am not a huge fan of Spain food. Although tapas is best eaten in Spain. I have not enjoyed them in Australia or England. If you do go to Spain have breakfast or lunch at the ham museums (as seen above). Not a big fan of ham in Australia. Went I travelled to Italy someone insisted I must have ham. It was nothing like the Australian ham texture. It was delicate, dry and delicious. Ham here the in UK is very good too. Ham in Spain in totally ahead in taste and texture. Love Spanish ham!!!! Hot chocolate and churros is a marriage made in heaven. No matter where you eat in France, food is fantastic! In Lourdes I had a wonderful salad. I didn't recognise some ingredients with my limited french, but it was delicious. I did not really know what animal parts (found out later the meats used was pork and duck) I was eating in the salad but it was an amazing taste sensation. Also there in Lourdes we had the best vegetarian pizza we ever had. In Narbonne (CO Brasserie) we have french- asian fusion food....WOW! The brasserie was next to an Aussie bar which was own by an old Australian union player who married a french girl. Aussies everywhere!

In Barcelona, markets are everywhere (even more so on the weekend) ranging from antique, art and crafts to food. Lucky we just had an ice cream just before we entered the best known food market in Barcelona, Mercat de Sant Josep. A total feast for the eyes. We walked down La Rumbla twice for it had a great atmosphere, great shopping and so much entertainment. My favourite was an antique market at the end of La Rumbla  towards the World Trade Center. If I had the cash it would have disappeared very quickly the gorgeous trinkets of years gone by. Things you rarely see in Australian antique markets.

Both Madrid and Barcelona lack the green I see in Sydney and London. The parks they do have are very popular and crowded as most people live in apartments. Parque del Retiro in Madrid was festive with street performers, musicians and even fortune tellers. Other parks and gardens in Madrid we enjoyed were Plaza de Oriente, Plaza de Espana, Jardines del Campo Del Moro and Parque Del Oeste. Barcelona has beaches. It has unique parks, such as Parc Guell and wonderful places to hide from the big city, such as Place de Catalunya and Jardins del Laribal.

 We visited a few art museums in Spain. If in Madrid you must go to Museo Nacional del Prado and go early for you will there for quite some time. Also go to Museo Reina Sofia. It is more contemporary works (last 150 years).  The Guggenheim in Bilboa is a specular building itself. Travelling to Barcelona we stopped at Figueres, the town Salvator Dali was born. If in Barcelona and you love Picasso's work go to Museu Piscasso. Don't expect your favourites to be there (they are all over the world), but expect to gain a sense of knowing, of who he was, how he worked and his inspirations. Viewed works of some of my favourite artists that I have never seen before, such as Fra Angelico, Bosch, Rubens and Picasso. Learnt to appreciate some masters since I was able to see the scope of their work, such as Francisco de Goya, El Greco(personally I think he was a great sense of humour) and Miro. In Barcelona you applaud the amazing creations of Gaudi.

If there is a castle (especially medieval ones) in town see want to see it. The most specular one on this trip was in Carcassonne. It is the only medieval walled city in France left intact. A huge surprise, Lourdes has a castle dating back to 778. Now it is a Pyrenean museum. You have the best views of the Pyrenes mountains and the city of Lourdes. In Madrid we went to the Royal Palace but did not get there in time to visit inside. The Palacio de Linares in Madrid (used as a exhibition of function area) is beautiful inside with ornate ceilings and wonderful tiles on the stairwells. To get a great view of Barcelona you need to hike up to Castell de Montjuric. Although not a castle, we were blown away by the Burgos Cathedral. This cathedral was built during the 13th to 15th centuries.  It is the third largest in Spain. The stone lace work was so delicate. The artwork inside arouses emotions of awe.