Battles & Bulls

“Nobody ever lives their life all the way up except bull-fighters.”

- Chapter 2, The Sun Also Rises, Ernest Hemingway

Our correspondent today is Emma Andrews:

Today is July 31st and the feast of Saint Ignatius and it a holiday here in Pamplona.  St. Ignatius is the patron saint of the Basque people.  It is special that we were able to celebrate his day by being in Pamplona; the city where he was shot with a cannon ball at the very beginning of his spiritual conversion. 

We woke up this morning on our own time.  With a late night in Lourdes the day before, a full night of sleep rejuvenated us and we were ready to unmask the mysteries of what lies ahead.  A few of us decided to head to the complementary hotel gym affiliated with the hotel just a few blocks away.  While running there we could not find the gym, instead we continued to run through the city.  When we returned to the hotel we saw a few others who successfully made it to the gym, they said it was nice but small.  Overall a workout was much needed when consuming the amount of food and carbs on this trip.  However, the moment we got back to the hotel we went straight to breakfast.  The breakfast buffet was artsy and tasteful with Spanish cuisine, an assortment of juices, and fresh coffee.  After our fill of food and drink, we got our stuff, loaded the bus and headed out to explore the city. 

We went straight to the old part of town.  Once known as the kingdom of Navarre, an old fortress, parts of the city were ruins and traced back to the Middle Ages.  The city at one point was completely surrounded with these, but only few remain today.  Pamplona is most commonly known for the Running of the bulls.  The festivities lasts eight days beginning on July 6th, however most people truly start the night before.  The running of the bulls is a mix of religion and drunkenness (similar to Mardi Gras), with masses celebrated during the day coupled with late nights of consuming alcohol.  There are "strict rules" in which you cannot be under the influence of drugs or alcohol and cannot tempt the bull, but it seems the authorities cannot control the masses.  The streets are boarded and lined with fences in hope of controlling the bull on the way to the bull ring.  People come from all over the world to take place in this event, and because of this hotel prices can rise as much as five times as normal.  More woman are taking place in this activity each year, and in total only fifteen people have died, however many others have been injured.  

While walking the through the city we saw a ONCE and a protest; Spain is a deep financial crisis and it is mentioned by almost everyone and leads to frequent strikes and peaceful protests.  ONCE is a national association for disabled people in Spain, originally started by a blind man.  The protest in the streets not only attracted us, but the news and police.  These people were protesting a major government financial scandal that is breaking. 

The first place we arrived at was a statue commemorating Ignatius when he was shot with a cannon ball to the knee during the war with the French.  This statue is place on Ignatius Avenue and in front of St. Ignatius Church.  Inside the church we spent time in prayer and observed the art and surrounding statutes of saints important to the Spanish people.  After finishing our time in the church, we walked to the place were Ignatius was actually shot.  Once surrounded by the fortress walls, it had now been converted into  a beautiful town square.  From this spot Ignatius had to be carried through the rough terrain and mountains to Loyola.  I cannot imagine this journey because driving through them on a modern bus at times was harrowing.  Loyola is the place where Ignatius read books on the lives of the saints and the life of Christ out of boredom while he was recovering.  He eventually became inspired by the saints and was converted to a life devoted to Christ.

Another famous person who is associated with Pamplona is Ernest Hemingway  Being so fascinated with the town and the running of the bulls, Hemingway wrote The Sun Also Rises popularizing the running of the bulls in America.  Hemingway worked on many of his works in a cafe on the edge of the main square, Charlie Chapman and other famous people would also accompany him.  Hemingway was loved by the people in Pamplona, and now multiple statues are in Pamplona of him.  

After learning so much about this city we were allowed free time to explore for ourselves and get lunch.  Walking through the streets we stopped in the official running of the bulls T-shirt shop and to a cafe for a lunch of tapas to share including calamari and potatoes.  When we met as a group, we saw Mr. Bizga got a fresh haircut.  Soon we boarded the bus for yet another trip to Bilbao.

Two hours later we arrived in Bilbao.  Driving into the city we saw a Bilbobus, a Bilboat, and a Bizkabus (hmm).  St. Ignatius is the patron saint of Bilbao and because of his feast day barely anything is open; which is really cool to think about.  Since we had been on the bus so long we went straight to the hotel, which was beautiful and in "The Seven Streets." Once an industrial city, Bilbao became completely modernized and a city of art.  The city was filled with beautiful buildings, both old and new.  Walking around the city it was as if a heat cloud filled the air.  It is unnatural for the Basque Country to be this hot at any time of the year.  Bilbao is a part of the Spanish half of the Basque Country.  Basque Country is not its own country, but prefers to be recognized as itself.  Walking around the city was beautiful.  There are town parks, squares, and shops.  After we walked around and just relaxing about a few jam packed days we went to a delicious dinner of pasta and steak, veggies and lasagna for the vegetarians in the group.  After a quick meeting about the next day we returned to the hotel for the night. We went to bed excited to sleep in and enjoy the next day.

Refreshing Waters

I do not fear death, only waste and misuse of life. 

~ Alex Concepcion

Our correspondent today is Maddy Heupler:

After a late night praying at the grotto until 1:30 am, the group was to be completely checked out of their rooms, at the Jeanne D'Arc hotel in Lourdes, by 9 am. The maids began scouring the halls by 8:45 am, hustling the group of groggy-eyed pilgrims as they slouched around their quaint sleeping quarters. Breakfast at the hotel restaurant ended sharply at 9 am, and this was  unfortunate for us Ignatian scholars who woke up on the later side.  Some of us chose to walk down the street for some croissants and cafe instead. The more adventurous pilgrims forced themselves out of their plush white beds at the break of dawn to take part in the famous spiritual cleansing experience in the piscines or baths in the sanctuary in Lourdes.

People from all around the world visit Lourdes to be bathed in the holy spring water brought forth by the hand of St. Bernadette. Both spiritual and physical miracles have been recorded during this amazing process. Only a short 2 hour window from 9-11 am is open for this unique cleansing experience, which includes a complete submersion in the spring's holy water. As a result of this short time span, many people, such as Ignatian Scholars Alex Concepcion and Alison Dee, woke up at the break of dawn to reserve their spots.  The facility which holds the cleansing ritual is located next to the Grotto and has 3 different waiting lines: one for volunteers, one for handicapped and/or physically ill people, and one for all other pilgrims.  After waiting in line for several hours, pilgrims are called into a separate (male/female) changing room where they are required to strip to their underwear and wrap themselves in a towel. After doing so, they are asked what language they speak and are told to think of a prayer that is the most meaningful to them. When it is their turn, people are then beckoned into the bath area, where they are given privacy as they take off the remainder of their clothing and stand at the base of the bath facing the statue of Mary. At this point, the participants have a silent moment alone with Mary, after they are to make the sign of the cross and recite their prayer immediately before they are lowered into the shallow waters. Ignatian Scholar Alex Concepcion used the Serenity Prayer during his experience because, as he explains, it plays a significant role in his life and he plans to focus on this prayer in the future. When asked about the experience, Alex elaborates, "It's the kind of thing that you don't know how to put into words." When he was greeted at the hotel by the other students, his smile was beaming as he was hugged by his many supporters.

   
During the free time after breakfast, while some students were at the baths, others went down to the Grotto and prayed for those undergoing the spiritual experience. Shopping in Lourdes at the myriad of small shops was another popular activity during our final morning, and strutting along the hilly streets acted as an effective workout for all who chose to explore the town.  We all gathered back at the hotel at noon for a 3 course midday lunch at the hotel, the students were given about an hour and half at lunch to take care of any last minute souvenir shopping or final visits to the grotto.

At 2:30 pm the group then departed for their next destination, St.-Jean-de-la-Luz, a popular resort town in French Basque Country. When the two hour bus trip through the Pyrenees Mountains ended we had made our way to the Atlantic Ocean.  As the Ignatian scholars stepped out into the beaming sunlight and admired the bustling town full of beach-goers, shop-hoppers, and ice cream-eaters. The students were introduced to the beautiful little town then given some free time to either shop, eat, or go to the beach!

Many students, to escape from the blistering heat (it has been near 100 every day), ventured to the beach to dive into the refreshing waters. The sand was barely visible beneath the sea of beach bums, and it seemed as if everyone was trying to take advantage of the beautiful day by playing sand volleyball, laying out on towels, or swimming in the ocean. Several students sprinted through the sand and crowds of people and dove into the ocean, feeling instant relief from the sun's unrelenting rays. The stores in St.-Jean-de-la-Luz also caught the eyes of the Ignatian scholars, and many explored the various clothing, tourist, and food shops. After the brief couple of hours in the picturesque French Basque Country, the group said their final goodbyes to France and got on the bus to head to their next destination, Pamplona, Spain.
  
By 8pm, after 2 hours on the bus, the group had finally arrived at the hotel in Pamplona. The adjustment from French back to Spanish was challenging for the students, and it took some time to change the "Bonjour" and "Merci" into "Hola" and "Gracias." After having an hour to settle into our rooms, the group was served a scrumptious meal consisting of vegetables, potatoes, and duck, a meat that many had never before tried.  Some of the students have grown to love duck; even “vegetarians.” The students were then given the invigorating news that tomorrow would finally be a sleep-in day. The thought of getting a decent night of sleep sounded heavenly after our late night last night. With that news, the Ignatian scholars eagerly went to their rooms to enjoy a peaceful night of sleep after an adventurous day.

The Light of Lourdes

Our correspondent today is Mackenzie Wangler:

The group left our hotel from Nimes this morning at 8 am for a 5 hour bus ride to Lourdes. Since today is the sixth day of the trip, I think it is a good thing we have a long bus ride to Lourdes. Surprisingly, though it was not too boring! Some people watched movies, others caught up on journals, listened to music, talked, or played games. It's true, teenagers don't need their phones to have a good time! About 3 hours into the the bus ride we stopped at a cafeteria off the highway. The food was not too bad, for a highway rest stop, but the deals on bottled water were fantastic! I bought a six pack of 1 1liter water bottles for 6 Euros!

When we arrived at Lourdes it was so much different than I expected.  Everywhere else we have been in France has been very elegant.   It's a little town with winding streets lined with tacky shops filled, named after real and imagined saints, with any religious item one could think of.  Rosaries, bracelets, crosses, candles, angels, tacky post cards and more. It was like a Catholic Disneyland or Niagara Falls in terms of the kitsch.  While this all sounds odd and unexpected, entering into the Sanctuary and grotto was a completely different experience. Lourdes has three faces: tacky tourist Lourdes, holy peaceful Lourdes, and regular quaint town of Lourdes were locals live.  The area controlled by Church is free of any commercial activity and is beautiful, holy, and peaceful.  We left tacky Lourdes and entered through St. Michael's Gate across Rosary Square to the grotto.  The grotto is sort of like a cave where Saint Bernadette saw and  prayed  to the Lady. In 1858, during one of the apparitions the "miraculous spring" was revealed.   The rock in the grotto was smooth from so many people touching it and the spring was glassed in.   You could also see where the glass was cracked during the recent flooding.  There was a statue of the Immaculate Conception in place of where Bernadette saw her and a mass of candles right in front of it.

After walking through the grotto, Mr. Bizga shared with us some personal stores of people he knows personally who have been touched by pilgrimages to Lourdes.  These stories underscored how most people receive spiritual versus physical healing.  The stories did contain hints of the miraculous and were inspirational.   When people move through the grotto they rub their hands across the rock.   Knowing some personal inspirational stories made  it even more special as we slid our hands across the rock as we moved through the grotto. Unfortunately, the line for the grotto was filled with people so we had to move quickly. We were told we would come back to the grotto later at night when it is quieter and more prayerful.  This experience was just the beginning of a beautiful, but long night. Since our 5 days in Lourdes was reduced to less than 24 hours by ACIS we had to maximize our time here.

The group walked back to the hotel for dinner. We are staying at Jeanne D'Arc.  The hotel was has two buildings and the back one were were staying in was not damaged by the flood.   The hotel is owned by the same family were were originally supposed to spend time with and the staff knows Mr. Bizga well.   The hotel lobby was filled with white leather couches and white marble stairs and chandeliers all throughout the building.  The French staff spoke to us in kind tones and made us feel welcome. Everyone is friendly here and it gave me such a feeling of unity even though I had no clue what they were saying. We had a three course dinner meal with salad, pork roast with carrots, and a lemon tart. It was so delicious I think everyone was so full by the time we got to the end.

Straight after dinner we got ready for the candle light rosary procession in Lourdes. Mr. Bizga gave each of us a candle and we walked down together to the grotto together.  We lit our candles and waited in a long line of groups until we heard the speakers come on to formally begin the procession.  The prayers are said in the languages of the people praying represented there. It truly struck me, in a tangible way,  we are part of one, universal Church.  You hear so many different languages and see so many different nationalities, but we are all one in faith.  We prayed a decade of the rosary in many languages and the sang "Ave Maria" all together holding our candles high above our heads. This moment was truly incredible and their is a tangible spiritual energy there.  As time moved on it grew darker as we walked and the singing just put me in a state of mind that I was in God's presence and that this experience was so surreal to me.

I had learned about Bernadette in class earlier in the school year and I fell in love with her story. But now we are in Lourdes where this took place. As I looked around I would see so many people in wheel chairs who were sick or disabled, and everytime I did, I would say a prayer for them. It made me want to cry but it also made me want to smile because all of these people have such a strong faith in God, and this feeling if community and of God's people as one swept over me and hit me so hard. People would carry flags representing their parish, nation, or town.  Others in the procession would hold hands and walk together, and others just closed their eyes and sang with the group with such peace and hope. When the procession was done I just felt so blessed. So many people around me had tears in their eyes full of emotion in response to the things they saw. It was just an eye opener for all of us that I don't think anyone was ready for it.  It was unexpectedly powerful.

When we departed from the procession we were given free time until midnight which is when we would meet in the hotel lobby and return once more to the grotto. It was so late because Mr. Bizga knew it would be fairly empty and that the serenity and peace would be at high levels during this time;  he was right. During our free time most of us just explored the town and enjoyed the gelato being sold on the streets. When we met back at the hotel the excited and happy faces turned serious and eager. We all walked back down to the grotto together bringing our small bottles to fill of the water from the Bernadette's spring at Lourdes.

When we arrived at the shrine, we sat on the benches in front of the grotto and prayed the rosary as a group. We all prayed in unison but the beautiful thing was that at each decade all of us prayed for different people and different things, and we were still doing it together. To look up during my prayers and see Mary in the rock and to look at the spring and all of the candles, representing prayers,  was simply incredible. There was a spot right in front of me on the pavement which in French read, "This is the place where Bernadette saw her on February 11, 1858." During our rosary, an older man came and kneeled on that exact spot and this just touched my heart as I watched him do the sign of the cross and close his eyes in prayer. I said a prayer for him as well. When this was over, a few of us went back through the line of the grotto. This time we could spend more time touching the rock and praying at the spring. I felt the presence of God, but I also felt Mary and  St. Bernadette when I looked at the small spring. We prayed so hard all throughout this, first stopping at the spring, and then at the statue of the Immaculate Conception.  Directly after I made my my way through the grotto, I had followed the example of the older man did and knelt where Bernadette had.  Words fail to describe what I felt, but rest assured it was unbelievable being able to experience that. It brought me so in tune with my prayers and once I stood up, and I looked around me, many of our group was crying. This just shows that this night was so important for all of us. Some of us were praying together, and hugging each other. It just brought me so much happiness to see all of us coming together and expressing that we all love and care for one another as God children. It is amazing how something so great can bring all of us together.

After filling up our little bottles with the Lourdes water for our friends and family, we were given candles to place them where so many others had put them in little metal stations. On the wall it read "This candle continues my prayer."  I think this moment got to people as well as we turned around and looked at teary eyed friends. While it is obvious that this night was extremely moving.  People experienced a combination of sadness and joy; I couldn't help but smile at the thought of how much love was shown. Even though we didn't return to the hotel until very late, this night was so worth it. It is so unbelievable that this little group from a Jesuit school in Ohio was able to take the opportunity to participate in such a touching and wonderful event.  I felt the love of God, through Mary and Bernadette in a tangible way.

Popes & Panacotta

Our Correspondent today is Connor Burgess:

We began the fifth day of our trip with a long bus ride to Avignon. The town of Avignon is steeped with history and there was much to learn there. Avignon is the city where the Papacy temporally moved during the Great Papal Schism. The Great Papal Schism was an era of turmoil within the Catholic Church. There was a lot of controversy surrounding the decision to move the papacy to Avignon, along with much corruption. The Popes were living lavishly and were not leading holy lives. We were provided with audio guides and took our time touring the palaces. The Papal Palaces bore a resemblance of a luxurious chateau rather than a place where the Pope should reside. We took our time wandering the high ceilinged rooms and lavish sleeping quarters. There was also a tasteful modern art gallery that was placed in the heart of the Papal Palaces. The sculptures, paintings, and other art forms adorned the walls and floors of the great halls. In front of the Papal Palaces, there were a few tents that sold paintings, jewelry, and small antiques.

It can be said that the Popes were held captive in Avignon, both physically as well as politically. Pope Clement V made the initial decision to move the Papacy to Avignon from Rome. Pope Gregory XI was the Pope who moved the Papacy back to Rome after nine other Popes resided in the Papal Palace in Avignon.  We were given about one and a half hours for exploration time throughout the Papal Palace.  The audio guides provided insight into the rich history of the palaces.  After the hour and a half tour we spent in the Papal Palaces, we were given time to explore Avignon. Everybody split up into smaller groups and we had lunch on our own. There was a multitude of restaurants to choose from  and we all went to different places. Before we headed back to the hotel, we saw some Asian tourists who were dressed in traditional medieval clothes (check back later for a photo update). After we took photos we boarded the bus, and headed back to Nimes.

Later in the day, after we arrived back in Nimes, the group visited many historical sights after a short break at the hotel. The first sight we went to visit was the amphitheater. Tall pillars and elongated arches encircled the building. Today the amphitheater is used for bull fights. In addition, many famous artists still come to perform on a regular basis. We had the opportunity to sit atop the amphitheater and explore what it had to offer. Another building we went to see was a classic Roman Temple. It was one of the most well preserved Roman temples in the world. It was built almost 1900 years ago and it was beautiful, though disconcerting because animal sacrifices took place there. Tall pillars lined the front entrance of the building. Though, the outside was far more beautiful than the inside; the inside was just a simple room. But overall, the sights we saw today were beautiful.

After resting at the hotel after we were done sightseeing, we got dressed and went to the church next door for mass. It was a very old church and hot beyond belief. It was fascinating to sit in on a Mass that was spoken only in French.  But, because of the universal nature of the Mass it was easy to follow the ritual. After Mass, we were set to go to dinner. The dinner was quite delicious. For a starter, we could choose from a salad with eggplant or a mellon salad with prosciutto. For an entree, we could choose a salmon filet with rice or a sun dried tomato chicken skewer with ratatouille. For dessert we had an option between a chocolate lava cake or Panacotta. Following dinner, we journeyed back to the hotel for the remainder of the evening. 

Castles & Coliseums

“Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life.”
~ Jack Kerouac

Our Correspondent today is Courtney Cline:

Today we left Barcelona at 8:45 am for a 4 hour long ride that would eventually lead us to  Nimes, France.  Though saddened to leave beautiful Barcelona, we were happy to start a new adventure... even if the ride on the bus would be long. The journey on the coach was beautiful; the verdant countryside is breathtaking.  The earth is so lush all around: green fields that go for miles only broken by sunflowers and lavender, green trees that cover  the Pyrenees, green bushes that seemed to follow us everywhere. Crossing the border from Spain to France took longer than normal because it was a Saturday and this time of year is the peak vacation period in Europe according to Susannah.  But after three long hours we finally arrived to our first destination: Carcassonne. I did not expect what would greet my eyes.

Carcassonne is a medieval fortress town that will take the breath of anyone who looks at it. Stone block go up and across for hundreds of feet to make this beautiful castle-like fortress. The multiple arch ways that we had to walk through to get inside the fortress were towering over us. This walled city is truly immense. We had to park in a car park and take a local bus up to the city gates because it is mainly pedestrianized.  When we got off the bus we were greeted by a strong rushing wind that is famous in this region.  Even though it was sunny, there was a sustained wind that thankfully dissipated inside the walls.  Thinking we were destined to just going to tour an old fortress, we were pleasantly surprised to find a beautiful French village veiled within the imposing walls.  Many streets are filled with little boutiques, hotels, and restaurants.  The air is filled with music coming from street performers that seem to occupy any open space in the city.

We set off on our first mission: lunch!  Hungry and famished, we jumped in the first café our eyes spotted with the word “crepes.” "Combien ?" the hostess asked us. "Uh table for 6?" we responded hoping that what she said was another word for 'hello'. She nodded while we thought we were lucky that she didn't say anymore. We expected that since it was a tourist area, everyone spoke English and found out these parts are off the American tourist track.  "Uh, un crepe Nutella, s'il vous plait," we each asked.  "All Nutella crepes, oui!" The waitress responded with her beautiful red lips and matching glasses.  "Well, we look stupid," one of the girls added. After a delicious and filling dessert that followed a hardy meal, we were ready to do important business: shop. Pamphlets were handed to us as we passed storefronts, trying to get our business. There were soap shops, clothing shops, antique shops, hat shops, watch shops, jewelry shops, candy shops, macaroon shops, smoothie shops, carpet shops, souvenir shops – I am sure you get the idea. However, the most surprising thing we saw was a Best Western Hotel in the middle; but it looked like a medieval structure on the exterior.  But the brand name seemed so out of place.

After three hours of exploring, shopping and eating, we met up with the whole group in the front of the fortress. We all shared what we bought and Mr. Bizga showed off the princess costumes he acquired for his little nieces who are obsessed with princesses. Making our way back to the bus, the group exchanged stories of their adventures in this town.  Finally we made it back to the bus, and we left the fortress to make our way to the hotel in Nimes, France.

I did not know what to expect with Nimes The hotel we are staying at is quite modern.  In the lobby were cow skinned chairs and colorful decorations. The girls doubled up in rooms while the only three boys tripled... “Quelle surprise.”  We rested for about an hour and got ready for dinner at a cute café. There was a vote for an 'inside or outside' dining, but 'inside' won by a landslide in the 90+ degree weather.  We had a choice for the starter, entrée, and dessert as well. The starter was a choice between a tomato mozzarella salad and a Nimes salad. The Nimes salad was a bed of lettuce with a cod fish puff pastry on top. The entrée was between a delicious steak with herb butter and frites or a roasted pork roast. However, the vegetarians got a whole thin crust veggie pizza. The dessert was a choice of a chocolate lava-like cake and an almond walnut tart. The meal was finished with an assortment of 3 different types of artisanal cheese. Full and content, we decided to end the night with a walking tour around the city of Nimes. 

The walk was filled with many sights. "La Gare," the city train station, was on the immediate right of the café. Walking around, the city was filled with many ornate streetlights and fountains.  The city in some ways looks like it could be a neighborhood of Paris.  France is so beautiful and clean.  Nimes is regal and elegant; but peaceful and quiet.  Moments later, I was to discover another more ancient part of the this city.   Amazing Roman ruins dot the architectural landscape of the city.  As our walk continued, one the largest and best preserved Roman amphitheaters greeted me in the heart of the city.  It was so weird to be honest and I was shocked to see it.  It looks so much like the Roman coliseum; but is in better shape.  Today the coliseum is called the “Arena” and is still used for concerts and bull fights.  The arena is very old, faded, circular, with many archways. 

We finished the walk around town at a little entertainment area.  Some of us women went on a ride on a merry-go-round about 500 ft from our hotel. It was the perfect ending to a perfect day.

Montserrat & Manresa

“Not all those who wander are lost.”
~ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

Our morning correspondent is Julia Klein:

After an early 6:40 am alarm this morning, a couple of us set off for a quick run with Mr. Bizga to watch the city come to life. The ancient part of the gothic quarter looked even more spectacular bathed in the morning light. As we jogged we were greeted by the opening bakeries and cafes, smelling the first of many batches of freshly baked bread and brewed coffee. We eventually made our way to the boardwalk. Running along the palm tree-lined sea, we were bordered by the azure Mediterranean to our left and the busy city to our right;  not a bad way to wake up. After the jog, the group met around 8:00 am for a breakfast selection of cereal, croissants, cold cuts, tortilla, assorted cheeses, and coffee.  At 9:00 am we headed to the bus to make our way to Montserrat.   Montserrat was a key place in the spiritual journey of Ignatius of Loyola.  It was here that he knelt all night in vigil and laid down his sword at the shrine of the Black Madonna.  He shortly after that exchanged his fashionable clothes for the clothes of a beggar.

After a scenic ride up a very windy road through the immense mountain range, we met our tour guide, who proceeded to show us around the welcome center and museum. She described the history of Montserrat and its triple identity as shrine, natural wonder, and monastery.  We learned how the Benedictine monks came there to build a Monastery during the early Medieval period.  Legend has it, during the building process, they decided to move the statue of the Black Madonna and they were physically unable to move her; this is incredible because she is a fairly small statue.  When that did not work, they resolved to build the basilica around her. Since that time countless pilgrims, including me, have journeyed to this awesome site.  St. Ignatius visited the shrine in 1522, and it was a major turning point in his conversion experience. It was here that his process of discernment led him to a definitive decision point, and he finally consecrated his life to God through the strength of Mary.  This decision eventually led him to found the Jesuit order and ultimately led us here today.

 

After the museum, our tour guide took us to explore the art gallery on the mountain, which featured Picaso, Dali, Monet, and many other well-known artists from a variety of eras. We then journeyed to the basilica, and the whole mood changed as we stepped in the door - we ceased being tourists and became pilgrims.  The atmosphere was peaceful and reflective, and the intricacy of the architecture was memorizing. It had the elegance and sheer beauty of a place like Versailles, and the detail and sanctity of the Sistine Chapel. Together, we sat and prayed in the exact place Ignatius did, appreciating that if it wasn’t for his experience there, we would not be the unified, spiritual community that we felt in that moment. We were then surprised by the performance a German boy's choir.  Their sound was incredible, filling the entire church.  The beauty of their voices gave me chills. Simply being in the basilica was inspiring; but these angelic voices made one feel as if they were experiencing heaven on earth.  I felt God’s presence unlike I ever have before; it was almost tangible.

After the visit to the basilica, we bought lunch from a tiny café atop a hill. We stopped into a little supermarket to buy candies and chocolate bars, which many of us claimed to be the “best we’ve ever had.” A small group of us then decided to take the cable car up to the top of the mountain for sight seeing and interviews. The ride up was very crammed and sweaty, but we knew it was worth it the moment we stepped off the lift. The view was surreal and I immediately understood why someone would want to spend time in prayer and contemplation here. Together, we walked up the path to a higher point, laughing and singing and admiring. We stopped to do a few brief interviews, which included walking up the path and describing the unbelievable experience we just had. In the moment, we were having a blast, but we also took the time to realize and appreciate how special and memorable this moment was. It was the first time on this journey that I felt like a pilgrim, and a part of a larger community of people united in spirituality and in friendship. 

Centuries of people, including St. Ignatius, have made the arduous journey to this place.   In reflecting on our experience atop the mountain, Mrs. Marquard made a really good connection. She described how the Jesuits are very active and vocal about their faith, never holding back from expressing their immense  love for God, and encouraging everyone around them to know, love, and serve Christ and be challenged to follow Ignatius' example of discipleship.  I hope my time here will help me to live life fully as God intends. In ordinary life, we become distracted and detached from our spirituality, and our actions fall short of who we were created to be. 

Today, we put our faith into action, and my time at Montserrat was a taste of heaven on Earth.

Our afternoon correspondent is Kendall Packo:

Today after visiting Montserrat we all got back on the bus and traveled about half an hour back  to Manresa. Manresa was the place  where Ignatius planned to stay 3 days before traveling to the Holy Land, Jerusalem, but ended up staying about 10 months. At Manresa, Ignatius found a cave to reside in for his entire stat. Today we were all able to visit the cave and experience where he lived. It was here that Ignatius began to develop the Spiritual Exercises, while he did not finish them here, this is where the process started.  Today there is a church built around the cave that is used to celebrate mass. The entrance of the cave was dark with a narrow door way. Stepping into the naturally narrow cave, pilgrims were immediately engulfed by God's presence. There were four chairs on each side for people to sit and reflect or pray. It was very dimly lit, the only light came from the tiny altar in the front. Behind the altar was a beautiful sculpted picture, a sort of focal point within. The  cave were decorated with tile patterns on the sides as well as the ground in colors of taupe, teal, and dark maroon. Just outside the cave is the River Cardoner. This river is where Ignatius had said to have had a religious epiphany that changed his life.

 

 

 

 

After visiting both sites, the group stayed and gathered around the river and talked about our personal experiences for the day. Each of us went around and said something we enjoyed about the day, as well as sharing a word that described the experience in both places. We reflected by focusing on Ignatius and his own personal experiences in these spots and were all grateful to be where he sat. This day was truly about stepping into Ignatius's shoes and focusing on his mission and what it means to be part of a Jesuit community. As a Jesuit student this experience was important because all of us have been learning about Ignatius since freshman year and to see with our own eyes everything we learned from books and theology teachers was a very special moment. Being able to sit where he sat and prayed was a unique experience that had a  certain significance because we all have come from the broader Ignatian family that spans the globe and centuries.

 

 After a full day of Montserrat and Manresa, everyone got back on the bus to return to Barcelona where would spend the remainder of the night. Once we returned to the hotel there was about an hour to roam before dinner to find souvenirs for our families and friends back home. Finally after a long day, we arrived at restaurant Divinas.  The inside was decorated in a sleek modern fashion, with whites, blacks, and beiges. We sat down at a long table and began a three course meal with added appetizers to share. the meal started with a colorful salad, and groups of four shared fried fish rolled into balls and a mushroom risotto. The main course consisted of pork and potatoes, and as one of the few vegetarians in the group, we got a pesto pasta. For desert, everyone was thrilled to have the somewhat dark, chocolate gelato. This seemed to be everyone's favorite dinner in Barcelona, and a great start to the night.

 

After we all finished eating, the students were taken to the metro for a surprise. We ended up at a sound and light show displayed through a fountain built for the 1929 World Fair in front of an art museum. The energy of the area was incredible; so many people dancing and just having a good time.  The fact that a sea of people gathered for something so simple, yet magical, was cool.  There were hundreds of people seated on the steps of the museum and more standing on the grassy landscape. Some of our group even took a dip into the fountain at the end.

 

After the light show ended, we all met back up to visit another site. We ended up at an old bull arena turned mall to look over the city at night.  The views were absolutely breathtaking from the top of the building.  Because it was circular we were able to walk around and see the city from any angle. It was truly a prefect way to end our time in Barcelona.

 

 

God & Gaudí

“Nothing is invented, for it's written in nature first.”

~ Gaudí

Our correspondent today is Connie Reagan:

Our second day in Barcelona was filled with both laughter and prayer. We started out the day on the charter bus touring the historic city of Barcelona. Our tour guide, Ivan, a native of Madrid who moved to Barcelona, personally directed us through the narrow, winding streets of old town and the perfectly gridded streets of new town. The "old town" was once a part of the Roman city and the "new town" was not constructed until "modern times." The perspective of time is so different in Europe; a two century old building is considered relatively new. The unofficial "third part" of Barcelona is Grácia. Grácia is a district that used to be a little town outside of Barcelona; now a really unique district.  Grácia is home to some of the most interesting sites and festivals in the city.  The streets are very narrow and help it feel like a  small town in the city.  Many people in this district live in apartments towered up three or four stories. Catalonia flags line the streets, hanging from most of the balconies. However, most visitors don't know that the district of Grácia is home to the professional soccer club, Europa. Though Europa is not the best team in Barcelona, it is deeply loved by the locals.

Our next stop of the tour was Güell Parc. Güell is one of the few public parks available in the city. The land that the park sits on was actually meant to be parceled out to local wealthy families with the intention of building permanent residences.  When this plan failed, the owner of the expanse acreage sold the land to the city and it became a park for all to enjoy. One thing about the park that most do not pick up right away is how many religious symbols are present. Many of the symbols were imbedded in the park by its famous and devout designer Antonio Gaudí.  Along the pathway leading to the main square, there is a chain of cement spheres. Though they might look like a modern piece of architecture, they are actually part of a giant rosary. Along the path, a pattern of 10 small spheres represent the Hail Mary's,  and after each decade a larger sphere represents the Our Father. With this, one can take a stroll in the park, enjoy nature, and meditate on the mysteries. This rosary path leads up to a hill nicknamed Calvary. At the top of this hill, there are three crosses. These crosses can be seen from almost everywhere along the path. Also in the park we saw benches, houses, and columns also designed by  Gaudí; who now is a world renowned Spanish architect.  His creations put a modern spin on such an old part of the city.  At the same time he careful to make his art blend seamlessly with nature.

After taking a quick ride across town, we drooled over another work of art: La Sagrada Familia.  La Sagrada Familia is a church that underwent the beginning of its construction in 1882, and the project was soon taken over by Gaudí. For the duration of his life, Gaudí dedicated all of his time to La Sagrada Familia and a few other projects. Though Gaudí died before the completion  of the church, the people of Barcelona did not abandon it. Today, a group of 14 architects have come together to finish the construction of this work of art.  Without Gaudí alive, and his lack plans,  it is difficult for many people to agree on the final picture that Gaudí had in mind. The effort to complete the church is backed by many of the people of Barcelona although it is very controversial with many in the artistic world.

The construction of La Sagrada Familia is solely supported by private donations. Government money has never been spent to keep this project afloat. In November of 2010 Pope Benedict XVI consecrated the church and though it is not complete, it can house the mass and other religious services.  Luckily for us, La Sagrada Familia is due to be completed in the year 2026, so hopefully we will all be able to make it back to see the final product. After being amazed by the articulate detail of La Sagrada Familia, we got back on the charter bus and went up to Barcelona's Olympic Park.  At the top of a mountain overlooking the Mediterranean sea, we drove past the Olympic stadium, swimming pool, track, and housing. We stopped for a few minutes to take pictures at an overlook that provided a view of the whole city. From one spot, you could see where the mountains met the sea and all of the red and orange roofing in between. Also at the overlook we stopped at a snack kiosk and bought the best popcorn in all of Spain for only €1! 

After we traveled back into the main part of the city, we took a break for lunch and free time. Some of us took this time to eat at a Tapas café or to hunt for good sales at the local boutiques. When the group met back up together we left for our final visit of the day, Santa Maria del Mar, a medieval church that is a few blocks down the street from out hotel. This church has significant meaning to us because at this church, Ignatius once sat and begged for money. Ignatius came to Barcelona on his way to the Holy Land. In the church, there is a statute of Ignatius right at the very spot he sat when he was there. We stood over the plaque that marked the spot in the church where he begged.  We lit two candles, and as a group prayed a Hail Mary, an Our Father, Glory Be, and the Prayer for
Generosity.

We closed the night with a laugh-filled dinner at Flo Brasserie.  In comparison to our first dinner, this one was relatively small with "only" three courses: iceberg salad with tuna and fresh baked bread, paella with noodles, and crème brûlée pudding. After throwing jokes back and fourth at the table, we ended our night with a walk back to our hotel, gazing at the Barcelona stars along the way.

Today was a continuation of our amazing time in the city of Barcelona! We are all beginning to get to know each other better than before, and we are beginning to form a bond with each other. Today went by a lot faster than yesterday because we are finally adjusted to the time, and we were very well rested. Also, we are more familiar with the streets, shops, cafés, and the lifestyle of the city. It will be difficult to leave such a beautiful place.

Benvinguts a Barcelona!

“If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home.” ~ James Michener

After a long, tiring, and treacherous “swim” across the pond, we finally made it to Barcelona, Spain. We began our time in Barcelona waiting in a long line to get through customs. As we hit the streets of the fabulous Capitol of Catalonia, we all were exhausted, although greatly enthusiastic about the two week journey that lied before us. Today held learning experiences, cultural flavor and a bit of confusion for some of us. Our substitute tour guide, Helena, (because Suzanna was feeling sick) awaited us at the airport. She kindly welcomed us and led us toward a charter bus that would take us into the city and to our hotel. The ride into the city was filled with fun and interesting facts provided by Helena, which began much of our new knowledge of Barcelona. We passed many famous landmarks of Barcelona on our way into the city including an old bull fighting arena, which now is used as a shopping mall. We arrived at our hotel to drop off our luggage and then began to walk the streets.

Helena guided us through the main tourist attractions that we needed to see, but mainly the city market, La Boqueria. It was prefect because it was time for lunch.  You can learn so much about a culture through food.  We were given free time to roam around the city market. Many of us tasted some satisfying as well as some not so satisfying fruit juices and fruit popsicles, and also wandered the market in search of other goodies to find including multiple fruits, vegetables, nuts, fish, Iberico ham, assorted meats and more.

Here we discovered some interesting facts about the Spanish/Catalan culture.  The Spanish LOVE pork and the leg of the pig was proudly displayed all over the market.  Seafood is also very different in its presentation; did you know that the head is attached with almost every purchase of seafood? At the market, seafood and chicken are sold at the market with the head attached. Another cultural difference that we noticed were dog owners. Many people of Spain bring their dogs along with them everywhere they go. We saw dogs in the airport, on the streets, in cafés, and at the city market. Our tour guide Helena said that since most people live in small apartments with little to no air conditioning it is too hot for the dogs to stay inside all day.

See the Iberico Jamon in the background!

 

After leaving the city market we walked down to where the Mediterranean flows into Barcelona. As the temperature continued to rise, our energy levels decreased and our feet began to give out on us, we continued down a long stretch of sidewalk that paralleled the old city. Thirsting for a bottle of water we then continued to walk into the medieval part of the city and walked around the outside of a church we will tour tomorrow (Santa Maria del Mar). We were then given some free time to explore, shop, cool down and rehydrate. We later were led back to the hotel to catch up on some rest before dinner.

Suzanna began to feel better and met up with us for dinner. We enjoyed a seven course meal which included fresh tomato bruschetta with garlic, seafood casserole, vegetable casserole, calamari, gazpacho, seafood paella, and a final course of delicious dessert. After dinner Suzanna guided us on a night walk through Barcelona and we stopped to visit a few houses that the famous Spanish artist, Antonio Gaudí, designed. We walked to a house designed by Gaudí named the Batlló house. It is a key figure in modernist architecture of Barcelona. Seeing the beautiful house lit up at night was gorgeous. The roof of the house almost looks like the skin of a dragon with each tile looking like a scale. The balconies looked similar to masquerade masks and the pillars of the house looked like bones. A fun fact that Suzanna told us about the Batlló house is that if one was interested in renting the house for a party or wedding, it costs 5,000€ a hour. For long parties or weddings that adds up quickly! After visiting the Batlló house many of us were anxious to get back the hotel and get a good night sleep to be ready to take on day two in Barcelona.

 

 

Batlló house

 

 

Our first day roaming the streets of Barcelona also brought about some challenges. Communication with those who speak Catalan (the local language, a mix of Spanish, French and Italian) was quite difficult for some of us. Simply ordering a bottle of water in a cafè was not as simple as it sounds and as a French student myself, responding "oui" instead of "si" usually attracted some odd looks. Many of us also learned that jaywalking is never permissible. And in the words of Mr. Bizga, "DO NOT RUN ACROSS A STREET WITH A RED LIGHT!  IF YOU DO NOT WAIT FOR THE LITTLE GREEN MAN YOU WILL DIE."  Heading his warning we all will be more careful and patient and look both ways.

 

Today was a wonderful start to our European experience and we cannot wait to see what lies ahead of us in the next two weeks. Despite some of our ignorance to the culture, we have already learned an abundance about Barcelona that we did not know before and we will continue to adapt to this unfamiliar country.