To Barceloa

Looks like another beautiful day in sunny Spain! We finished our tour of Valencia by singing Thursday night mass at the Basilica. It was standing room only - kind of a surprise - and we followed that by singing a ¨flash mob¨rendition of Freedom is Coming on the square outside the church. It attracted quite a crowd, including passersby and residents coming out on their balcony to observe. Friday morning the bus took us to Barcelona for the day, and then to La Lloret, a seaside resort community, to spend the night. Today it is back to Barcelona to sing an afternoon concert in an outdoor marketplace and an evening concert in a music hall.

Monday in Spain

Monday morning dawned crisp and sunny. The 20 musicians and our approximately 16 family members/groupies boarded the tour bus for Toledo, a historic hilltop city surrounded on three sides by a river. It was started by the Romans and traded hands through the years, inhabited by Visigoths, Muslims, Jews and Christians. The architecture reflects the combined traditions of these various groups. Interestingly, our guide pointed out that Arab motifs such as distinctive archways reflect artistic choices rather than serving as religious symbols, thus there are Christian edifices built in Arab styles. We all split up to enjoy shopping and dining, wandering the steep, narrow streets in the afternoon sun. Some visited the cathedral, a mix of Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical styles, containing masterpieces by El Greco, de Goya, Titian, Rubens, Velasquez, Caravaggio and Bellini. Then we met at the Plaza Zocodover to board the bus and return to Madrid. In the evening more than 20 of us met for tapas at a lovely outdoor restaurant called Turf on Calle Santa Ana and celebrated Jennifer's birthday. A smaller group met up for a late-night outing to watch a performance of flamenco. Ole!

Espana!

The Visitation Choir left Kansas City at 12:45 pm. Saturday, Oct. 8. After a bit of a bumpy flight (you know you are in trouble when the pilot announces, "Please fasten your seat belts. This is serious!") we landed safely in Madrid at about 10 am Sunday morning. We cheerfully boarded our deluxe tourist bus to see the sights! After a brief stop to freshen up at our hotel, we proceded to Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena, the Madrid cathedral, to sinng 7 pm Mass, including Laudate Dominum, O Sacrum Convivium, Psalm 150 and a Kyrie Eleison. If anyone had peered into the choir loft during the service, they would have seen 20 black-clad musicians fighting drowsiness to keep their eyes open and bodies upright. But the generous acoustics carried our singing forth, and the congregation applauded our efforts at the end. As Beatrice says, truly God was praised. Afterwards we proceeded to a side chapel to receive the Communion. Despite the dark of night, the walls of the small cave-like chapel glittered with detailed mosaics. Beautiful!

On the ground in ATL.

¡VisEspaña! ¡Vamanos!

Many familiar faces currently arriving at KCI Terminal B...

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