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!