Climbing Montserrat Once More: Last Full Day Part 1 (23rd June 2011)

An early mist had settled around the whole fo Montserrat, reminding people that this mountain is like no other. The whole atmosphere was almost winter-like: mist crept up the slopes and the sun dispersed it slowly, gradually filling the whole mountain with light once more.

The first weekend I had been at Montserrat I had gone to visit the tallest point of Montserrta mountain: Sant Jeroni. And today, my last full day, we were to visit the peak of Sant Antoni, with views of the famous “finger rock”, a tall pinnacle visible from many parts of the surrounding land.

Once more, the weather was the main control factor of the day, although I was able to take some of my favourite photos of the last six months that morning:

Its a very strange phenomenon that happens here: the mist usually settles right below the level at which the buildings, and in March the snow fell to that same level below the line of buildings at the top of the mountain. Today, the mist created some beautiful effects around the mountain. We were perched at the top of the peak behind the school and abbey. The cornice of the mountain was surrounded by a clearly marked line of mist which bulged around the car park and restaurant, but never rose above that level. A real bird's-eye view. We were peering straight into a wall of white nothingness around the rocks, and it really felt like we were at the top of the world at that point.

Sant Antoni has great views around Montserrat. Although not as tall as Sant Jeroni, the views are perhaps more impressive, with the famous “finger rock” next to us. There is a peculiar figure always seated at the top of this rock. It reminded me of the statue on the top of a hill back at

school in England, only the hill was completely vertical and around one hundred metres tall. It is in fact a statue of the Moreneta, the Black Madonna of Montserrat. And masses are held there regularly apparently too! I don't know how exactly they manage to lift an altar and a whole congregation up there without a helicopter, but it must be an incredible experience to be at the top of that rock.