Outward Bound

Many of you know that John attended Colorado Outward Bound School in 1972. He has always wanted to return and this month he did, spending 8 days near Marble, CO, with a patrol of 6 other over-50's, backpacking in the Rockies, mostly over 10,000 feet. 

It was a blast!

Steubenville Conference

At the Defending the Faith Conference at Franciscan University, learning techniques to engage the culture. Amazing music and speakers, a who's who of US Catholic thinkers and writers. 

Back to Paris

On Sunday, June 19th. We returned to Paris to friend Dominique Boatwright, who had a wonderful surprise in store for us - lunch at the famed Tour d'Argent restaurant on the Seine across from Notre Dame. The Picture is  sort of dark, but the food and atmosphere was fabulous- truly a once in a lifetime experience. 

On to Germany

We flew from Madrid to Paris on Wedesday, June 15, parting from our companions, Helen & Robert Feliz for the first time since April 20, eight weeks together. What good friends to put up with us for so long!

We drove our rented car across Belgium into Germany, staying overnight at Andernach, near Koblenz. 

The next day we visited our loved Schoenstatt Shrine in Vallendar, for the first time since just before our 2013 departure. We made a new friend in the new English-Speaking Coordinator there, Sister M. Lourdes, who offered us the affectionate greeting characteristic of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary. 

Madrid

Spent two days in Madrid at very end of our trip. Highlights were finally seeing the Prado museum, which truly is magnificent, especially the El Greco's. Also got to attend Mass at the Schoenstatt Shrine, near the US Embassy and had dinner with Spanish friends, Almudena and Pedro. 

The view from our rooftop pool deck. Walking the streets of Madrid was really fun.

The Valley of the Fallen

Sunday was at the Vallee de los Caidos or the Valley of the Fallen, the Franco-era, monumental memorial to Spain's Civil War dead. Like the war itself, the monument is about religion, with a gigantic cross towering over a huge church carved into a mountain, and presided over by Benedictine monks. No pic of the interior allowed, but the exterior is grand enough.

We stayed overnight at the monastery guesthouse and went to Vespers, in Latin of course, with the monks.

Toledo and the Greek

Friday and Saturday were in Toledo, the city of Steel, seat of Spanish Catholicism, and the working home of El Greco, the artist whose works are featured prominently in a museum and the city's cathedral. 

The painting above is in the sacristy of the cathedral, along with several others. Imagine being a priest, preparing for mass, surrounded by such majesty.

.