Rodney Campbell's Blog

Montserrat which means “saw or serrated mountain” is located about 50km north west of Barcelona and visiting is a very popular day trip from Barcelona. It’s easy to get to by train and gives you an opportunity to see the Spanish countryside on the way. The views from the monastery are stunning, well worth a day trip from Barcelona.

Into the Clouds

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 62 mm, 1/60 sec at f/5.6, ISO 125

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 28 mm, 1/160 sec at f/5.6, ISO 100

It’s about a 90 minute ride in the R5 train from Placa d’Espanya. You can choose to take the rack railway or the cable car to get from the train station up to the monastery. We chose the cable car for a magnificent ride up through the clouds to the mountain peaks above.

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 70 mm, 1/160 sec at f/5.6, ISO 110

The view from the top was fantastic and we were here early in the morning so got the morning mist :). It cleared up pretty soon afterwards for a fantastic day.

What Lies Below

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 55 mm, 1/160 sec at f/8, ISO 100

Above the Clouds

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 68 mm, 1/160 sec at f/8, ISO 140

Arrival at Monserrat

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 78 mm, 1/160 sec at f/8, ISO 360

The Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria, often simply referred to as La Boqueria, is a large public market in Barcelona.

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 105 mm, 1/125 sec at f/5.3, ISO 200

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 72 mm, 1/80 sec at f/5, ISO 160

The first mention of the Boqueria market in Barcelona dates from 1217, when tables were installed near the old city gate to sell meat.

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 145 mm, 1/160 sec at f/8, ISO 500

The diverse range of food in the markets is pretty impressive. We enjoyed wandering the markets and buying interesting things to consume :).

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 190 mm, 1/200 sec at f/5.6, ISO 1600

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 28 mm, 1/30 sec at f/5.6, ISO 280

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 135 mm, 1/160 sec at f/5.6, ISO 180

Along with the fantastic spiral staircase going the height of the hotel, in the lobby was this spectacular old set of stairs.

NIKON D750 + 13.0 mm f/2.8 @ 13 mm, 1/13 sec at f/5.6, ISO 180

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

NIKON D750 + 13.0 mm f/2.8 @ 13 mm, 1/13 sec at f/5.6, ISO 320

NIKON D750 + 13.0 mm f/2.8 @ 13 mm, 1/13 sec at f/4, ISO 125

NIKON D750 + 13.0 mm f/2.8 @ 13 mm, 1/15 sec at f/4, ISO 100

NIKON D750 + 13.0 mm f/2.8 @ 13 mm, 1/20 sec at f/4, ISO 100