Unbelievable Sights, Indescribable Feelings

by Anukriti Banerjee (Singapore)

I didn't expect to find Spain

This is a recount of my favourite travel experience of all time. It is not an experience most people can say they've had. Whether or not you believe me is up to you. But this is a memory I will treasure for the rest of my life. - It was my final evening in beautiful Barcelona. I had had enough sangria and paella to last me a lifetime, and I wanted to squeeze in one final adventure before heading home. The task wasn't easy. I had explored every nook and cranny. I extensively used my Spanish to connect with locals and savour the true essence of the city. There really wasn't much left to see. I decided to head to the tourist info centre to try and look for an activity. Luckily, I stumbled upon a brochure advertising "El Monasterio de San Cugat del Vallés", a UNESCO heritage site located about 1.5 hours from Barcelona. I had never heard of it and was intrigued by its rich history. Founded in the ninth century, it houses the remains of St. Cucuphas (Catalan: Sant Cugat), thus its name. The architectural style has both Romanesque and Gothic influences. It even has a minaret, an addition made by al-Mansur Ibn Abi Aamir and his troops. With so many layers of arts and culture to unpack in a single building, it would mark the perfect end to my Barcelona bash. I began my journey on the S1 train. One of my favourite things about Barcelona is how well connected the city is. For a two-day pass which offers unlimited journeys on any of the transport mediums, it costs a mere 16.30 euros. A single ticket is EUR 2.40 and buying a pass will go a long way because unlike many smaller cities in Europe, Barcelona isn't all that walkable. Especially not in the summer. Unfortunately, as this was a last-minute decision, I hadn't paid much attention to the monastery's opening hours. Upon reaching the town of Sant Cugat at 6:40 pm, I realised that the monastery closes at 7 pm. Disappointed but still in high spirits, I made my way regardless. I was welcomed by an elegant, off-white structure whose doorway arch was adorned with incredible detail. The sun was setting, and bathed in the golden rays, the facade was glowing. It was truly a sight to behold. As I continued walking, I was greeted by a kind elderly man. I thought he was a tourist too but he began speaking to me in Catalan and much to his dismay, I wasn't able to respond. He resorted to gesturing and pointing to his watch, he conveyed that at 7 pm, the doors of the monastery will open. Excited by the prospect of actually getting to see what I had come for, I waited impatiently for another 5 minutes. It was 7 pm but the doors did not open. The man smiled at me and gestured to follow him. He used the large knockers to bang against the wooden doors. We were then greeted by a priest clad in crisp, white robes. The man conveyed to the priest the intent of the ruckus he had just created and the two men kindly led me in. I was awestruck by what I saw. I realised that the giant dial on the outside was made of many fragments of stained glass and the sunlight cascaded through to create a beautiful, rainbow-coloured impression upon the altar. The priest nudged me to walk around and relish every aspect and I did just that. When I was finally satisfied, I walked outside to thank the priest and the man for this incredible opportunity. However, much to my astonishment, the men were nowhere to be seen. The monastery was a small building, and if either of them were in another section, I'd still be able to see them. But they were truly gone. Now I'm not sure whether the man was Jesus or a reincarnation of Sant Cugat himself. I do not believe in ghosts either. But what happened that day in the quaint town of Sant Cugat was beyond the ordinary, and definitely, the best way to end the trip.