Photo Albums and Photosharing

We've created a photosharing site with photos, videos and more. Make a cup of tea and sit down to a feast for the eyes.

CLICK HERE to go to the site.

Day Fourteen - We Received a Sign of Peace

This report aired on CNN while we were in Montserrat singing for peace. When we heard of this information we wept knowing that our sung prayers for peace had made a difference.

Day Thirteen - The Bells, The Dancing, The Singing

Some of us are hiking up the mountain, some of us just did three circle dances in the plaza as the bells rang, (dances to songs that are 1000 years old) and we have been granted two more times to sing for the Virgin in the Basilica before we leave on Wednesday. 

The bliss and gratitude we feel is incalculable.  We love the bells that ring to call folks to Lauds every morning at 7:10.
Blessings, Kate

Day Eleven - Meeting the Black Madonna

We're in this enchanted 5000 ft. mountain range that rises right out of the plains and so Internet is scarce. But with the little I have I must tell you that tomorrow (Saturday) we are singing in the Basilica for 20 minutes at 3:30 am (PST) and on Sunday at 7 am (PST). This is totally remarkable. Women are rarely allowed on the high altar (where the choir stalls are) and we feel totally awed by the responsibility and the honor. More photos will come to you after this singing session; we're focusing very hard. Many many blessings to you all from this sacred, miraculous place and from each of the 23 hearts on this sacred and miraculous pilgrimage. 
Blessings, Kate

Day Nine - The Pilgrimage to Montserrat

On Thursday, November 26th our whole group comes together to make the pilgrimage to Montserrat where we will sing for peace. Doesn't it look like the ancestors are standing behind the monastery? We will be hiking in these mountains when we aren't singing. Wow.

We are blessed.

Amrita
Click on the picture to see a close-up.

Day Five - Sitges

We arrived in Sitges yesterday, settled in and met at the ancient church of this sweet seaside town. We sang as the sun set and two couples and one very special woman gathered around and finally sang with us.

The couples were very touched and recording us on their cell phones. The woman Sophia has become a lovely new friend; she took us to an exhibit of chairs painted by local artists at what used to be the covered marketplace and then went with us to a lovely organ concert in the ancient church.

This feels like the right place to be.

Blessings, Kate

Day Four - Last Day in Barcelona

Greetings:
Our meeting with local women was sensational. 20 of them, 17 of us and beautiful singing and communication from the first note and word.

We all co-translated and really shared deeply. I'm very grateful to Helen Adamson (in Barcelona, our Helen Rubart's niece) for getting the word out. Some
of the gals we met will visit us again in Montserrat.

We are leaving Barcelona this morning for the Coast, a town called Sitges. It's on the Mediterranean...some of us plan a little swimming.

We have stumbled upon so many wonderful aspects of this lovely city...the traditional dance (the Sardana), done in a circle to lovely band music. We can't figure out the pulse of the dance but it's all done with hands held, arms high in the air. And very beautiful. You can see the pile of coats in the center of the circle and the sweet little band behind the dancers.

The food has been great...beautiful market, lovely churches and plenty of time singing. This group just collected an extra envelope of money to start a scholarship fund so more gals can do this traveling thing...What lovely hearts.

Blessings to all,
Kate

Barcelona - Day Three

Greetings:

Last night we heard the most sensational solo contemporary flamenco guitar concert in a lovely old stone church. Pedro Javier Gonzalez was really really good. Fabulous tone and technique, a brilliant musician.


Steps away from our hotel too. We're right in the center of the Gothic Quarter and it's still amazingly quiet. We finally have Kay, Meg and Marilyn and we're 17 now.

Tonight is our presentation to singers in the Barcelona area. We've heard that 20 women might show up. You know me, I've scoped out the xerox shop and have made up a page of songs that we sing in Spanish.

We're having a blast. Wish you were here.
Kate

Day One - Barcelona

Greetings:

We're just back from our first excursion in Barcelona...an open air bus tour around the northern part of the city and 4 major Gaudi sites. We toured through La Sagrada Familia Cathedral and it was totally amazing and wonderful. We sang "While God waits for his temple to built of love, men bring stones."

The weather is mild and the air is soft...about 68 F. Rain predicted for tomorrow. Our hotel is in a lovely old part of town, one block from Las Ramblas.

A lovely group has "galvanized" here and we have sung 4 times since our arrival at the airport yesterday morning long before dawn. We are 15* with 4 more joining us in a few days and 4 more joining in a week. One of us, Marilyn, missed her connecting flight in Atlanta and will join us tomorrow morning. We sang hoping she would catch our plane..."Gather Us Together" and "Blessings on Your Journey."

All's well. I send love and prayers.
Kate

*8 Bay Area, 4 Santa Fe, 2 Pittsburgh, 1 Ann Arbor

Bells at Montserrat

The bells of Montserrat Monastery (near Barcelona). It was a Sunday and the bells were pealing. It is an absolutely beautiful place.

PRESS RELEASE

Women Sing Peace Into the World

For Immediate Release—November 8, 2009

His Holiness the Dalai Lama made a statement last year in Dharmasala, his home in exile. He said, “Women are more compassionate and have more power to understand and feel the needs of others as compared to men.” Last month at the Vancouver Peace Summit he stunned the audience with this statement, “The world will be saved by the western woman."

In our modern world fear is prevalent everywhere. It is the driving force in government, finance, healthcare, marketing and pervades our lives in many other ways. A subtle prevailing fear is that we will not be relevant or make a difference. For some, this means notoriety, but many people are hungry to make a difference for the better. The events of 911 and daily news stories of terrorism and violence have shifted people’s priorities from gaining social status and feeding greed to following their passion and finding a meaningful expression that becomes their legacy. Women especially are beginning to find their “voice” and their feminine power to change the world for the better.

The recent news of the tragic murders of men and women at the Ft. Hood Army Deployment base in Texas has shocked our nation into another level of awareness—that war and strife are futile and senseless. Chaplain Cornell Mike Lemke shared comforting thoughts at the candlelight ceremony saying, “We are military, we want to make things happen. But now is not the time to make things happen. Now we need to listen and speak soft words.”

A movement has been sweeping across the country and has even crossed international waters in the last nine years. It began with one women sitting at the bedside of her friend who was dying of AIDS. In the morning she was busy with necessary tasks around his house—housecleaning, laundry, and dishes. But, in the afternoon she sat by his side and sang to him, noticing a marked difference in his mood and his comfort level between the morning and afternoon activities.

A few years later this same woman, Kate Munger, gathered with 15 women in Berkeley, California, and the Threshold Choir was born. Kate says that the mission of the organization, which is to sing for and with people at the thresholds of life, creates a shiver down the spine of women who are called to this volunteer work.

Currently there are more than 80 choirs across the United States, Canada, Australia and Iceland numbering more than 2000 women. These women know what it means to listen and sing softly bringing comfort and peace to those they serve. For the most part they sing at the bedsides of people who are at the end of life. This is a time when fear and pain can dominate a life day and night. The songs, which are sung in a "lullaby voice," can actually bring comfort not only to the person who is dying but also to the family members and caregivers as well.

This month 24 of these women will re-enact the tradition from the Middle Ages of making a pilgrimage to Montserrat, Spain to visit the shrine of the Black Madonna. There they will sing songs of peace and joy in the monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat, where in the Middle Ages and beyond many Jewish, Christian and Muslim pilgrims joined together in song and dance to honor their successful pilgrimage to bless Her Holiness. These women have compiled a repertoire from many traditions and languages—Hebrew, Arabic, Latin, Catalan and English, including the beautiful Libre Vermell, which they will sing in the Basilica at Montserrat.  Their prayer is that these three monotheistic religions (called "The Family of the Book" in the Qu'ran) will once again coexist in respect and peace; their prayer is for peace on earth.

They will share their experience in a documentary to be released sometime in 2010. To learn more about the Threshold Choir, visit their website at www.thresholdchoir.org.

Barcelona Highlights from Joan Chu's Trip in 2008

Books on Medieval Spain

I tried to post this earlier but guess it did not get through. I have been reading some books on Medieval Spanish history, particularly on the three religions and how they coexisted. (Like a good librarian!)

I recommend either of these two books:

The Ornament of the World-How Muslims, Jews and Christians Created a Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain by Maria Rosa Menoca, 2002

A good overview. Focuses on the South. Stories of the people are wonderful: El Cid, Maimonides, Don Quixote, Moses of Leon, Averroes, Heloise, Arabian Nights, etc.

A Vanished World: Medieval Spain's Golden Age of Enlightenment by Chris Lowney. 22005

Another overview with stories of individuals. Goes up to Christopher Columbus and talks about the Golden Age for each faith.

Quote from Ibn Arabi, A Sufi mystic and writer, 1165-1240

"My heart has become capable of every form, it is a pasture for gazelles and a convent for Christian monks and a temple for idols and the pilgrim's Ka'ba and the Tables of the Torah and the book of the Quran. I follow the religion of Love."

Jacquelyn Marie

VIRTUAL TOUR OF MONTSERRAT ABBEY

This is so cool. You can do a virtual tour of the monastery. Don't you just love technology?
http://visita3d.com/vv/montserrat/index.php?ext=ing

ABOUT THE LIBRE VERMELL

Libre Vermell the Red Book of Montserrat

One of the most precious treasures from the library of Montserrat is a codex from the late fourteenth century, the 'Llibre Vermell' or 'Red Book'. The manuscript is named after it's red velvet cover which was created in the late 19th century. 35 of the original 172 sheets in folio of this manuscript are lost today. Besides various other contents, mainly for liturgical use, one of the fascicles (folio 21v - 27r) contains ten musical works (notated during the years 1396-1399).

An anonymous scribe explains in the text of the book, the intended function of the pieces which were copied by him:

"Quia interdum peregrini quando vigilant in ecclesia Beate Marie de Monte Serrato volunt cantare et trepudiare, et etiam in platea de die, et ibi non debeant nisi honestas ac devotas cantilenas cantare, idcirco superius et inferius alique sunt scripte. Et de hoc uti debent honeste et parce, ne perturbent perseverantes in orationibus et devotis contemplationibus."

Translation: "As it happens that the pilgrims, while holding night vigil in the church of the Blessed Virgin from Montserrat, sometimes desire to sing and to dance and even so during the day, in the Church Square, where only virtuous and pious songs may be sung, some suitable songs have been written down here for this need. These should be used in a respectful and moderate manner, so as not to disturb those who wish to continue their prayers and religious contemplations."

Since there was no pilgrims hostel at Montserrat, the visitors spent the night in the church, thus rearranging the liturgical room into a hostel. The songs of the Llibre Vermell were meant to replace the traditional secular songs and dances performed by the celebrating pilgrims during the night vigil. Fitting to this task, the "Cants dels Romeus", the songs of the pilgrims, have a popular tone. Some Spanish traditional melodies were probably also used, but their original lyrics were substituted by religious texts which should communicate essential points of the christian doctrine of salvation to the faithful. The erudite and and well-travelled monks from Montserrat also combined musical influences from different European regions.

LEGENDS OF MONTSERRAT

This information was forwarded to us by Rhea. The source of the information is
http://www.amaranthpublishing.com/LlibreVermell.htm

Outside of Barcelona, Spain, is the legendary monastery of Montserrat, the site of religious pilgrimages for a long time, possibly going back even before the Christian era.

The monastery can be found about halfway up the steep, barren mountain. Only ruins can be found of the 11th-century Benedictine monastery, the new monastery on the site was built in the 19th century.The monastery at Monsterrat is home to one of the famous "Black Virgin" statues. More about such statues and the history and legends of the Black Virgins later.....monastery of Montserrat has long been a center of devotion for the Virgin Mary. Legends say that the Virgin Mary has performed numerous miracles there which explains the fact that the mountain had been inhabited by hermits as early as the end of the ninth century. During this time the mountain was reconquered from the "Saracens" and given to the Benedictine monastery of Ripoll by the counts Wifredo and Suner.

The monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat was created out of one of the hermitages. A large number of pilgrims went there, mainly because of their belief in the wonder-working powers of the black statue of the Virgin Mary . The monastery was also a cultural center of the first order. Some of the monks residing their had studied at far away universities like Paris or Bologna. Clerics from noble Spanish families, mostly from Catalonia, represented the aristocracy in Montserrat through their celebration of daily masses.
This is how Montserrat became the spiritual, cultural and political center of Catalonia. With the conquests of the Catalon-Aragonese crown, Montserrat became famous worldwide: Churches were built in honor of the Virgin from Montserrat in Mexico, Chile and Peru. In the colonies, islands and settlements were named after her. After the almost complete devastation of the monastery by Napoleon in 1811, Montserrat regained its former significance only during the Catalonian 'Renaixença' and its rebuilding at the end of the nineteenth century.

Legends Of Montserrat

There are many legends concerning the mountains and monastery of Montserrat.

One legend tells that in the year 880, on a Saturday night when the sun was going down over Montserrat, some boy shepherds saw a bright light coming down from the sky, accompanied by beautiful music. The following Saturday they returned with their parents. And the vision came to them again. On the following four Saturdays the Rector of Olesa went with them. And everyone saw the vision.

As soon as he heard about what had happened, the Bishop of Manresa arranged a visit. A grotto was seen where the image of the Holy Mother of God was found. The Bishop suggested that the image be taken to Manresa, but as soon as it was lifted up, it became so heavy that it could not be moved. The Bishop interpreted this as the manifestation of the will of the Virgin to stay in that place. He ordered a chapel to Mary to be built and that she be worshipped on the mountain of Montserrat.

The Black Virgin & Mary Magdalene

If it is true that a large proportion of the ancient miraculous Madonnas of the world are black, why is this phenomenon generally so little known today? A poetic verse from 1629 catalogues some of the national shrines of Europe, all of which, at the heart, seem to represent an ancient tradition of devotion to a statue of the Black Virgin. Many such Black Virgins exist, often having survived centuries of war, some in large basilicas, others in village churches, yet others in museums and libraries. Many more are also in private hands, for a variety of reasons. Some are painted statues, others are murals or paintings, and some are statues carved from ebony.

Some of the most famous Black Virgin shrines are Chartes, Loreto, Zaragoza, Rocamadour, Montserrat, and Guadalupe. Early textual references describing images of Black Virgins are few, although Peter Comestor (12th c. biblical scholar of Troyes and Paris), St. Bernard of Clairvaux (an early leader of the medieval Knights Templar) and Nicephorus Callixtus (1256-1335), the Byzantine church historian, all have had something to say on this subject.

There is also a strong religious folk tradition connecting the Black Virgins to the medieval Knights Templar and also with Mary Magdelene. A famous Black Virgin - la Madone des Fenestres (the Madonna of the Windows), near St-Martin-de-Vesubie (one site where many Templars were massacred) was believed by folk tradition in the area to have originally been brought to southern France by Mary Magdelene. Whether such legends spring from a kernel of truth, or are purely legendary, it is still intriguing to examine the sheer number of such place-names, legends, and beliefs about these subjects and their interconnections, at least in the popular mind. And that in itself says something.

Montserrat & The Holy Grail

According to the Columbia Viking Desk Encyclopedia (1968 version), Montserrat was thought in the Middle Ages to have been the site of the castle which contained the Holy Grail. Says the encyclopedia, "The Renaissance church contains a black wooden image of the Virgin, carved, according to tradition, by St. Luke. In the Middle Ages the mountain, also called Monsalvat, was thought to have been the site of the castle of the Holy Grail."

In Christian mythology, the Holy Grail was the dish, plate, cup or vessel that caught Jesus' blood during his crucifixion. It was said to have the power to heal all wounds. A theme joined to the Christianized Arthurian mythos relates to the quest for the Holy Grail.

A number of knights undertook the quest for the Grail, in tales that have become annexed to the Arthurian mythos. Some of these tales tell of knights who succeeded, like Percival or the virginal Galahad; others tell of knights who failed to achieve the grail because of their tragic flaws, like Lancelot. In Wolfram's telling, the Grail was kept safe at the castle of Munsalvaesche (mons salvationis) or Montsalvat, entrusted to Titurel, the first Grail-King. Some, not least the monks of Montserrat, have identified the castle with the real sanctuary of Montserrat in Catalonia.

Hotel in Barcelona

In case anyone else didn't know what hotel we are in in Barcelona:

Hotel Duc de la Victoria

Duc, 15

Barcelona

tel (34) 93 270 3410

nhducdelavictoria@nh-hotels.com

ABOUT THE BLACK MADONNA

This was originally posted as a comment from Elizabeth, but I wanted to make it a blog by itself so that people would make sure to see it. Amrita

This is my first venture into the blogosphere. I'm resistant, but I see its usefulness and am grateful for Amrita's and Rhea's efforts. This is a message from my friend and teacher, Robert Powell, that I wanted to share with you -- it has information about the Madonna herself, and also about Gaudi's famous unfinished cathedral in Barcelona.
"Montserrat is a very special place.
The first thing to know is that the Black Madonna in the cathedral is a copy of the original - most people do not know this. To find the original, one has to take the ski lift down. ("Ski lift" is not quite the right expression; I guess one could say "mountain tram"). When one is down, one follows the winding path leading to the right across the rocky cliff face. It is probably about a 20 minute walk, not very steep, but a gentle ascending incline. On the way one encounters scenic displays of the 14 stages of the cross. This mountain path leads to the cave/church where the Black Madonna is. Not so many people go there. Linger in front of the Black Madonna and one can feel that there the forces of the heavens meet and unite with the forces of the earth. No wonder that the Black Madonna, according to legend, sought out this place to be and kept returning there every time she was removed.
When you return back up the ski lift (mountain tram), you come back to the level of the cathedral. From this level it is also possible to take another ski lift (mountain tram) up to the top of the mountains. If you have time, do this, as one has a spectacular view from up there, and there is something very primal and mystical about these mountain peaks.
Lastly, if you spend any time in Barcelona, a "must" is to visit the cathedral La Sagrada Familia designed by Gaudi ("The Holy Family") - which must rank as one of the wonders of the (present) world. Unfortunately, the cathedral is still not finished. Nevertheless, it is an overwhelming experience to see - and to be inside - this cathedral. http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Sagrada_Familia.html."

TRAVEL DETAILS

Posted from Kate on 10/29/09

Flight Details:
Delta has had some small schedule changes and everyone should view their itineraries
online before they leave. Whatever is online is the most current and correct information.
You can try to check in online 24 hours in advance, but for international flights, you almost
always have to check in at the airport so that they can check your passport. Everyone….
don't forget your passports and triple check they are still valid.
You should check in at least 2 hours in advance.

To look at your flights online go to www.Delta.com
Then click on "traveling and check in" and on "itineraries". Put in your name where it asks for it and your confirmation number which is the itineraries I have sent out.  You can do it today and it will tell you how many days till we leave.  Pretty cool. 19 days to go for most of us....

Just to make sure you have them I'll go over them now. I'll just mention your last names below….
Lauren, Munger, O'Shea, Stump, Weiss conf. #CTBGX6
Cowan, Hughes, Salisbury it’s DOUAJR
Caldwell and Pierce it's LVTLUW (reminder….you will check in with Air France)
Tetzlaff it's LAQUHF -check in with Air France
Bram, Philpott and Talbert it's CQEMBA
Marie, it’s DNLEXV
Scott, it’s PFCEFI
DeMore and Cottrell it’s a KLM flight on the way out. So go to www.KLM.com  rec loc is 3WG53M
Chu and Schnurman it’s PHGZV2
Sapienza it’s QKRJEE
Renner it’s P4GY5I
Mathieu and Chantler- you have your flights on your own...

Travel Insurance:
There is one group policy number for everyone. The Travel Guard policy number is 2803858. Group name is Kate Munger Threshold Choir.
The emergency phone number to call from overseas is 1 (715) 345-0505. Call collect.
The "description of coverage" pamphlets have many more details.  I'll go over them and forward the pertinent details.

Ground Transportation:
The price of the trip includes ground transportation from Barcelona Airport to Duc de la Victoria, Barcelona to Sitges, Sitges to Montserrat, and from Montserrat back to the Barcelona Airport. (4 Buses).

Travel Agent:
Any travel details or questions about flights you can contact Wendy at Pacific Harbor Travel:
Wendy Simon C.T.C
Owner/Pacific Harbor Travel inc.
519 Seabright Ave. Ste 201
Santa Cruz, Ca. 95062
831 427-5000 phone
831 4250709 fax
wendy@pacificharbortravel.com

Our Hotels:

Nov. 18 - 22 in Barcelona
Hotel Duc de la Victoria Duc, 15
08001 Barcelona
Tel: (34) 93 270 3410
nhducdelavictoria@nh-hotels.com

Nov. 22 - 26 in Sitges
Hotel Subur
Paseo de la Ribera s/n
08870 Sitges
Tel: (34) 93 894 0066
info@hotelsubur.com

Nov. 26 - Dec. 2 at Montserrat
Hotel Abat Cisneros
Monestir de Montserrat s/n
Tel: (34) 93 877 7701
reserves@larsa-montserrat.com

 

TRAVEL TIPS

Amrita asked me to post this so here it is....from Joan Chu

General Information:

• The reason we travel is to have new experiences - don't set your mind on things being a certain way.
• Here's a helpful general link: http://www.spain.info
• Info on Montserrat Monastery: http://www.abadiamontserrat.net

Things to See Do:

• Any town in Spain offers excellent people-watching and food and architecture and chapels and such..
• The beach is amazing even when cold and in November it could be nice and warm - or not. I enjoy just being somewhere new even without activities.
• Barcelona is way more than you can see in the time allowed and there is a local train between there and Sitges.
• In Barcelona, the part I consider not to be missed, is the Gaudi architecture - Park Güell, Casa Batlló, La Sagrada Familia and anything else you can find by him.
• Many people like the Ramblas (aka Pickpocket Central) which is near our digs. The city market there is wonderful and a good place to get a cheap lunch to eat on a bench. Lots of buskers hang there. The shops can be rip-offs but if you go a block or so off the main drag it's better. Some are really good.
• The Opera Palace is gorgeous and was restored, outside at least, just a couple of years ago. If there is a good show there it will be worth the ticket. It is also walking distance to our hotel.
• Barceloneta is a beachy area where there are many good seafood eateries, or so I'm told. A walk along there is easy and on the way back to the hotel you can arrange to walk past some ancient walls that are cool.
• Very near to our hotel is a remarkable wonderful Gothic cathedral. I love it.
• We should have a nice quiet visit compared to summertime.
• Don't expect serious Flamenco in this part of Spain though there is some there. Catalán is a culture to itself and proud of it. The Flamenco center is Andalusia, south and west of here. Think C&W in Seattle. It's there, but Texas would be more like it.
• A guided city tour is worth the money and if enough of us go we can get a good group rate. Tipping the guide is customary. A walking tour in Barcelona covers lots of great things in a short distance and saves time over finding them yourself. But the surprise factor is cool as well. For the limited walkers this is the way to go.

Weather & Transportation:

• Barcelona temps this week are predicted to be between 50 and 70 degrees F (10 to 22 C).
• We will have our own bus that will move us as a group from Barcelona Airport to Duc de la Victoria, Barcelona to Sitges, Sitges to Montserrat, and from Montserrat back to the Barcelona Airport (4 Buses). This is included in your price for the trip.
  
• It's a great city for walking provided it doesn't rain too much. Taxis are abundant and there is a good metro system.
• There is also a "bus turistic" that you can hop on and off of without limit for some number of hours (like 24) for something like $25. Don't hold me to the price. There are two, and they make intersecting loops so you can see most parts of town easily even if you know absolutely nothing. If you change your mind about something you skipped, you just go around again till you get back to it.This is a good thing if your feet are tired.
  

Money:

• The only US dollars you will need are to cover expenses in US airports both ways.
• You may want to buy something to drink or eat on the flight. And while we're on that subject, take an empty water bottle. Once through airport security, you can fill it from a fountain.
• You'll save money and eat better if you pack a couple of sandwiches or whatever you want for the flights.
• Take an extra small change purse for your US money to stay in while there. Saves coin confusion and you just dig it out when you get back. Enjoy your euro cents by checking them to see which country they come from. Each country makes its own version and they travel widely. Kind of cool.
• Pickpockets are a serious problem but they don't hurt anyone - just steal from them. Keep sharp eyes out.
• Don't bother getting euros before you go.
• Take your debit card and make sure you know the PIN numerically as they don't have letters on the keys at the ATM. FORGET traveler's checks. You can't use them anywhere. Spend them here if you already got some. Credit cards are good for big purchases but I always go ATM for what I think I'll need for a few days. There is a small fee but it's way less than any other option. And you won't have to change money back or come home with lots of euros.

Food & Dining:

• Nuts and energy bars are good with you.
• Water in Spain is perfectly safe. Hooray!!

Clothing & Laundry:

• About clothing: the weather can be from balmy to icy so bring layers. Last I heard Madrid is cold and rainy but I have spent weeks in Spain in January when I never used a jacket, even at night. Since we will be at sea level and also high above it there's variety built in.
• Laundry in Europe is impossible. Wash out your smalls whenever we will be in the same place at least two more nights.
• Some women bring panty-liners for when they run out of clean undies.
• It's almost cheaper to buy a new shirt than to wash one in a laundromat - if you can find one.

Electricity:

• Bring an adapter and a converter if you need to use chargers and such.
• Please go to this link to get the whole picture: http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap11/electric.htm

Shopping:

• There are stores in Europe. Bringing home deodorant or shampoo extends the trip memories, and drugstores and groceries are as interesting as tourist spots. I can spend hours in them
• If you will be buying gifts and souvenirs, bring an extra bag that can come in your regular suitcase.
• If you plan on buying gifts, try to get an idea of what you will be looking for for each person before you go. Saves time and helps you not buy too many things.

Language/Communicating:

• Getting lost is not a problem. When we get to our lodgings, grab a card from the desk and put it in your wallet. Even if you speak no Spanish at all you can show it to a taxi driver.
• If your voice is louder than the others around you - it's too loud. Each place has a different standard.

Sleep &Jet Lag:

• Jet lag can be as bad as a hangover (remember those?) but can be practically nil if you are careful.
• Sleep on the plane as much as you can, or just drop into a deep lull. Earphones and an MP3 player are wonderful for this. I bring my own earphones since the airplane ones hurt after a few hours. On most transatlantic flights you will be given an eye mask and earplugs.
• Hydrate like mad. Get up and walk up and down the plane once in a while or do knee bends and leg stretches.
• When you arrive to Spain, STAY AWAKE. No napping at all (no matter how much you yearn for it) if you want to feel better a.s.a.p. The sooner you get acclimated the less time you waste. It's okay to walk around in a daze but remember the pickpocket alert.
• Keep outdoors in the natural sunlight and walk and breathe deeply. Sit on a bench and just watch the world go by.
• If you can't be outside, sit near a window to get used to the new daylight schedule. (The time difference from California is nine hours. Maybe eight with DST over. Can't remember that part.) Really, don't go to bed till late the evening of your arrival day and you'll sleep better and awake more refreshed. In Spain, people stay up quite late and there will be lots to do until, well, quite late. Luckily Kate knows the value of naps so after the first day, indulge and then stay up late with the Spaniards. Many businesses in Spain close for a couple of hours in the afternoon.

Phone, Internet, Photos, Journal:

• If you don't get your phone on an international plan (mine doesn't cost anything extra but check with your carrier) your phone won't even work as a clock or calculator. Strange but true. At keast with my old phone it was.
• If you ever journal, now's the time. There will be so much to remember you may not be able to hold it all in your brain and will want to relive it later on.
• Labels printed with the addresses of folks you want to send post cards to save bringing an address book.
• Mail things early if you want them to beat you home.
• Internet cafes are easy to find and use but the keyboard is different.
• You may need an extra card for your camera.
• Calling home is easy with a card but you can buy then there. And remember Skype.

Things to Bring (not to bring):

• Your travel documents including your passport. Make sure your passport does not expire before your trip ends.
  
• Pack, and then take at least a third of what you packed out and put it away - you won't need it.
• Take your prescription meds divided into two containers, one in the suitcase and one with you in case something goes astray or gets lifted. OTC meds can be bought there, even homeopathic.
• An extra pair of glasses is a really good idea too. I had a pair break on the flight over once and was sorry I didn't know this.
• Take two photocopies of your passport and give one to a friend just in case. This can save you hours. US passports are hugely valuable on the black market so don't carry yours. Lock it up in your suitcase or the hotel safe.
• The ziplock bag is your friend when you travel. (Bring varying sizes.) I use them sort categories of things in my carry-on e.g. reading and writing (sudoku, journal, pens), food, meds. Makes for less pawing through in a dark plane. And in my suitcase I have the bigger ones for things I buy to take home, postcards, maps, wet clothes, laundry, undies, socks - you get the picture.
• Do NOT bring new shoes.
• DO bring a folding umbrella.