Tuesday May 15 -- Day 3

** On Tuesday , we spent a whole lot of time on the bus!**


-After having a  couple of days in and around Barcelona, it was time for the group to roll on.  The travel to Madrid was a little bit of a haul, or as I like to think about it "networking on wheels",  but well worth it.  In mid-route and a little bit off the beaten path, the group stopped at a lovely little hideaway called Monastery de Piedra.  You're probably wondering what that means, right?  Well, 'Piedra' is Spanish for stone or rock. So it means Monastery of Stone and truthfully, this name doesn’t do the monastery justice. 

-The history behind the Monastery de Piedra is a long history that dates back to the 12th century. Having survived nearly a millennium and countless wars, the monastery is a stable for Spain and the Spanish people. 

-Though the monastery was a challenging trek on foot, the peaceful and serene aura of the nature was stunning and left all of us speechless. Ranging from waterfalls and caves to canyons and ponds, the variety of nature is tremendous. Not much could have made this monastery any better.

-Afterwards, moving on towards Madrid was quite the drive, but well worth it. Being the complete opposite of the nature-based Monastery de Piedra, Madrid provided a good hotel for a weary group of travelers after a long day.

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