Baca Marian Shrines Pilgrimage 11 days

Europe
Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Austria
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegowina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Faroer
Finland
France
Germany
Great Britain
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Kosovo
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Moldavia
Monaco
Montenegro
Netherlands
North Macedonia
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
San Marino
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Ukraine

Created: 12.04.2017

Day 1 - DEPART USA - We depart our home airport to connect with our overnight flight with dinner arriving in Paris the next day. We enjoy in-flight movies, dinner and breakfast aloft. Day 2 -ARRIVE BARCELONA - This morning, we arrive in ____? ___ and we continue on our short flight to Barcelona where we are met and enjoy a brief orientation tour of Barcelona before we continue to our hotel for dinner and overnight.    Day 3 ??? BARCELONA/MONTSERRAT - This morning we celebrate Mass at the Cathedral.  Afterwards we through the Gothic quarter bisected by the famous Ramblas and see the important new developments at the pleasure port where many of the Olympic events were held in 1992. We enjoy a spectacular view from the top of the Montjuic hill, pass by the Exchange and visit the Church of the Holy Family or Sagrada Familia, the still uncompleted masterpiece of Antoni Gaudi. Afterwards we visit the Unesco World Heritage "Park Guell" one of Gaudi's Masterpieces of "landscape architecture.???  We continue to nearby Montserrat for dinner and overnight at our hotel.  Day 4 ???MONTSERRAT/LOURDES This morning we celebrate Mass at the Monastery housing the famed Black Madonna. If possible we enjoy the midday music of the famous boys choir here.  Afterwards, we continue to Lourdes where we transfer to our simple, pilgrim???s hotel near the Shrine for dinner. In the evening, we join the Torchlight Marian Procession.   DAY 5 - LOURDES - This day is spent in devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes.  We celebrate Mass at the Grotto, with a morning orientation visit to the Shrine and a walking tour of Lourdes, visiting Boly Mill, where St. Bernadette was born, the Cachot, formerly used as a jail, where she lived during the apparitions, and the parish church.  This afternoon is free for private devotions, Eucharistic Procession, the Blessing of the Sick or the legendary, healing waters of the miraculous Lourdes spring.  Dinner and overnight at our hotel.  In the evening, we can once again join the Torchlight Marian Procession.   Day 6 ??? LOURDES/AVIGNON ??? This morning, following Mass at the shrine, we depart Lourdes and pass through Carcassone, which boasts Europe's lengthiest medieval town walls.  Her mighty circle of towers on a hill above the River Aude gives Carcassone a fairy tale appearance. We continue northeast to the beautiful French city of Avignon and our hotel for dinner and overnight. Day 7 ??? AVIGNON/PARAY LE MONIAL - This morning, we visit Avignon's Palace of the Popes and other famous sites before departing and make our drive along the Rhone River to the beautiful Paray le Monial. On arrival, we celebrate Mass and continue to our hotel for dinner and overnight. Day 8 ???PARAY LE MONIAL/NEVERS - This morning, we celebrate Mass at the Chapel of St. Marguerite.  This is the site of the apparitions of Our Lord to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1673.  It was here that she received the 12 promises to increase the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Following some free time, we depart and travel north to Nevers for dinner and overnight. Day 9 ??? NEVERS/PARIS - St. Bernadette of Lourdes spent the last 13 years of her life here, and we view her incorrupt body in the Convent of St. Gildard.  We celebrate Mass here.  Afterwards we view the Palais Ducal and visit the local museum.  We also have time to browse among the shops offering their renowned pottery. We continue north to the City of Lights passing through Auxerre and Vezelay. We arrive at our hotel for dinner and overnight. Day 10 - PARIS -This morning following Mass at the Miraculous Medal Shrine of St. Catherine Laboure, we tour the sites of Paris, including a visit to the most enduring symbol of the French capital, the Notre Dame Cathedral on the Ile de la Cité. While here, we also make a stop at the Holy Chapel believed to hold relics, including nails and pieces of wood from the Cross of Calvary. As part of our tour, we pass by the Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower and travel down the famous Champs-Elysees. We will have the opportunity to enjoy the culinary delights of Paris as dinner will be on our own. Day 11 - RETURN TO USA - This morning, we depart Paris for the USA.  We arrive later today with memories of a lifetime.