Room with a Pew Sleeping Our Way Through Spain's Ancient Monasteries

One recent summer, Richard Starks and Miriam Murcutt traveled through Spain from northern Barcelona to Malaga on the southern Mediterranean coast staying exclusively in ancient monasteries. As they quickly discovered, these are intriguing places in which to stay. Ripe with history, art and culture and peopled by a dying breed of monks and nuns, these monasteries are rarely visited living museums. These last-chance-to-see places are open to anyone who cares to stop by (you don't have to be religious, although it doesn't hurt if you are). Lodging is inexpensive and the inhabitants are often eager for customers and always hospitable (in keeping with the Rule of St. Benedict). This account of the authors' journey is irreverent at times, and often amusing, but always respectful and entertaining. It will show you what it is like to turn your back on tourist Spain, to leave behind the hotels, pensions and up-market paradorsand immerse yourself in the cowled world of Spain's many and varied ancient monasteries. This book includes enough information for readers to plan similar journeys of their own. Monasteries visited: El Reial Monestir de Santa Maria de Vallbona ** El Monasterio de la Virgen de Monlora ** Monasterio de San Salvador de Leyre ** El Real Monasterio de Santo Tomas, Avila ** El Monasterio de la Purisima Concepcion y San Jose , El Toboso ** El Monasterio de la Santa Maria de las Escalonias ** Convento de la Purisima Concepcion (Santa Maria) Marchena

Richard Starks and Miriam Murcutt are writers and editors who have authored several books, including Lost in Tibet and Along the River that Flows Uphill. Worldwide travelers, they rank their journey through Spain’s ancient monasteries as one of their most rewarding experiences. They live in Boulder, Colorado. Visit them at www.starksmurcutt.com.