At the beginning of September we spent three wonderful days in Pallerols following in the footsteps of St. Josemaría. We are a youth club of Opus Dei, the Tiber Club, from Rome.

We made a trip to Spain to participate in a football tournament in Torreciudad. After this activity we rounded off the trip with this stay in Pallerols and the Pyrenees. For the thirty-eight boys between 14 and 17 years old who came it was a very enriching experience.

Another group came with us from Palermo, bringing the total to 57 people.

On August 31 we arrived by bus to Oliana. There Jordi received us and accompanied us to eat at the Font del Caner, in Peramola; it was 3 in the afternoon. The place was very green and well kept. It was very nice in the shade. Afterwards he guided us to the rectory of Pallerols where we settled in. The place is very well kept. It has a well-equipped kitchen, bathrooms, a conference room and a very pleasant outside area where tables are set up and you can have lunch or dinner.

What impressed me most was the church and the place where St. Josemaría spent the night, before finding the rose of Pallerols.

As there was still time until sunset, we took a walk to the Cabaña de San Rafael (a half-hour walk) where we had a talk prepared by Michele.

 

 

 

On the second day, September 1, we did the stage from Pallerols to La Ribalera. Although it was demanding, the boys enjoyed it very much. During the excursion we took advantage of the opportunity to read some parts of the chronicle of St. Josemaría’s crossing of the Pyrenees and the boys listened very attentively. When we arrived at La Ribalera we also read and they were very impressed. When we returned we had Mass in the church of Pallerols. The priest who accompanied us, Fr Jordi, took the opportunity to briefly explain what had happened in that place. In the evening we had a barbecue and sang songs with the guitar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the third day, September 2, we did part of the last stage: from the River of the Civís to San Julià de Lòria, in Andorra. The great majority climbed the Barranc de la Cabra Morta and when they arrived in Argolell they went down to the Frontera campsite where we all ate, played football, rested, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another small group went by car to the Church of Sant Julià de Lòria to see the statue of Saint Josemaría that commemorates the moment of arrival in Andorra.

 

 

 

On September 3, we said goodbye to Pallerols with heavy rain that did not let us go until Barcelona, ​​the end of the journey for this day.

 

 

 

It was a great experience and we would have certainly liked to stay for another day. We will be back!