We arrived at the entrance of the monastery in the drizzling twilight. High walls with apparently no windows separated the interior from the outside. A strange uncomfortable vibe crept through my veins. It felt like we stepped into the Middle Ages. As if King Charlemagne with his retinue could appear around the corner any moment. Here we stood, six of us. What to expect from this retreat?
We knocked on a small wooden door in the middle of this massive stone wall. Minutes passed before the door finally opened with a creaking sound. A monk, hidden deep inside his cloak welcomed us upon entering. He let us through a hallway to a small visitors room. Here he lowered his hood, introduced himself and explained us the rules and what to expect.

