Today I am grateful for my continued recovery and improved mobility.

 

An update to yesterday’s note is that I did go back to visit my friends at my newly found favorite food destination. I was excited to walk through those doors again and told them that their food was so good I had to come back for seconds. They greeted me kindly and the lady already knew what I wanted since I asked for the same thing. This time I ordered myself 3 cups of Turkish tea, each one more enjoyable than the last. 

 

We struck up a conversation and they mentioned how they were the highest rated Kebab place in all of Santiago de Compostela, and I immediately knew why. I wanted to eat my food, and then take a plate to go of the same thing for dinner later that night. This time I asked them if they could charge me five times the normal amount since this would be my last day here and I wanted to really show my gratitude for their craft. 

 

They understood me easier this time, although they were very taken aback by my gesture to them. I finally mustered enough courage to tell them just what this place had meant to me, the way in which it nourished me, and how much I enjoyed their food. 

 

I also asked them if I could take a picture to remember them since I didn’t want to forget them. It was only the man at first because he said the wife was busy with work. She soon came by and also agreed to be in the picture together. As it turns out, she was making a special “Turkish Pizza” that she wanted me to have. She let me know that they normally only made this for each other when they had some time, but they wanted me to have this one. I of course gratefully accepted.

 

I went to get my certificate of completion for the Camino after, took some additional photos of the cathedral, and then decided to attend mass. I was still extremely tired, but had to take this opportunity since I didn’t know when I would be back here again if ever.

 

Mass was good, but I was still busy admiring the church’s architecture. The angels, the pipes, the design, all of it. I was just taking it all in.

 

They announced that they would be making a special exception to this service, to also implement the “Botafumeiro” which is the artifact that holds smoke which is said to carry our prayers to heaven with the smoke. “May my prayer rise before you like an offering of incense” (Psalm 141: 2) 

 

I finished the service and then made my way back to my room. My heart and spirit were full and my belly was about to be the same since I was carrying the food I was given by the nice couple.

 

I had the opportunity to relax for the rest of the night and continue to reflect on how I would implement all of these changes once I got back home. I was looking forward to being back home the most.

 

But for now? Time to get some rest because tomorrow I am headed towards Madrid to finish this chapter of my 12-day trip. 

 

Life is good.