This is the Way

This morning on our last day in Santiago de Compostela we walked through the Holy Doors in the Cathedral and said our good-byes. We checked out of our AirBnB at noon and caught a cab to Santiago Airport early to take our mandated pre-flight COVID tests. 

To make a long, very stressful, and panicky story short, Callie tested positive.

Both Francine and myself tested negative. So the good news is we can get on our flight home.

The bad news is that the doctor indicated that since our group has been basically inseparable for the last three weeks, even though we tested negative, we have been exposed and could very well test positive in a couple of days.

I’ve already informed my work and the folks over at Saint Ann. I was supposed to run an Altar Server practice and then MC for the upcoming Confirmation Mass. Since the rehearsal is on Sunday night, and the Confirmation Mass is later in the week, out of an abundance of caution I withdrew.

Our friend Callie must self-isolate in Spain until she tests negative – at least a few days. Francine offered to stay behind with her, but not only would that not be covered by our trip insurance, the doctor strongly advised against it. 

Please pray for Callie, missing her family and all alone in a foreign country. I feel just awful for her.

At least she’s safely ensconced in a hotel with good WiFi, and the extremely helpful fellow at British Airways got her return flight changed to an open-ended ticket. 

Meanwhile, Francine and I are at the airport Hilton in Madrid. We’re planning to nap through as much of our twelve hour layover here as we can.

Pray for us, and pray for all pilgrims upon the earth. 

Photos by Callie Starks