A young girl gave me a euro

[NathanNL]

Last Sunday, I walked through Pesués. In one of the streets, a young girl approached me and she gave me a euro while saying something to me in Spanish. I don't speak Spanish and at first I refused to take the money. As she kept insisting I accepted the euro.

Was this a friendly gesture or is there more to this?

 

[andonius]

Just guessing...
A few times while on the Camino I've been asked by locals I've been chatting with (I'm spanish) to pray for them at Santiago, but they never offered me any money...
Maybe the girl wanted you to do it and gave you the Euro to encourage you.
If It happens to me I'll give the euro to charity and pray for her to the Apostle in Compostela.

 

[Camembert]

Before we walked our first caminho from Lisbon in 2013 , we visited a friend in Madrid and he gave us a one euro coin, as a kind of talisman , for good luck.
once arrived in Santiago, what to do with the 1 euro coin ?
By then there were “professional” beggars in front of the cathedral - working from 9 to 5 and than with the in a back street parked car back home. They did not get the coin,.
We offered it for seeing the Botafumeiro swing.

 

[Rick Chollett]

Last Sunday, I walked through Pesués. In one of the streets, a young girl approached me and she gave me a euro while saying something to me in Spanish. I don't speak Spanish and at first I refused to take the money. As she kept insisting I accepted the euro.

Was this a friendly gesture or is there more to this?

Many cathedrals allow you to light a candle for someone and ask a donation in return. I'd donate it and light one for her.

 

[CWBuff]

Many cathedrals allow you to light a candle for someone and ask a donation in return. I'd donate it and light one for her.

That was my immediate thought as well. As a donation to light a candle in the cathedral

 

[NathanNL]

Good idea! I will light a candle in Santiago de Compostella for the little girl that made my day.

 

[JabbaPapa]

Last Sunday, I walked through Pesués. In one of the streets, a young girl approached me and she gave me a euro while saying something to me in Spanish. I don't speak Spanish and at first I refused to take the money. As she kept insisting I accepted the euro.

Was this a friendly gesture or is there more to this?

It is a deep sign of respect for your Camino and for your pilgrimage.

Similar children have on a couple of occasions offered me the same --

Respect, accept, and honour it ; and that €1 is better help along your Way than most can ever provide.

It is from Love, Faith, and deep Respect. So cherish it.

Once, a little girl on a day when I was walking hors piste sang me a song about how crazy and beautiful it is to walk to Santiago, and how all of us who do so are complete nutters. But they love us anyway. I think the best and most beautiful event of my last Camino, and that €1 is of that ilk.

 

[henrythedog]

Last Sunday, I walked through Pesués. In one of the streets, a young girl approached me and she gave me a euro while saying something to me in Spanish. I don't speak Spanish and at first I refused to take the money. As she kept insisting I accepted the euro.

Was this a friendly gesture or is there more to this?

I had a slightly different experience in Leon a few years ago; whilst having a nice sit-down on some steps a passer-by dropped a Euro into my hat. Whilst I certainly don’t look like I’ve missed a meal recently (or indeed, ever), I do dress for comfort and not for fashion whilst walking.

The contribution made its way into a charity-box in due course.

 

[Colette Z]

Last Sunday, I walked through Pesués. In one of the streets, a young girl approached me and she gave me a euro while saying something to me in Spanish. I don't speak Spanish and at first I refused to take the money. As she kept insisting I accepted the euro.

Was this a friendly gesture or is there more to this?

It’s to donate at the cathedral as a prayer. I’ve had it happen on 3 caminos. I speak Spanish and all 3 people asked me specifically to donate it at the cathedral and pray for a person (they gave me their name which I wrote down). What an honour!

 

[WGroleau]

I had a slightly different experience in Leon a few years ago; whilst having a nice sit-down on some steps a passer-by dropped a Euro into my hat. Whilst I certainly don’t look like I’ve missed a meal recently (or indeed, ever), I do dress for comfort and not for fashion whilst walking.

2010–2019, my primary transportation (my choice) was bicycle. I'm guessing that's what prompted some anonymous person to pay for a meal I had in a restaurant. Probably assumed I was in poverty.

 

[karyn61]

Last year in Vigo, I was sitting with my friend down by the Real Club Náutico having a Clara Limón. A gentleman next to us bought us another round and asked us to pray for him in Santiago. When I got there, I lit a candle for him and said a prayer. We also made friends with a gentleman who gave us apples to eat and asked us to pray for him too. I felt humbled and grateful.

 

[AlwynWellington]

Was this a friendly gesture or is there more to this?

At the Parochial albergue in Logrono I went to the evening mass.

During the Peace a little "old" lady to my left extended her hands in the customary way. As we gently gripped one another I felt some metal left behind. I held it up, so she could see I had it, noticing it was a 1 Euro coin. I bowed my head to her to acknowledge the tremendous gift of love and goodwill that I had received. In return, she smiled.

@NathanNL, thank you for your story: kia kaha (take care, be strong)