Fort Collins (Colorado, USA) | Pilgrimages 07/01/2023

This is the prettiest fried potato in the world. I found this delicious little one-person appetizer the afternoon I arrived in Santiago, Spain. The dish is a beautifully fried hollow potato ball. The center is filled with more of the slightly spicy orange creme sauce on top. This little delicacy was two or three euros. Not only was this a beautiful dish, but it tasted amazing! 

At the same restaurant, I ordered grilled octopus. The Galician way of preparing octopus is one of my favorites. Preparation is simple, olive oil, paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper. It is best enjoyed with mashed potatoes. I have grown entirely fond of grilled octopus. It is rich in vitamins (i.e., B12), minerals (i.e., iron and magnesium), and Omega-3s. Unfortunately, it is not grilling season in Colorado or Idaho, so I will need to wait until things warm up and add it to my BBQ. The trick to enjoying great grilled octopus is like all seafood, DO NOT overcook it. This will turn a wonderfully tender octopus into a complex, chewy piece.

Since I've been back in the United States, I've noticed a few things about food. First, in the short six months I have been away, the recommended tip at restaurants has increased from 15-20% to 20-25%. This may sound like little. However, it causes the price of meals to go up substantially. Tipping is not expected overseas. In fact, there were only a few times when I was required to tip on top of my meal. This allowed me to stretch my resources further and reminded me of how expensive the United States is to live in. Why do we not pay our servers more, which would keep tipping lower?

The other thing I noticed about food and restaurants is that the culture is entirely different. While in Europe, as in the picture above, the plates are small, and sharing is encouraged. Frequently, when I was out with others, we each would order a plate. Then when they arrived, we would pass the plates and share our meal. This was an extraordinary culinary experience. Not only did we experience different dishes, but this family eating style brought people together. In the United States, sharing is not encouraged, and when I order, I get a HUGE plate of food, frequently more than I can eat. So why do we not share food at restaurants in the United States? With the costs going up, wouldn't it make it more affordable? 

The certificate below is my Compostela. This document certifies that I completed the Pilgrimage to Santiago. It is available to all Peregrinos if they choose to receive it. There are two versions, one is a religious document, and the one I received is non-religious. The records are identical, except for a single line near the bottom that recites a bible verse. Another cool part of this document is that my name is written in Latin.

In addition to the Compostela, the Pilgrim's Office also certifies the distance walked. This document certifies that I walked at least 828 km. Unfortunately, this document is only available for the portions of the Camino that terminate in Santiago. Since I ended up in Muxia, Spain, those kilometers have yet to be counted. Therefore, I walked > 960 kilometers from Irun to Muxia, Spain.

This photo was taken by Ana after dinner in Finisterre. These are some of the friends I made during the four-day journey from Santiago to Finisterre, Spain. Clockwise from me (yellow and blue jacket) is Louis (Acadian from Nova Scotia, Canada), Ana (Argentina), Josef (Germany), Otto (Edmonton, Canada), Nancy (Montréal, Canada), and I can't recall the two French girl's names. The lady in blue walked with Nancy from Northwest France, while the other walked with Louis from the Pyrenees Region in southern France.

When I reached the "End of the World" at Finisterre, I took a picture of the bronze boot from another angle and discussed how Peregrinos used to burn their shoes after reaching Finisterre. This picture shows the blackened rock and remnants of burned and new shoes. Today burning is strongly discouraged due to toxins that are released. Nevertheless, some feel compelled to leave their shoes.

Over the last few weeks, I have felt a strong pull to complete another long-distance pilgrimage. My intent was always to do more than one. As I have been exploring Asia and the Pacific, I keep returning to Japan. There are several excellent walks, including the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage. This pilgrimage is nearly 1,200 km (745 mi), takes almost 2 months, and visits 88 Japanese Temples. I am quickly learning that information on these pilgrimages is more sparse than on the Camino. Nevertheless, I am drawn to this region and will continue exploring it in Cabo.