Lost & Found Found!!! 5/12/22 - Travel Money Belt - 4 km outside of Pontvedra

[Damien Reynolds]

Hi... anyone out there hear of a perigrino/a losing their money belt today? It was just lying on the path. I am sure someone wants it back. There is no ID inside. I have it and would very happily return it to the rightful owner if they can describe it and it's contents... I am in Pontevedra tonight (I suspect the unlucky perigrino/a is as well).

 

[mspath]

Hi... anyone out there hear of a perigrino/a losing their money belt today? It was just lying on the path. I am sure someone wants it back. There is no ID inside. I have it and would very happily return it to the rightful owner if they can describe it and it's contents... I am in Pontevedra tonight (I suspect the unlucky perigrino/a is as well).

Wherever you are staying in Pontevedra you might tell your host and the local police so that your find might be known amongst all the local pilgrim accommodation sites.

 

[Damien Reynolds]

Wherever you are staying in Pontevedra you might tell your host and the local police so that your find might be known amongst all the local pilgrim accommodation sites.

I am talking to every perigrino I see. Unfortunately I am at a hotel... I did check the municipal Albergue earlier... no luck so far...

 

[mspath]

I am talking to every perigrino I see. Unfortunately I am at a hotel... I did check the municipal Albergue earlier... no luck so far...

Do contact the local police office also. For the person who lost the money belt may have reported it lost to them.

 

[Damien Reynolds]

Ok, nothing reported to the police.

 

[Damien Reynolds]

Haha! Get this! So I posted my find everywhere... and someone saw a post I made on a camino Portugues fb site, who had seen another post earlier from a Spanish man who was desperate because he lost his cash! He said it "restored his faith in humanity" when he saw my message! Today was a good day...

 

[peregrina2000]

It would be easy to get all gooey and sentimental about this post, but let me just say that it really warmed my heart on a cold day. Basic decency is in such short supply in so many places, kudos to you, @Damien Reynolds.

 

[VNwalking]

Wonderful, just wonderful.
You just made my night, Damien
(Hey, Laurie, remember when you found my credencial? It's such a great feeling when someone finds something you thought was lost forever. And that was worth 0€ - no wonder that peregrino looks so happy!)

 

[mspath]

Damien Reynolds,
Bravo! What good news this is. Thanks to you for posting your find and for sharing this great picture of the happy outcome.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Damien, you persevered by taking many "extra steps" (pun?) to locate the owner and your persistence has paid off!
Thank you for sharing the photo of the happy outcome. I'm having a warm glow and it's not even Christmas day!

 

[Kanga]

Good story of the day!

 

[Elby]

Haha! Get this! So I posted my find everywhere... and someone saw a post I made on a camino Portugues fb site, who had seen another post earlier from a Spanish man who was desperate because he lost his cash! He said it "restored his faith in humanity" when he saw my message! Today was a good day... View attachment 137811

Hi Damien, seeing this post and this picture with two perigrinos glowing with joy was a great way to start my day...if only I were on the Camino with you

 

[mdelag]

Hi Damien, you really made someone very happy with your honesty and for the Camino that is a very very high gesture !!!

 

[Kathy F.]

The spirit of the Camino at work? You guys made my day.

 

[El Cascayal]

Hi Damien,
I’m 1 week post total reverse left shoulder replacement surgery and perhaps a bit maudlin, but your post and beaming faces made me cry. A lost and found story with many investigative turns and a happy Peregrino ending. Thank you and ongoing Buen Camino.

 

[Vancouver Rose]

Damien, you persevered by taking many "extra steps" (pun?) to locate the owner and your persistence has paid off!

This is exactly the point. It's not always the EASY path we walk, that will take us to where we need to get to. In this case, you took the more difficult "road-less-travelled". Between posting everywhere, talking to everyone (including the police), and finally meeting up with the rightful owner, you did more than most would have, and not only did you reap the benefits (your glowing heart can be seen in your smile), but so did the other fellow. A beautiful example of how things ought to work when we embrace our humanity. Good for you, Damien!

 

[Sandrapf99]

Haha! Get this! So I posted my find everywhere... and someone saw a post I made on a camino Portugues fb site, who had seen another post earlier from a Spanish man who was desperate because he lost his cash! He said it "restored his faith in humanity" when he saw my message! Today was a good day... View attachment 137811

Such a wonderful person!!! Thank you from all of us peregrinos. My faith in humanity is at an all time high because of you!!!!

 

[Theatregal]

Haha! Get this! So I posted my find everywhere... and someone saw a post I made on a camino Portugues fb site, who had seen another post earlier from a Spanish man who was desperate because he lost his cash! He said it "restored his faith in humanity" when he saw my message! Today was a good day...

The best possible outcome. Such a great photo! Thank you Damien.

 

[Tony Lenton]

Damien, you persevered by taking many "extra steps" (pun?) to locate the owner and your persistence has paid off!
Thank you for sharing the photo of the happy outcome. I'm having a warm glow and it's not even Christmas day!

Well done Damien. I found it really moving to see the two of you together.

 

[Sue127]

 

[henrythedog]

Hi... anyone out there hear of a perigrino/a losing their money belt today? It was just lying on the path. I am sure someone wants it back. There is no ID inside. I have it and would very happily return it to the rightful owner if they can describe it and it's contents... I am in Pontevedra tonight (I suspect the unlucky perigrino/a is as well).

Having a good time and doing a good turn? Nothing to fault with that.

 

[Bristle Boy]

A feel good story from a very good man.

 

[haylesm]

Haha! Get this! So I posted my find everywhere... and someone saw a post I made on a camino Portugues fb site, who had seen another post earlier from a Spanish man who was desperate because he lost his cash! He said it "restored his faith in humanity" when he saw my message! Today was a good day... View attachment 137811

Well done, an excellent outcome!
We found a wad of cash in a plastic bag outside our albergue in O Pedrouzo in 2016. At the time I wasn’t on any forum, & didn’t think to check if such things existed, so we handed it into front reception, hoping it would make it’s way back to the owner. I still wonder if it did.

 

[Peregrinopaul]

Haha! Get this! So I posted my find everywhere... and someone saw a post I made on a camino Portugues fb site, who had seen another post earlier from a Spanish man who was desperate because he lost his cash! He said it "restored his faith in humanity" when he saw my message! Today was a good day...

HE will be retelling this happy story for years!

 

[Damien Reynolds]

HE will be retelling this happy story for years!

So, you should see the reactions on the Spanish fb Portugues sites. Like, so many (500+) perigrinos blessing me for my actions. A good deal saying Santiago will reward my behavior... well, I've already been rewarded. The warm fuzzies associated with restoring a faith in humanity for a single perigrino is good for me.

 

[Anniesantiago]

This made my day!

 

[VNwalking]

Massive good karma Damien! I love the news of the avalanche of responses and hope you dine out on the warm fuzziness of all this for a long long time.

It's Christmastime, a great time to spread the Camino spirit. So here's a game. Today how about each of us find a way to do something inspired by what Damien did?
Something random and kind.
I'm in!

 

[Icacos]

Several weeks ago I bought some yarn with high wool content intending to make toques for those in need. Someone left a box at my local Starbucks asking for Christmas basket donations for families in need. The toques I’ve made so far will be going into that box later this morning.

 

[Anniesantiago]

My church does a "Light the World" project around this time of year. We are asked to do one nice thing to help someone every day during the month of December. Though some of the suggestions are Christian, most suggestions can be used by people of any spiritual ilk. Here is a list I found online.

 

[VNwalking]

Someone had given me a box of chocolates. I was about to open it this morning but gave it to someone instead. It was much more fun than eating them, and they won't be on my thighs for my next camino, either.

 

[SabsP]

Charity organisation here called " Pay it forward " . When you are in a shop that participates in this initiative ( visible with a sticker on their window ) you can " leave a donation " for a future customer who is in a less financially off situation than yourself. Was at a butcher today and donated some sausages. Might sound weird to donate meat but for some people this is becoming a luxury fooditem.

You can also " Pay it forward " at a hairdressers ( free haircut ) or a takeway coffee. Lovely to see that in our small town there are so many shopkeepers participating.

 

[lalaone]

I needed this! Thank you, Damien, and everyone. So heart-warming and inspiring. Our small act today is to help reunite a child with a toy. A plush dinosaur with a pink sparkly belly, still wrapped in its original bag from the Smithsonian museum giftshop.

It was found on the DC metro, with a credit card receipt showing that it was purchased by a man who shares my husband’s name. It landed in our possession after several mailings by kind-hearted individuals. But it’s been sitting on a shelf for the past couple months while we researched who might be the likely purchaser. Sadly, we had completely forgotten about it!!! I needed this reminder and inspiration. My husband came up with a good guess, after winnowing through dozens of people with his name. So off it goes to the post office, hopefully in time to surprise a father and child for Christmas. (With Christmas cards sent to the other caring strangers who included their own notes & investigations, getting the little dinosaur this far.) Thanks so much Damien for your wonderful and inspiring example, and to everyone else with yours!

 

[VNwalking]

Oh, wow, may that dino find its child. What a lovely post, @lalaone , and so like what happens on the camino when we find something another pilgrim has lost, and make a lot of effort to locate the owner. @Damien Reynolds I hope you don't mind us hijacking the wonderful thread you started - to be honest, I'm still a little high on your story.

 

[Damien Reynolds]

Oh, wow, may that dino find its child. What a lovely post, @lalaone , and so like what happens on the camino when we find something another pilgrim has lost, and make a lot of effort to locate the owner. @Damien Reynolds I hope you don't mind us hijacking the wonderful thread you started - to be honest, I'm still a little high on your story.

So when Rafa asked me what he could do to repay me, all I told him was "do the same thing for someone else". I am humbled by the responses here... hijack away and I hope you all enjoy the gift of helping someone if you are inspired to, in whatever context that means to you.