After seven and a half hours aboard an overnight flight (with a touch of flamenco music, Matt Maher and the Gypsy Kings), I have arrived safe and sound in Madrid.

Pilgrims waiting for their baggage at the Madrid-Barajas Airport Aug 15.

On the plane ride, I met a girl named Miriam who lives in Montreal. Miriam, 24, is originally from Brazil (she took a leap of faith in coming to Canada), and told me she finds it really hard to be Catholic in Quebec. Whereas in her native Brazil she had a strong church community to fall back on, in Quebec–it’s just the opposite, she said.

And so, she is coming to Madrid to find that something special or that “BAM,” that has gone missing, as she described it.

I suspect that such is the case with the majority of the pilgrims who have or are in the process of making the trek to Spain to see the pope (el papa). We are all looking for that extra something, that feeling of something bigger than ourselves here in Madrid.

Across the street from my hotel is Estacion Del Norte--right beside Principe Pio station

Anyway, I’m off to the media centre to see what kind of media seating The Catholic Register will be getting!

Adios!