The group of nuns emerged from Zagreb’s Cathedral and immediately stopped in the piazza, gesticulating feverishly as they spoke with each other in a deluge of fast-paced Croatian.

Initially they didn’t seem to notice the man approaching them. A backpacker, dressed in cheap, dusty trekking clothes modestly arrived next to their gaggle, stopping at a certain distance as if afraid of breaking their circle. Eventually, one of them caught eye of his pleading figure and spoke with him, possibly asking if he needed anything.

The pilgrim, smiling, shook his head, said “Dios le bendiga”, bowed and then went into the church, visibly content. Happier than before, the nuns scattered.