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Stamps between Monte de Gozo and Santiago

sgeorgiagw

New Member
Time of past OR future Camino
Camino Francés (2019)
Hi all,
My partner and I are currently completing the last 100km of our Camino and we are planning on staying in Monte de Gozo on Saturday, the idea being that we will arrive early into Santiago on Sunday morning. My question is whether or not the “2 stamps per day” rule would technically apply to our short walk on Sunday. What do you think?
Many thanks for your advice,
Scarlett
 
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I know of others who have also been fine with a single stamp but I know of even more who have been denied because they did not have the correct number of stamps. The people working at the office are generally friendly and helpful volunteers who want to see you get that compostela. But there are rules and most of the staff follow them. Not following them yourself is putting the compostela at risk for no reason given how easy it is to gather stamps on the major Camino routes.

If the compostela is important to you, then expend the tiny amount of effort it takes to collect the minimum number of required stamps. Don't put the staff in the position of having to bend rules for you.

Given that the OP took the time to post a question seeking clarification, my guess is that this is, in fact, important to her and she wants to make sure she isn't denied for a technicality.
 
Hi all,
My partner and I are currently completing the last 100km of our Camino and we are planning on staying in Monte de Gozo on Saturday, the idea being that we will arrive early into Santiago on Sunday morning. My question is whether or not the “2 stamps per day” rule would technically apply to our short walk on Sunday. What do you think?
Many thanks for your advice,
Scarlett
Onvoorstelbaar!!@!
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
I always used to ask my trainees which bit of a rule they were having most trouble with. The answer amost always was compliance. Which I always thought was rather odd because compliance to authority is always easy whereas resistance exposes the resistor to risk of harm.

Hrrm. Yes, well. We try to avoid that sort of thing...

Between Monte de Gozo and the Cathedral or the Pilgrims Office you will have approximately 1000 opportunities to obtain a sello.

Wouldn't it be fun to try and get them all ;)
 
Technical backpack for day trips with backpack cover and internal compartment for the hydration bladder. Ideal daypack for excursions where we need a medium capacity backpack. The back with Air Flow System creates large air channels that will keep our back as cool as possible.

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I think that in such a short walk, from Monte do Gozo to cathedral, the rule does not apply...but you never know.
Any bar (there are many) will give you a stamp (provided you buy something). This would probably be true in the swarm of curio shops, in downtown. Or the tourist office.
Get the other one in the albergue or hotel where you are or will be staying.
 
I'm following this thread with some amusement. So: somebody apparently wants to know whether 1 or 2 sellos are required for a distance of 4,5 km, which can be walked within 1 hour, from Monte de Gozo to the Cathedral if that is walked as the last and only distance on the last day of a pilgrimage to Santiago, and nobody really knows an answer. 😊
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
I'm following this thread with some amusement. So: somebody apparently wants to know whether 1 or 2 sellos are required for a distance of 4,5 km, which can be walked within 1 hour, from Monte de Gozo to the Cathedral if that is walked as the last and only distance on the last day of a pilgrimage to Santiago, and nobody really knows an answer. 😊
Well they do, most said ‘get a sello’! Just to be sure.
I must admit, it never occurred to me but I’ m glad they asked, just in case 🙂
 
I have question this rule for as long as I have been aware of it. I have just had a very close look at my 2017 credencial and between Sarria and Santiago I have the following: 2 on 4 Jun ; 1 on 5 Jun; 2 on 6 Jun; 2 on 7 Jun; 1 on 8 June. I arrived in Santiago I think on the 8 or 9 June but can't see any stamp for 9 (but in may be hidden by a fold) ???). In order to avoid the long wait I presented at the Pilgrim House very early on 10 June as I have their stamp on the front page. Result one Compostela and one distance certificate issued without any questions. In 2015 it was a very similar occurence - except that I was on my cycle again no questions!!.
 
I have question this rule for as long as I have been aware of it. I have just had a very close look at my 2017 credencial and between Sarria and Santiago I have the following: 2 on 4 Jun ; 1 on 5 Jun; 2 on 6 Jun; 2 on 7 Jun; 1 on 8 June. I arrived in Santiago I think on the 8 or 9 June but can't see any stamp for 9 (but in may be hidden by a fold) ???). In order to avoid the long wait I presented at the Pilgrim House very early on 10 June as I have their stamp on the front page. Result one Compostela and one distance certificate issued without any questions. In 2015 it was a very similar occurence - except that I was on my cycle again no questions!!.
But did you start from Sarria?
 
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:) Which takes more energy:
  • The time spent in worry and angst over not getting a required sello during that last bit of walking and, then waiting in line at the Pilgrim Office, and then hoping that the volunteer is OK with it when you present your Credencial? OR
  • Quickly popping into a bar or store or Correos, etc, that's along the way, and getting the sello?
Me? I'll be conservative with following the Spirit of the Rule, even if the Letter of the Rule seems rigid; especially since it takes no real effort. I'll bet even the McDonald's will Stamp you :)
 
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I know of others who have also been fine with a single stamp but I know of even more who have been denied because they did not have the correct number of stamps. The people working at the office are generally friendly and helpful volunteers who want to see you get that compostela. But there are rules and most of the staff follow them. Not following them yourself is putting the compostela at risk for no reason given how easy it is to gather stamps on the major Camino routes.
IMHO, the best and most comprehensive answer :). The discussion of the two sellos - from where exactly, when exactly, how often exactly, and why exactly, and I actually don't agree with it - dates as far back as the year 2007 and as recently as last week. I like my sellos but I'm not an avid sello collector. Already way before Galicia I had to politely decline or even fend off efforts to have yet another stamp stamped into my camino booklet. The closer you get to Santiago, the more opportunities to have someone stamp it or stamp it yourself!

If I were troubled by the question of whether to get 1, 2 or more stamps on the short walk from Monte de Gozo to the pilgrims office in Santiago and if I were to join this forum and ask about it, I would probably offer a specific reason, like perhaps I'll be getting up at 4:30 am on a Sunday morning and I'm concerned that nothing will be open on my way into town where I could get another stamp.

But then I will never ask this question as I'm not getting up at 4:30 am. 🙃
 
But did you start from Sarria?
From all that has been posted on this subject it does not matter whether I started in Sarria or St Jean -its supposed to be 2 stamps per day for the last 100nkm. But as I have posted above I did not do this - but was not questioned about it. So it really depends upon who checks your credencial!!
 
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Hi all,
My partner and I are currently completing the last 100km of our Camino and we are planning on staying in Monte de Gozo on Saturday, the idea being that we will arrive early into Santiago on Sunday morning. My question is whether or not the “2 stamps per day” rule would technically apply to our short walk on Sunday. What do you think?
Many thanks for your advice,
Scarlett
Is Monte de Gozo open? If not, there is a great Xunta just over the freeway next to the Museum, on the right
 
For what it is worth, I have twice hiked the Camino Frances (SJPP to Santiago), and never received more than the one stamp I received from my Albergue. Each time I received my compostela.

This is likely because you could prove you were a ‘long walker’ and walked all the way from SJPdP. Exceptions are made, but on a case-by-case basis, such as this.

If you are are ‘short walker,’ like from Sarria or Tui... GET 2 SELLOS DAILY.

Hope this helps.
 
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For what it is worth, I have twice hiked the Camino Frances (SJPP to Santiago), and never received more than the one stamp I received from my Albergue. Each time I received my compostela.
You were lucky you had understanding volunteers in Santiago. You could have gotten someone who was a stickler for the rules. My first camino I walked from SJPP and had two books of stamps. One day in the last week I missed one stamp out of two and the volunteer warned me that I could have lost my Compostela. Ugg
 
Hi all,
My partner and I are currently completing the last 100km of our Camino and we are planning on staying in Monte de Gozo on Saturday, the idea being that we will arrive early into Santiago on Sunday morning. My question is whether or not the “2 stamps per day” rule would technically apply to our short walk on Sunday. What do you think?
Many thanks for your advice,
Scarlett
I had no stamp between Lavacolla and Santiago because I started so early and noone was open. I took a few photos as evidence but I was told that only stamps counted. I eventually got the certificate but I think it's best to get stamps.
 
Hi all,
My partner and I are currently completing the last 100km of our Camino and we are planning on staying in Monte de Gozo on Saturday, the idea being that we will arrive early into Santiago on Sunday morning. My question is whether or not the “2 stamps per day” rule would technically apply to our short walk on Sunday. What do you think?
Many thanks for your advice,
Scarlett
I have three compostelas. The first two, I walked in from Monte do Gozo and had no problem. I got a stamp from the albergue and of course the final stamp at the pilgrims office. They asked where I started from and when I said St Jean, they looked at the start, flicked to the end and gave me my final stamp. No Problem. My last one, I walked in from Lavacolla, stopping nowhere for sellos, in fact last thing on my mind, and once again, asked where I started from, cursory glance at start, quick flick and final stamp. One American volunteer was so excited about being asked to put my wife's name on the compostela, I could have sworn he never even looked at the stamps. It was the first time anyone had asked him to put someone else's name on a compostela
 
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My question is whether or not the “2 stamps per day” rule would technically apply to our short walk on Sunday. What do you think?
Many thanks for your advice,
Scarlett

What do I think? I think I would not want to be even remotely responsible for giving you advice that could result in you not getting your compostela. Get the two stamps.
 
Hi all,
My partner and I are currently completing the last 100km of our Camino and we are planning on staying in Monte de Gozo on Saturday, the idea being that we will arrive early into Santiago on Sunday morning. My question is whether or not the “2 stamps per day” rule would technically apply to our short walk on Sunday. What do you think?
Many thanks for your advice,
Scarlett
Hello
We did the same thing last week and actually got no stamps in those last 5 ish kms and all was good for compostella :)
 
I walked my last stage of the Portugues from Milladoiro to Santiago this morning, about 7 kilometers, and there was absolutely no opportunity that I could see for a stamp, unless I went off-route. I'll go in tomorrow morning for the compostella and see what happens.
 
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Is it just me, or is there a prevailing attitude these days that rules don't apply to "me"? Couple that with a sense of entitlement and now you see where society is headed. But then again, perhaps I'm just a cantankerous old codger who was raised to believe that one follows rules and gets what he earns.
 
jm:

NOW you are starting to understand what I have seen building for several years. Several times, I have alluded to it.

However, without digressing somewhere that might get me in trouble with the moderators....yet again... It is my observation and experience that the overwhelming majority of these entitlement is from our nationality group... NOPE not gonna go further than that.... PERIOD... This is just my empirical observation.

To my observation and experience, it does not appear to be coming from other groups. That's all.

Hope this helps the dialog.
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
jm:

NOW you are starting to understand what I have seen building for several years. Several times, I have alluded to it.

However, without digressing somewhere that might get me in trouble with the moderators....yet again... It is my observation and experience that the overwhelming majority of these entitlement is from our nationality group... NOPE not gonna go further than that.... PERIOD... This is just my empirical observation.

To my observation and experience, it does not appear to be coming from other groups. That's all.

Hope this helps the dialog.

We are all very aware of our ‘nationality groups’ shortcomings.... precisely because they are our own people.... It hurts more....
I feel the same and my ‘nationality group’ isn’t the same as yours 😀😉
Forget it, we’re all the same, good and bad, whatever nationality. Really. 🙂
 
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St James' Way - Self-guided 4-7 day Walking Packages, Reading to Southampton, 110 kms
Hi all,
My partner and I are currently completing the last 100km of our Camino and we are planning on staying in Monte de Gozo on Saturday, the idea being that we will arrive early into Santiago on Sunday morning. My question is whether or not the “2 stamps per day” rule would technically apply to our short walk on Sunday. What do you think?
Many thanks for your advice,
Scarlett
The only reason to have the 2 stamps per day is to prevent people getting compostella without completing the last 100km.If you start anywhere further than the 100k and have consecutive stamps then yu will get it irrespective of the number of stamps between Sarria and Santiago.All it takes is a glance at the passport at Santiago.
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
I don't believe the issue here is "to respect the rules or not". It is more a matter of interpretation.
Monte do Gozo is inside Compostela city limits. Technically, when you are there, you have already arrived.
The city goes so far as O Pino, before the airport.
So, after a night in Monte do gozo, to follow strictly the rule of "two stamp per day", you will have next morning to get two stamps for a traject of 5 km. That means stops in two bars, when you really want to arrive. Inconvenient, but ok, fine.
So, let's suppose you go to downtown and get a bed in the albergue Seminario Menor, that is 1,2 km from the cathedral, and postpone the visit to the Pilgrim's bureau to next day (you are tired, want to avoid the crowds, bad weather, whatsoever). Do you really need next morning to get two stamps, too? The situation is basically the same.
 
The only reason to have the 2 stamps per day is to prevent people getting compostella without completing the last 100km.If you start anywhere further than the 100k and have consecutive stamps then yu will get it irrespective of the number of stamps between Sarria and Santiago.All it takes is a glance at the passport at Santiago.
That depends on which volunteer you get at the counter. Some will check, even if you start hundreds of kilometers before Sarria. The rule, as it is written, doesn't apply to only those beginning at Sarria (or Tui or any of the other "100km" points. If the Compostela is not that important to you, don't worry about it. If it is, better safe than sorry.
 
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In order to avoid the long wait I presented at the Pilgrim House very early on 10 June as I have their stamp on the front page. Result one Compostela and one distance certificate issued without any questions. In 2015 it was a very similar occurence - except that I was on my cycle again no questions!!.

I think you meant the Pilgrim's Office, Mike?

Just to be clear for everyone: at Pilgrim House we don't issue Compostelas and distance certificates, but we DO have stamps :)
 
I think you meant the Pilgrim's Office, Mike?

Just to be clear for everyone: at Pilgrim House we don't issue Compostelas and distance certificates, but we DO have stamps :)
OK - Sory typo error. Yes Pilgrim Office (the new one). Cheers
 
@sgeorgiagw, how many sellos did you get eventually?
Dear @sgeorgiagw, would you not like to share whether you got any sellos between Monte do Gozo and SdC, and if so where, and if not how it worked out at the pilgrims office upon your arrival in the end? Future pilgrims staying at Monte do Gozo may have the same question that you asked here earlier. Thanks! And it’s nice to see that you continue to visit the forum :).
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.

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