Accommodation after O Pedrouzo

[April Jo]

Hello Pilgrims. If you want to walk past O Pedrouza for an intermediate stage, can I suggest you phone ahead. Casa Armenal was full, and the woman was very unhelpful, so I didn't dare ask her to phone ahead for me (chicken!) I walked for 3 more hours (I walk at a snail's pace!) to Lavacolla, which was very pleasantly isolated, but wet, late afternoon/early evening. The lovely man at the desk of the upmarket Hotel Ruta Jacobea coped well with my muddy and disheveled appearance in his elegant foyer and very kindly found me a private room and bath for 35 Euros at Casa Garcas. An early morning start for Santiago tomorrow morning.
Unfortunately I didn't know one has to get at least two sellos per day from Sarria (where I stated) so I won't get a Compostela - but there's always next time! Buen Camino, and thanks to all the wonderful helpful people on this forum, and to Ivar for his magnificent website and services to pilgrims.

 

[April Jo]

Yes I reckon it's the smallest bath I've ever seen, but wow, am I grateful for it!

 

[Kanga]

Jo, if you really want a Compostela go to the Pilgrim office and explain that you did not realise you needed two sellos per day, but that you did walk the whole way and your sellos show where you stayed. They really only want to be sure that you walked the whole 100km and the "two sellos" is an attempt to stop people cheating. If you insist that you walked every step, show and tell where you stayed each night, I think they will be sympathetic. People who are dishonest usually give up quickly, while the genuine persist.

 

[Kanga]

And, at the end of the day, it's only a piece of paper.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Hello Pilgrims. If you want to walk past O Pedrouza for an intermediate stage, can I suggest you phone ahead. Casa Armenal was full, and the woman was very unhelpful, so I didn't dare ask her to phone ahead for me (chicken!) I walked for 3 more hours (I walk at a snail's pace!) to Lavacolla, which was very pleasantly isolated, but wet, late afternoon/early evening. The lovely man at the desk of the upmarket Hotel Ruta Jacobea coped well with my muddy and disheveled appearance in his elegant foyer and very kindly found me a private room and bath for 35 Euros at Casa Garcas. An early morning start for Santiago tomorrow morning.
Unfortunately I didn't know one has to get at least two sellos per day from Sarria (where I stated) so I won't get a Compostela - but there's always next time! Buen Camino, and thanks to all the wonderful helpful people on this forum, and to Ivar for his magnificent website and services to pilgrims.

Hi April Jo, as you said there always is a next time.
The Compostela is just the "cream on the cake "
Wish you a great day tomorrow walking in to Santiago.
Wish you well, Peter.

 

[April Jo]

T

Hi April Jo, as you said there always is a next time.
The Compostela is just the "cream on the cake "
Wish you a great day tomorrow walking in to Santiago.
Wish you well, Peter.

hank you

 

[April Jo]

Thank you Kanga and Peter! Yes good idea, I will explain to the people at the pilgrim office.... If they choose to give me a Compostela then great, and even if they don't, nothing diminishes my sense of completion of my Camino. Thanks again.

 

[Mark Lee]

I really don't think anybody is counting sellos that closely at the pilgrim's office in Santiago. I never heard about that two sello rule before when I did my first CF and don't know if I had two per day after Sarria.
When you get to Santiago, before you get to the pligrim's office, get a couple more sellos. You can get one at the Santiago tourist office and another one at a cafe or bar when you get some coffee or something. You might even be able to get one at the church.
You can also get a stamp at the bar/cafe in San Marcos. If you get one there tomorrow, just write in today's date on it. It's do it yourself sello. Nobody cares what date you put on it.

 

[April Jo]

I really don't think anybody is counting sellos that closely at the pilgrim's office in Santiago. I never heard about that two sello rule before when I did my first CF and don't know if I had two per day after Sarria.
When yo get to Santiago, before you get to the pligrim's office, get a couple more sellos. You can get one at the Santiago tourist office and another one at a cafe or bar when you get some coffee or something. You might even be able to get one at the church.
You can also get a stamp at the bar/cafe in San Marcos. If you get one there tomorrow, just write in today's date on it. It's do it yourself sello. Nobody cares what date you put on it.

Hoo

 

[April Jo]

Good thinking, Mark - I'll do that

 

[April Jo]

Good thinking, Mark - I'll do that

Ok so I got successfully to Santiago, thanks folks - and I was courteously issues with a Compstela: my credentiale was examined for the towns but the number of sellos weren't counted (maybe my mud-spattered self spoke for itself. A fellow pilgrim said I looked like I'd done the full Frances route, not just from Sarria
How nice to meet Ivar in person (when I picked up my parcels of excess "stuff" that is posted c/- Ivar from Portomarin and Melide.)
How did the medieval pilgrims get on, with no high-tech equipment, no pilgrim infrastructure, no Forum, and no Ivar?!
By the way, for newcomers into Santiago: have coins in your pocket for beggars and buskers, if that's your thing...
And be warned that it's very confusing finding your way to the cathedral.... The arrows stop before the centre of the city - the current mayor (so I was reliably told today) doesn't like the Camino or pilgrims (!) and doesn't want arrows up!
Perhaps a month without pilgrims in Santiago would change his mind?!

 

[Davey Boyd]

Ok so I got successfully to Santiago, thanks folks - and I was courteously issues with a Compstela: my credentiale was examined for the towns but the number of sellos weren't counted (maybe my mud-spattered self spoke for itself. A fellow pilgrim said I looked like I'd done the full Frances route, not just from Sarria
How nice to meet Ivar in person (when I picked up my parcels of excess "stuff" that is posted c/- Ivar from Portomarin and Melide.)
How did the medieval pilgrims get on, with no high-tech equipment, no pilgrim infrastructure, no Forum, and no Ivar?!
By the way, for newcomers into Santiago: have coins in your pocket for beggars and buskers, if that's your thing...
And be warned that it's very confusing finding your way to the cathedral.... The arrows stop before the centre of the city - the current mayor (so I was reliably told today) doesn't like the Camino or pilgrims (!) and doesn't want arrows up!
Perhaps a month without pilgrims in Santiago would change his mind?!

I am glad you got your Compostela April!

 

[April Jo]

I am glad you got your Compostela April!

Thank you

 

[SYates]

Congratulations on completing your pilgrimage! Buen Camino de la Vida! SY

 

[April Jo]

Thank you, I appreciate your post!

 

[vgen5122]

Congrats. You made it. Now lay back and enjoy the memories you have to recall and share. Buen Camino.

 

[April Jo]

Thank you! That is excellent advice. I am amazed that even a six day/seven night Camino can be so rich in blessings - of so many kinds.
And thank you to all the lovely folks like yourself who have taken the time to give me advice and wish me well - and for everyone else on the forum.
Best wishes and blessings to all!

 

[don88]

I too walked Sarria to Santiago. Being the slowest pilgrim on the Camino, I took 13 days to do what you did in six. Your description of walking to the Cathedral brought back sweet memories. I was struggling along on a sidewalk, and was passed by an elderly lady. She said: Take heart, you are very close. Keep walking. Just enough encouragement to make it to the end. As I walked out of the tunnel and into the square at the cathedral, I actually burst into tears! It was an incredible emotional release. Feelings I will never forget.

 

[Camembert]

Hello Pilgrims. If you want to walk past O Pedrouza for an intermediate stage, can I suggest you phone ahead. Casa Armenal was full, and the woman was very unhelpful, so I didn't dare ask her to phone ahead for me (chicken!) I walked for 3 more hours (I walk at a snail's pace!) to Lavacolla, which was very pleasantly isolated, but wet, late afternoon/early evening. The lovely man at the desk of the upmarket Hotel Ruta Jacobea coped well with my muddy and disheveled appearance in his elegant foyer and very kindly found me a private room and bath for 35 Euros at Casa Garcas. An early morning start for Santiago tomorrow morning.
Unfortunately I didn't know one has to get at least two sellos per day from Sarria (where I stated) so I won't get a Compostela - but there's always next time! Buen Camino, and thanks to all the wonderful helpful people on this forum, and to Ivar for his magnificent website and services to pilgrims.

You can get a touristical document at the Pilgrims office ( costs 3 € ) that says you walked the camino from… (Sarria for you)
enjoy your last day hiking into Santiago .