Can I get a stamp if...

[LesBrass]

Hello

Next September I plan to walk the Camino Francis (starting on the 15th) but in the coming year plan to get myself fit and ready with lots of walking at home.

I live in France and my Canton is actually on the Vézelay route. Part of my plan is to walk from home to Saint Jean in little sections... sometimes just a day walk and other times perhaps 60km over a few days.

For example today my husband and I went off in search of the route markers near our home and walked perhaps 8km.

As I have my credentials, is it ok to collect stamps along the way where I start and finish? Even if I'm not staying over night? I like the idea of filling in the entire route from home over the coming year and would love to have the stamps to show my progress?

Is this ok to be ollecting stamps on a day by day basis? If it is, do I simply drop by Mairie or any hotels/hostels/church and ask for a stamp?

Any advice welcome - thank you

 

[Tia Valeria]

If it is part of your Camino then do collect the stamps. Terry walked from home and I have also walked as much as possible from our home city to the ferry port. As part of the beginning of our Caminos the stamps are part of our record each time. We have stamps from churches etc and also our local post office, collected as we walked without necessarily stopping overnight. We picked up the route again each time as near as possible if not at the actual place we stopped so both have a record of home to Santiago via the Primitivo. We found it was also a good way to tell people why we were walking and about the Camino.

Our credenciales for next year already show the route walked from home early this year, plus part of the Norte and the Camino de Covadonga (Arriondas to Covadonga sections). We will resume walking in Oviedo/Ribadeo next year and hopefully reach Santiago again then.

Buen Camino

 

[Deleted member 3000]

It is a great idea to get stamps. Except in the last 100km into Santiago when qualifying for a Compostela, the stamps are just souvenirs. Use them to mark your progress. Every place in Spain has stamps; in France is mostly gites, mayors, tourist offices, and churches. Have fun!

 

[LesBrass]

Hello and thank you both very much for the replies - that all makes perfect sense and I will very muck look forward to getting my first stamp!

p.s. Tia I'm also an Exeter girl and was reading your post earlier about your journey and the photos... I'm glad I dont have to walk from Exeter now!

 

[SYates]

For most of us the stamps in the credencial are more important than the Compostela at the end, so by all means, document your Camino from day 1 ;-) You might also carry a lightweight scrapbook, diary where you can journal your progress each time and get that also stamped. Just one idea. Buen Camino! SY