Copper Still bought in Arzua - be careful

[MomtoKatenRose]

There is a Ferreterias (Hardware Store) at Calle Lugo, 69 Arzua that is easily recognized for the copper stills for sale in the window. Easy to see also in google maps. We did purchase one for a gift .... however, the owner requried cash and we did not check out the the receipt copy to see that the name of the store was missing. So there is no way to "prove" the purchase and it was never received.

Lesson learned? Our Camino Glow may have assumed good will, but in this situation it would have been better to adopt some Camino Caution and taken the product with us to ship ourselves.

Did this ruin our Camino..........not at all! For some lessons there is a price to pay. If someone else can learn from our investment, all the better. Buen Camino! Marianne

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

There is a Ferreterias (Hardware Store) at Calle Lugo, 69 Arzua that is easily recognized for the copper stills for sale in the window. Easy to see also in google maps. We did purchase one for a gift .... however, the owner requried cash and we did not check out the the receipt copy to see that the name of the store was missing. So there is no way to "prove" the purchase and it was never received.

Lesson learned? Our Camino Glow may have assumed good will, but in this situation it would have been better to adopt some Camino Caution and taken the product with us to ship ourselves.

Did this ruin our Camino..........not at all! For some lessons there is a price to pay. If someone else can learn from our investment, all the better. Buen Camino! Marianne

Hy Marianne , its to bad that people do this , to make profit over peoples back so to say.Id didn't ruin your Camino so thats good . Buen Camino , Peter .

 

[Icacos]

There is a Ferreterias (Hardware Store) at Calle Lugo, 69 Arzua that is easily recognized for the copper stills for sale in the window. Easy to see also in google maps. We did purchase one for a gift .... however, the owner requried cash and we did not check out the the receipt copy to see that the name of the store was missing. So there is no way to "prove" the purchase and it was never received.

Lesson learned? Our Camino Glow may have assumed good will, but in this situation it would have been better to adopt some Camino Caution and taken the product with us to ship ourselves.

Did this ruin our Camino..........not at all! For some lessons there is a price to pay. If someone else can learn from our investment, all the better. Buen Camino! Marianne

How disappointing for you - both because you did not get what you paid for, and because you were ... in effect ... conned. When things like this happen to me I find I need to call upon my reserves of grace** to cope, but you seem to be doing that already as you say it has not ruined your Camino. Good for you!

(**reserves of grace. This is a term I first heard here on the Forum from @Kanga, if I am not mistaken. Before that I had no way of describing it. Thanks, Kanga.)

 

[Deleted member 3000]

I had a hospitalera mail a package home one camino. It took over two months to arrive. Don't despair yet!!

 

[grayland]

Have you contacted him to see if he did ship it or had problems with the shipping info you left?

 

[Icacos]

I had a hospitalera mail a package home one camino. It took over two months to arrive. Don't despair yet!!

Excellent thought! Keep faith in your fellow man!

 

[peregrina2000]

Excellent thought! Keep faith in your fellow man!

Lesson learned? Our Camino Glow may have assumed good will, but in this situation it would have been better to adopt some Camino Caution and taken the product with us to ship ourselves.

I agree with Icacos, don't give up! Unbelievable as it may seem, I sent an envelope from the US to Madrid on Nov. 15, and it didn't arrive in Madrid until a week or so ago. And an envelope doesn't have any of the customs issues that a box might, so your box may still be on its way.

Out of curiosity, what is a copper still?

Buen camino, Laurie

 

[Tia Valeria]

A still is for making spirits - think aguadente, whisky etc. It might have fallen foul of customs if keeping a private still is not allowed

 

[bystander]

I had a hospitalera mail a package home one camino. It took over two months to arrive. Don't despair yet!!

That's really pushing "mañana" to the limit!

 

[MomtoKatenRose]

I had a hospitalera mail a package home one camino. It took over two months to arrive. Don't despair yet!!

I would love to sing the praises of this happening!

 

[MomtoKatenRose]

Have you contacted him to see if he did ship it or had problems with the shipping info you left?

Our friend who is a native Spanish speaker called the two phone numbers we could find associated with this location and was told our transaction never took place.

 

[MomtoKatenRose]

A still is for making spirits - think aguadente, whisky etc. It might have fallen foul of customs if keeping a private still is not allowed

This came up during our purchase and we were advised the US has no restrictions and that only France would not allow their importation.
We were shown a receipt on his desk for a similar purchase from a US pilgrim from the state of Virginia. It would be wonderful to hear the experience of other pilgrims who bought stills!

 

[Pruden]

Do you got a ticket or a bill with you ?
Then tell your friend to phone this shop and i hope this person do not cuestión your Shopping!
So sorry about that!

 

[MomtoKatenRose]

A still is for making spirits - think aguadente, whisky etc. It might have fallen foul of customs if keeping a private still is not allowed

Exactly! Our nephew is a chemical engineer and recently adopted home brewing as a hobby. We tasted such fantastic walnut and herbal liquors in Spain that a still seemed a perfect gift.

 

[MomtoKatenRose]

Do you got a ticket or a bill with you ?
Then tell your friend to phone this shop and i hope this person do not cuestión your Shopping!
So sorry about that!

Yes we have the bill but our copy of the receipt shows no name or address. Perhaps as others suggested the package will come and if it does, I will be back on this thread in celebration!

Our Camino and the hospitality of those we met in Spain was a lifetime blessing and so I do not want this single exchange to cause others to think twice about walking their Camino.

 

[Tincatinker]

I think Custom's and Excise or its USA equivalent are or are likely to be at least part of the problem see this helpful(?) link: http://homedistiller.org/equip/buying. As I understand the situation US Federal Law still prohibits the home distillation of spirit notwithstanding the repeal of the Volstead Act. Similar restriction still imposes on our liberties in the UK.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

US Federal Law still prohibits the home distillation of spirit

Thank goodness. It has eliminated alcohol as a problem in the country.

 

[MomtoKatenRose]

I think Custom's and Excise or its USA equivalent are or are likely to be at least part of the problem see this helpful(?) link: http://homedistiller.org/equip/buying. As I understand the situation US Federal Law still prohibits the home distillation of spirit notwithstanding the repeal of the Volstead Act. Similar restriction still imposes on our liberties in the UK.

Not a lawyer here. A still is also used is the production of perfumes....so maybe the equipment itself is not the issue. When we asked the gentleman if his product could be shipped to the US and California specifically, he said there were no problems. The only problem was with France.

 

[MomtoKatenRose]

Falcon, Sound advise for those who are considering the act of home brewing. The concern of this thread was in regards to a purchase of lovely looking equipment, expectations, and the possibility of being duped. I would still love to hear of any other pilgrims who may have purchased equipment from or visited this store.

Beyond that I hope to return to the Camino .... most certainly be older .....while life will have to be lived to determine if any wiser

 

[oursonpolaire]

Stuff sent by sea to Spain can be less-than-swift---- I've had a parcel take four months. However, this gives you a reason to do a second Camino, possibly the Primitivo, which joins on to the Francese east of Arzua, and drop into the merchant and have a chat to refresh his memory.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

It may not be the merchant. It might be someone in the post office, on either side of the ocean. Or even some light-fingered neighbor of your friend.
A subscription to The New Yorker magazine was a delight of most of my adult life, until I moved to Spain. Alas, despite mail traces and complaints and investigations from both sides of the pond, fewer than half the magazines ever make it to my mailbox.
They pass through a lot of hands between here and there, and somebody steals them. And so I had to give them up.
The world is a sad old place sometimes.

 

[jeffnd]

Copper still? I think you mean copper sculpture, right? For decorative purposes only!

 

[hecate105]

Possible to buy stills in France and even in the uk - although strictly forbidden here in uk to use it for making the evil alcohol. But if you want to make essential oils - fine! I agree with others though that it probably has been held up at either border by customs - perhaps if it contained info on making essential oil it may of got through...! Another time it might be worth having a declaration in the box saying that it is for decorative purposes only. A shame you may of of lost your memento - but maybe it will turn up...

 

[hecate105]

' We tasted such fantastic walnut and herbal liquors in Spain that a still seemed a perfect gift.'
If it fails to turn up - you can make superb liqueurs without a still. Use vodka, brandy, rum or gin and soak fruit or nuts etc in it for several months, strain and add sugar water to sweeten to taste. There are many recipes online. A favourite one I have just strained off is 'Centerbe' (hundred herbs) Every summer I wander around the garden and pick a small bunch of every edible herb I can find (you MUST be absolutely sure of your identification!!!) this goes in a large kilner jar and I add some citrus peels, coffee beans a spoonful of Earl Grey tea leaves, a cinnamon stick, really whatever I have that is tasty/interesting. Topped up to cover with vodka, it is left for 3-4 months in a dark cool cupboard, I shake it once a week. Once strained I added about a quarter by volume of sugar syrup and decanted into bottles. It tastes slightly different each year and is a wonderful tonic. I'm sure with the mint and fennel and rosemary it is a really good digestif, and must be packed full of vitamins and minerals - it certainly makes me feel much better after a tot!!
Look up Walnut Noyau recipes too.

 

[Tia Valeria]

We had a recipe for sloe gin. Turned cheapish gin into something really good, especially as I cannot stand gin normally.

 

[MomtoKatenRose]

It may not be the merchant. It might be someone in the post office, on either side of the ocean. Or even some light-fingered neighbor of your friend.

All possibilities....but we walked out of the store into our Camino cloud with a receipt that recorded the transaction but NO name of the store, NO phone number, NO email address, and No tracing document for the mailing. We really own our share of this detour.

 

[MomtoKatenRose]

Possible to buy stills in France and even in the uk - although strictly forbidden here in uk to use it for making the evil alcohol. But if you want to make essential oils - fine! I agree with others though that it probably has been held up at either border by customs - perhaps if it contained info on making essential oil it may of got through...! Another time it might be worth having a declaration in the box saying that it is for decorative purposes only. A shame you may of of lost your memento - but maybe it will turn up...

Hecate.......Agreed! There are two good possibilities ....
first, the package ultimately arrives and I take a picture to show off the beautiful hand hammered sculpture (correction noted) and have a way to identify and thank our storekeeper on this forum;
second, a cautioned pilgrim can take the steps needed to clearly identify the shop/storekeeper and documentation to trace the shipment or ship themselves.........and then enjoy the benefits of essential oils.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

 

[Castilian]

Yes we have the bill but our copy of the receipt shows no name or address.

Does it show a NIF?

That's really pushing "mañana" to the limit!

The limits of mañana can be really wide. Take a look, for example, at this history from South Africa:

http://www.iol.co.za/lifestyle/love-sex/marriage/love-letter-arrives-50-years-late-1.1769362

 

[Tia Valeria]

With no actual proof that this shop has failed to send the package it seems extremely unfair to be identifying it so clearly. The package has failed to turn up, everything else is supposition.

 

[hecate105]

Tia - yes I love sloe gin too. For years I did the whole - wait for the frosts, then prick each sloe with a needle - then I thought - hold on - if I just pick them when ripe and I have time, bung them in the freezer, get out and bash them around a bit - then put straight in gin - a lot less hassle and tastes just as good!

 

[William Marques]

Tia - I think that people will be able to make their own judgement about this shop whatever that may be. Those who wish to buy a still will be advised to obtain a proper receipt with address and NIF identification number (Número de Identificación Fiscal, Spain's value added tax identification number)