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There are plenty of places for a first stamp in Fromista. The albergues. The church. The bar. The train station. It is a bit of a stretch to say you are starting in Madrid! I suggest that Fromista is more your beginning point.
Buen camino.
Thank you and yes, I agree, but is it "OK" just to get an ordinary albergue stamp? Don't I have to have it officially noted by a pilgrim office or something? That's why I thought I might have to go into somewhere in Madrid, or else be denied stamps from the albergues (perhaps denied entry into an albergue??) until I can reach Sahagun or Leon...
No? It's "OK" to arrive in Santiago for a distancia and not have an official starting stamp from a Pilgrim Office? or a church? I don't know. Second go around and I still don't know who is "allowed" to write up the first pages of our booklets.
To clarify further, absolutely everybody is allowed to stamp in the normal fields of the credencial.
Stamp it all the way -- until you get to Santiago, it's all one pilgrimage, regardless your twists and turns.
My first stamp in Ferrol on one walk was a bar, and no one batted an eye!No? It's "OK" to arrive in Santiago for a distancia and not have an official starting stamp from a Pilgrim Office?
That once was part of the routine, getting "permission" from your parish. I think it disappeared at about the time the number of pilgrims exceeded 10,000. Madame Debril performed a similar function in SJPdP. If she did not like your level of religiosity, no "permission"!! She died.And I have read of people having them stamped before they leave home, by their church,
There is nothing wrong with doing that, but I suspect your distance certificate will start from Fromista, the first point that is actually on the camino you are walking.get a stamp at your home parish if your pastor gives your pilgrimage a blessing, then at Madrid, and again at Fromista
Dear Gentle forum folk,
I and in Madrid on the 29th and have a day there before I get an early train to Fromista. I will have with me my previous credenciale that was stamped for its beginning point in SJPDP and carried me all the way to SDC. I will also have a new, blank one (purchased from the forum store). Is there somewhere to get it officially recorded in Fromista? or am I better to do that in Madrid even though I am headed for the CF?
Crossing my fingers for the train not to be sold out.... according to RENFE I cannot buy the ticket except at the station.
Morgan:
Why not walk the Madrid to Sahagun and pick up the Frances there. You can get a stamp at the Cathedral in Madrid. It is a nice walk that has one climb and then is pretty much pine forests ans Meseta.
This choice would eliminate your need for a train ticket.
Ultreya,
Joe
With respect to your train ticket, I think you’re having trouble because the RENFE site doesn’t recognize much in the way of through trains from Madrid to Fromista. From Madrid, you first have to take one of the fast trains to either Valladolid or Palencia. Then you pick up the local train to Fromista. Book your trip in separate legs and you’ll have no problem. For example, you could take the 7:45 AM to Palencia, have a leisurely cup of coffee in the Palencia station, then pick up the local train which leaves Palencia at 10:38 and arrives in Fromista at 10:59 AM. That same 7:45 train from Madrid also stops first at Valladolid, from which you could take the (same) local train to Fromista, which leaves Valladolid at 9:55.
Overall, there’s only 2 trains a day to Fromista. The first is the one discussed above. The second leaves Valladolid at 16:54 and Palencia at 17:36, arriving at Fromista at 7:59.
So the trick is to coordinate your train from Madrid to Valladolid or Palencia, with the local trains then going on to Fromista.
2 further tips: lots more trains from Madrid to Valladolid than to Palencia. On the other hand, if you don’t like the times of either of the local trains to Fromista, you can also get a local bus (or a taxi) from Palencia to Fromista. Bus station in Palencia is at the train station.
You should be able to buy these tickets right now on the Renfe site.
But remember. The trains from Madrid to Valladolid and Palencia leave from Charmartin. (We went to the wrong train station, and had a frantic trip across town to catch our train).
because Spouse is already on the Frances and I am meeting him roughly half way from SJPDP to SDC
Oh, you're the one with husband Maribel or not to Maribel.
Alright then.
Fromista, then stamps aplenty.
Buen camino to you both!
That once was part of the routine, getting "permission" from your parish. I think it disappeared at about the time the number of pilgrims exceeded 10,000. Madame Debril performed a similar function in SJPdP. If she did not like your level of religiosity, no "permission"!! She died.
Buy a ticket in advance from Raileurope.Dear Gentle forum folk,
I and in Madrid on the 29th and have a day there before I get an early train to Fromista. I will have with me my previous credenciale that was stamped for its beginning point in SJPDP and carried me all the way to SDC. I will also have a new, blank one (purchased from the forum store). Is there somewhere to get it officially recorded in Fromista? or am I better to do that in Madrid even though I am headed for the CF?
Crossing my fingers for the train not to be sold out.... according to RENFE I cannot buy the ticket except at the station.
One caution if you are going to Fromista: A friend was meeting me there and missed the station - it's not much of anything. Fortunately she speaks Spanish and got help getting off at the next stop and taking another train back. But I'd inform someone official on the train where you intend to disembark so that they 'have your back.' Sahagun is a bigger station and harder to miss.Yes! Thank you. I intend to be on the early train from Madrid to Valladolid and the 9:55 to Fromista
When you get to Fromista, don't miss the San Martin church, one of my favourite romanesque churches on the Camino (which is saying a lot).
because Spouse is already on the Frances and I am meeting him roughly half way from SJPDP to SDC
She'll meet him in Fromista so I guess "roughly" qualifiesSahagun is exactly half way.
According to legend, yes but the maps and distances are more ambiguous. At any rate, I am meeting him *roughly* halfway from SJPDP to SDC. It won’t be in Sahagun because the logistics do not work for the train arrival time.Sahagun is exactly half way.
I believe the monument with the two figures facing each other just before Sahagun marks the half way point between Roncesvalles and Santiago de Compostela. It is a Spanish monument, after all.Sahagun is exactly half way.
Here are a few pics of the train station so you know what to look for. You should be OK if you let the conductor know you'll be getting off, and are reasonably vigilant.Mostly, I am fearful of being jet-lagged getting on the wrong train in Madrid, missing my transfer, or missing Fromista.
I've been to see it on three caminos, and it has always been locked up. Apparently it's one of the finest examples in Europe, not just the camino. Have you been fortunate to see inside?When you get to Fromista, don't miss the San Martin church, one of my favourite romanesque churches on the Camino (which is saying a lot).
Yes. It was locked up on my first Camino in 1989 but was quite open in 2016.I've been to see it on three caminos, and it has always been locked up. Apparently it's one of the finest examples in Europe, not just the camino. Have you been fortunate to see inside?
I like the idea also! Think I’ll do it too, thanks for sharing it.And I have read of people having them stamped before they leave home, by their church, or school, or some place of special importance that marks the start of their journey. I love the idea and plan to have my church stamp mine before I leave -- right after my pastor gives me a pilgrim blessing.
And just so you are prepared for the unpleasant surprise...there is an entrance fee. It's not huge, but still.Iglesia de San Martín1 Enero al 31 Marzo: 10:00 – 14:00 y 15:30 – 18:30 horas. Todos los días1 Abril al 30 Septiembre: 9:30 – 14:00 y 16:30 – 20:00 horas. Todos los díasPrecio: 1,50€ por persona. 1€ para peregrinos, jubilados y estudiantes
I remember when I was in Fromista in 2011 that the San Martin church was desacrilized. I don't know if that's the right expression but the church is no longer "the church" but architectural monument. But I guess there could still be a holly mass given. I mean if they can do it in a meadow why not in a architectural monument, right?The building of San Martín is no longer a parish church and hasn't been for several decades; San Pedro is the parish church. If I'm not mistaken they have started in recent years to hold mass in San Martín once a week (Wednesdays?) during the summer season. Also weddings and christenings. And of course celebrations on 11 November as it's dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours (France).
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