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Hello all:
I am a solo Canadian embarking on my first Camino - Camino Del Norte. I much appreciate reading all the insights. I am hopeful for August and look forward to walking from Irun to Santiago.
Sorry for what may be an obvious question: I have my credentials passport (thanks Ivar). Do I need to formally “start“ my credential passport it before I walk - correct? Seems that my only option in Irun (looking at Gronze) is a visiting The Passionists which opens at 9 a.m. Is that a late start for the hike to San Sebastian? I am thinking this is the right route to go (which I am happy to do). Do I understand this correctly?
Looking forward to whatever the camino may provide in this year. And thanks for any clarity as to how to start. Thanks, Dg
No. There is no need for a formal "start" anywhere. @oursonpolaire pointed out a tradition that many like to follow, but most people just start where they start and get the first stamp from their first accommodation or from a church in that town (although even that is not necessary). The only requirements apply to qualification for a compostela, and they are given here. The credencial serves two purposes:Do I need to formally “start“ my credential passport it before I walk - correct?
congrats on deciding to do the Norte. the most beautiful route in my opinion. I got my stamp at my Albergue in irun. I don't recall the name. yes, 9 am is a late start in my opinion. the walk to san Sebastian is quite a challenge and an early start will be helpful in many ways.Hello all:
I am a solo Canadian embarking on my first Camino - Camino Del Norte. I much appreciate reading all the insights. I am hopeful for August and look forward to walking from Irun to Santiago.
Sorry for what may be an obvious question: I have my credentials passport (thanks Ivar). Do I need to formally “start“ my credential passport before I walk - correct? Seems that my only option in Irun (looking at Gronze) is a visiting The Passionists which opens at 9 a.m. Is that a late start for the hike to San Sebastian? I am thinking this is the right route to go (which I am happy to do). Do I understand this correctly?
Looking forward to whatever the camino may provide in this year. And thanks for any clarity as to how to start. Thanks, Dg
We got our first sello at the train station on the Hendaye side, at the information window.
What documents were required for your Irun-Hendaye-Irun border crossings?Got our first sello from the police station (in the Ayuntamiento) in Irun on July 3rd. We were able to walk across the bridge to Hendaye, France for a glass of wine, then walk back. The Norte has been beautiful! Be sure to fill up your water supply every chance you get.
No requirements. We walked over, had some lunch, and walked back. They had police on the bridge, but they were mainly waving automobiles through.What documents were required for your Irun-Hendaye-Irun border crossings?
As of Aug 5th still no restrictions on the bridge. If nothing else it’s worth walking over just for the patisserie at the French end of the bridge!What documents were required for your Irun-Hendaye-Irun border crossings?
This was not true this summer. I spent a couple of hours wandering around Irun on a Sunday looking for a place that was open that had a sello. The albergue in Irun is closed. The ayuntamiento was closed. Both the national police and the local police (at opposite ends of the town) did not have sellos. The local police recommended trying The Station Bar (near the train station) but ultimately I was able to get a sello from the church after Mass was over. Note that many churches are completely closed if services are not going on.Anyone in Irun can provide you with a sello--- police, albergue, hotel, a church you pass by, or even the Passionists-- check to see if they have an early morning Mass or morning prayer. If not, the bar where you get your morning coffee will do it--Casa Manolo up to your right after your left just after you cross over the bridge over the canal Amuteko.
Do I need to formally “start“ my credential passport before I walk - correct?
No. A late start is 2:30pm (didn't get to my hotel in San Sebastian until 11PM, but that's another story.)Seems that my only option in Irun (looking at Gronze) is a visiting The Passionists which opens at 9 a.m. Is that a late start for the hike to San Sebastian?
This was not true this summer. I spent a couple of hours wandering around Irun on a Sunday looking for a place that was open that had a sello. The albergue in Irun is closed. The ayuntamiento was closed. Both the national police and the local police (at opposite ends of the town) did not have sellos. The local police recommended trying The Station Bar (near the train station) but ultimately I was able to get a sello from the church after Mass was over. Note that many churches are completely closed if services are not going on.
Of course, there is no need to have a sello from anywhere, but if you want to get one now, it is not always so easy. In many towns along the Camino del Norte, people have never heard of the Camino, let alone have a sello ready to stamp your credential.
The national police said they didn't have a one and told me the local police, 2 km away, would have one, but, after I'd walked across the town, the local police couldn't find one (they did look) and at first had no idea what I was talking about.I do not doubt your experience but I am truly astonished that the police did not have sellos. I would have said that this was impossible. Were they locked away on the Sunday? Or perhaps they didn't want to be bothered-- I have run into this at ayuntamientos on (rare) occasion.
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