I have two months of travel after my camino so needed to send my mid-size suitcase containing post-camino items to Santiago.
It is a common black expandable suitcase with three exterior zipper pockets. I picked up a roll of clear packing tape at a China store (terrible stuff - would barely stick to anything) and taped around the suitcase paying special attention to completely covering the zipper pulls with tape. I affixed Ivar's address and phone number to the front and back.
I located a large Post Office/CTT office in the Municipal Square directly opposite city hall - just a half block down from the major tourist square from which Lisbon Walkers and the yellow tour buses depart. I chose this larger post office because I thought with a larger staff I would have a better chance of finding someone who spoke English.
I had to complete a document for the international shipment which I did to the best of my ability considering it was in Portuguese. I was then told by a supervisor that each zipper tab had to be locked with a padlock - meaning I had to get 4 padlocks. I explained the three exterior pockets were empty and that there were only items in the main compartment, so she agreed that I only needed to lock that compartment. She was firm in that the shipping tape would not suffice - that parcel was not going anywhere without a padlock.
They very kindly allowed me to leave the suitcase there while I checked the shops along the street till I found a lock in a store about two blocks away. Back I went to the post office and the suitcase only to find the lock was defective and would not close. Back I went to the store and received a replacement lock which worked A-OK. I returned to the post office the second time and locked the main compartment. All this back and forth in the heat and the crowds on the narrow sidewalks was while carrying my backpack and poles. A good workout, to be sure.
The suitcase weighed 13 kilograms (I think) and cost 68 euro including the tax. This was a much cheaper option for me than purchasing replacements for the items. Ivar received the shipment in a week.
PLEASE NOTE when it came time to pay my Visa card could not be used. I had to play in cash. I don't know the reason but I think it had something to do with it being an international shipment?
The Post Office staff were very helpful and professional. They were a pleasure to deal with.
Why did I tape rather than lock in the first place? I thought I read somewhere that this was how it had to be done. Perhaps that was a "senior's moment".
I hope this information helps someone.
It is a common black expandable suitcase with three exterior zipper pockets. I picked up a roll of clear packing tape at a China store (terrible stuff - would barely stick to anything) and taped around the suitcase paying special attention to completely covering the zipper pulls with tape. I affixed Ivar's address and phone number to the front and back.
I located a large Post Office/CTT office in the Municipal Square directly opposite city hall - just a half block down from the major tourist square from which Lisbon Walkers and the yellow tour buses depart. I chose this larger post office because I thought with a larger staff I would have a better chance of finding someone who spoke English.
I had to complete a document for the international shipment which I did to the best of my ability considering it was in Portuguese. I was then told by a supervisor that each zipper tab had to be locked with a padlock - meaning I had to get 4 padlocks. I explained the three exterior pockets were empty and that there were only items in the main compartment, so she agreed that I only needed to lock that compartment. She was firm in that the shipping tape would not suffice - that parcel was not going anywhere without a padlock.
They very kindly allowed me to leave the suitcase there while I checked the shops along the street till I found a lock in a store about two blocks away. Back I went to the post office and the suitcase only to find the lock was defective and would not close. Back I went to the store and received a replacement lock which worked A-OK. I returned to the post office the second time and locked the main compartment. All this back and forth in the heat and the crowds on the narrow sidewalks was while carrying my backpack and poles. A good workout, to be sure.
The suitcase weighed 13 kilograms (I think) and cost 68 euro including the tax. This was a much cheaper option for me than purchasing replacements for the items. Ivar received the shipment in a week.
PLEASE NOTE when it came time to pay my Visa card could not be used. I had to play in cash. I don't know the reason but I think it had something to do with it being an international shipment?
The Post Office staff were very helpful and professional. They were a pleasure to deal with.
Why did I tape rather than lock in the first place? I thought I read somewhere that this was how it had to be done. Perhaps that was a "senior's moment".
I hope this information helps someone.