Mailing knife to Irun

nickymd1

Member
Nov 6, 2016
84
180
Berlin
Time of past OR future Camino
CdN'17, Regia'18, CF'19, CP'22, CFist/CMux '17/'22
So... it's weird, but as I've mentioned before, I have certain dietary requirements. Which means that I'll be doing a lot of my own meal preparation, which means that a knife will be essential on my Way. I could probably buy one along the way, but it seems like the cost of posting my current one back and forth will work out less expensive than purchasing one in Spain that I'll have to leave behind when I finish in Muxia (I'm not checking luggage as I'm travelling within Europe).

Has anyone every done something similar? And is there a post office in Irun / Hendaye where I could post it to? Or would the Albergues in Irun accept it even if I'm not staying with them when the package arrives?
 
Technical backpack for day trips with backpack cover and internal compartment for the hydration bladder. Ideal daypack for excursions where we need a medium capacity backpack. The back with Air Flow System creates large air channels that will keep our back as cool as possible.

€83,-
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.

Felipe

Veteran Member
Mar 28, 2009
1,674
3,626
Mexico
No personal experience, but you may find this note useful.
Public (meaning municipal or parochial) albergues are managed by very pressed volunteers; I would hesitate before asking for more services. As for private albergues or hostals, ask managers.
Apparently you are already set with the solution to your problem, but I bought a very good foldable knife in León; it cost me just 7 euros. When I left Compostela, I looked in the train station for pilgrims-to-be (they are very obvious, with all their clean and new equipment), saw a family (two young parents, little children) and gave my knife to them. I sometimes fancy that they did the same thing after they finished, and that my knife is still making the rounds along the Camino.
 

jerbear

Active Member
Apr 5, 2012
434
611
Time of past OR future Camino
Camino de madrid, camino francis, camino inverino (2012, 2013,2014)
CdM, Francis, San salvador, primativo june 2015 CDM , francis, inverino 2016
Camino madrid, via de Plata. Santiago.
Coast of the dead malpica to muxia
Not sure you ate even allowed to mail one. Then there might be customs. Knives ate cheap.1€ good luck. Holy cow batman3
 
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Tincatinker

Veteran Member
Jan 9, 2012
7,287
38,149
West Sussex, England
Time of past OR future Camino
2012
a knife will be essential on my Way.

Nicky, what sort of knife do you have in mind, and for cutting what? We purchased an Opinel, folding, 4 inch / 10 cm blade in Irun in a ferreteria on the Andrearriaga Ibilbidea not far from the Railway bridge & bang on the Camino. Cost €14. Cost of posting home €8. Cost in the UK £28- 30.

Large enough & sharp enough to de-bone a chicken or fillet a Dorada.
 
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.

Bajaracer

Camino Frances 2013 Jun-Jul SJPDP to Finisterre
Aug 21, 2012
1,108
992
San Diego, CA
Time of past OR future Camino
Camino Frances (2013) Jun-Jul SJPDP to Finisterre
So... it's weird, but as I've mentioned before, I have certain dietary requirements. Which means that I'll be doing a lot of my own meal preparation, which means that a knife will be essential on my Way. I could probably buy one along the way, but it seems like the cost of posting my current one back and forth will work out less expensive than purchasing one in Spain that I'll have to leave behind when I finish in Muxia (I'm not checking luggage as I'm travelling within Europe).

Has anyone every done something similar? And is there a post office in Irun / Hendaye where I could post it to? Or would the Albergues in Irun accept it even if I'm not staying with them when the package arrives?

Where would you be shipping the knife from? Spanish customs will want you to pay duties on your own stuff, you'd be better off buying a small kitchen knife with sheath locally, then leaving it at the last albergue you're staying at. Buying a knife once you get to Spain would be cheaper once you factor in having to ship one back and forth, and the headaches you will have to deal with.
 

SYates

Camino Fossil AD 1999, now living in Santiago de C
Oct 15, 2012
7,853
19,377
Santiago de Compostela
egeria.house
Time of past OR future Camino
First: Camino Francés 1999
...
Last: Santiago - Muxia 2019

Now: http://egeria.house/
... I could probably buy one along the way, but it seems like the cost of posting my current one back and forth will work out less expensive than purchasing one in Spain that I'll have to leave behind when I finish in Muxia ...

A simple knife for cutting vegetables and the like will set you back, in Spain, around 5 Euro max, certainly cheaper than mailing one in - and out. Buen Camino, SY
 

Cat Engelmann

New Member
Apr 20, 2017
9
10
USA
Time of past OR future Camino
(June 2017)
Future July 2018
So... it's weird, but as I've mentioned before, I have certain dietary requirements. Which means that I'll be doing a lot of my own meal preparation, which means that a knife will be essential on my Way. I could probably buy one along the way, but it seems like the cost of posting my current one back and forth will work out less expensive than purchasing one in Spain that I'll have to leave behind when I finish in Muxia (I'm not checking luggage as I'm travelling within Europe).

Has anyone every done something similar? And is there a post office in Irun / Hendaye where I could post it to? Or would the Albergues in Irun accept it even if I'm not staying with them when the package arrives?
I shipped my knife to hotel ramtchu in SJPdP via US priority express mail. Arrived just fine.
 
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JabbaPapa

"True Pilgrim"
Jul 15, 2005
6,133
13,279
Time of past OR future Camino
100 characters or fewer : see signature details
You will certainly be able to find a knife to suit your needs in Irun or Hendaye, whether it's a folding knife, a simple kitchen knife, a swiss army knife, or any -- unless your arrival there is on a Sunday, or say late at night with an early departure planned. Or if you're travelling by plane > train, near the station where you'll board the train, especially if you have multiple possible departure times from there, or several possibilities really. Knives are very easily and cheaply acquired in both France and Spain.

Including even sending one you've purchased back home after you finish.
 
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t2andreo

Veteran Member
Apr 6, 2013
6,256
21,209
Northern Virginia
Time of past OR future Camino
2013 - 2018 , Pilgrim Office volunteer 2014 - 2022
The solution is simple. If you are NOT going to check your pack, containing sharp objects and liquids, BUY a simple knife there. Postage, especially from outside the EU zone will be FAR more expensive than buying the knife there.

Just as a BTW and FYI, I must use powdered protein to supplement my diet each day. The protein comes in individual packets. I use a 2 1/2-inch child's scissor to open these packets easily, IT IS LEGAL TO TRAVEL BY AIR WITH A SHORT ROUNDED TIP SCISSOR.

In the US the maximum blade size permitted is 4 inches from the fulcrum of the scissor to the edge of the blade. The EU countries have a similar provision,. I believe the maximum length permitted is 6 cm, but do check.

My scissors were obtained form the stationery aisle of my local supermarket. I have passed through both US TSA as well as Portuguese and Spanish security checks, where I could see that they could see the scissors on the x-ray. They are not concerned.

So, if a scissor will do the trick, you can travel with one, as I mention here. If you really Do need a proper knife, buy one locally, on arrival.

I hope this helps.
 
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-

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