Mailing things ahead...Amawalker

[DJ BJ]

For those of you that would like to get some good advice on how to prepare your pilgrimage, have a look at Sil's blog here:
http://www.amawalker.blogspot.com/

... it looks like she is off to walk the camino Francés right now.

Greetings from 26c, sunny and not a cloud Santiago,
Ivar

Ivar,

Thanks for posting the link for Sil's blog.

"If you can't bear to leave out your favourite things and find that your pack is too heavy after all don’t despair because you can post stuff onto yourself Lista Correos (Poste Restante) to Santiago. You won't have to dump your excess stuff on the edge of the road! (The most common thing pilgrims dump on the side of the road are tents!) Most post offices sell special pilgrim boxes – some big enough to take a 20kg suitcase - and address labels to send stuff onto Santiago. The Post Office in Santiago will hold your parcel for up to two months. When you arrive in Santiago, take your parcel ticket and your ID or passport to the Post Office and collect your parcel. It is close to the Cathedral and is open until 7pm."

The above is from the blog Amawalker. I'm flying into Paris Oct.2nd and I'm planning to be in St. Jean-Pied-de-Port the night of Oct.3rd. Does anyone know if the post office in St. Jean-Pied-de-Port is equipped to do this posting or should I mail it from Paris.

Ideas?

BJ

 

[Jochen Schmidtke]

Re: Parcels at PO Santiago only 30 days!

Hello to all.

The Post Office in Santiago will hold your parcel for up to two months.

That is definitely wrong! It is only a rumor!
I was in June 2007 in the post office at Santiago and asked the senior officer in charge there. And he insured me that they keep parcels only for 30 days as it is international usage. I asked a second time: Is that definitive? And he answered: Devinitive!
Buen Camono to all
Jochen

 

[jeff001]

Since a package mailed from either SJPdP or Paris will be International Mail there is some question if the same rules apply. For sure, the cost will be greater and you may not be able to send it Poste Restante.

 

[Lillian Rodriguez]

Understanding that the Santiago post office would hold packages longer than 30 days, this past April I mailed a package to myself from Pamplona to Santiago. Upon arrival at Santiago on the 32nd day, (a Saturday), I went to the post office but it had already closed. Back on Monday morning, I was told that it had been returned to the forwarding address because the 30 day holding period had expired on Saturday, the 30th day after its arrival. Note: a package mailed in Pamplona takes only 2 days to reach Santiago.

In my case, the 30 day limit expired that Saturday and when on Monday morning, it was still there awaiting processing. Luckily they were able to retrieve it!!.

But be aware: 30 days only!

Buen camino to all!

 

[kirstym]

Also, if anyone plans to send things to the lista de correos along the way (anywhere except Santiago), be warned it will only be kept for 15 days, despite what guidebooks may say. (or certainly for an international package). I learnt that the hard way. Even when I had specified "PEREGRINA" on the package.

The SJPP post office doesn't have "pilgrims boxes" per say; you just have to use international postagepaid boxes - mine was ~30 euros I believe, for a few pairs of jeans; trainers, a book or two. (if you want anything from my box, it'll probably be in the post offices trash by now; help yourself...