New annual record number of Compostelas already reached today

[Bradypus]

The cathedral and the Xunta have marked a new annual record number of Compostelas with a small official welcome and presentation for the 438,308th pilgrim to receive a Compostela this year. A 79 year old man originally from Logrono but now resident in Huelva who had walked over 1,000km from Malaga. Breaking last year's record annual total with several weeks of the year still to run.

O Camiño de Santiago bate a súa marca oficial co peregrino 438.308

José Manuel Borrás, de 79 anos e natural de Logroño, recibe a credencial

www.g24.gal

 

[JabbaPapa]

Good for Señor Borrás, and nice to see that it went to a long-distance pilgrim.

 

[Bradypus]

Good for Señor Borrás, and nice to see that it went to a long-distance pilgrim.

Another report from La Voz de Galicia says that he walked 1,250km and finished the route on the Camino Frances from Astorga - encountering snow at O Cebreiro on the way. An inspiring journey!

Un andaluz de 79 años que recorrió 1.250 kilómetros es el peregrino 438.308, nuevo récord anual del Camino de Santiago

José Manuel Borras Hidalgo fue recibido por el presidente de la Xunta y dijo sentirse «abrumado y contento»

www.lavozdegalicia.es

 

[dfox]

1,250 km in 31 days (from Oct 13 to Nov 12), roughly 40 km/day, by a 79 years old person. It's inspiring/motivating!

 

[Bradypus]

1,250 km in 31 days (from Oct 13 to Nov 12), roughly 40 km/day, by a 79 years old person. It's inspiring/motivating!

There is some video of Jose Manuel at the presentation on another news website. Looking remarkably fit and well for a man of his age. All that exercise really must be good for you!

Rueda destaca el récord de peregrinos, alcanzado a mes y medio de que finalice 2023 y sin ser Año Xacobeo - HERMES TV VIGO

El presidente de la Xunta participa en un homenaje al peregrino 438.808 de este año https://dai.ly/x8pkhsk Subraya que la comunidad supere ya las 438.307 compostelas con las que se cerró 2022, que fue Año Santo Resalta el aumento en un 30 % de los peregrinos extranjeros que ya representan más…

hermesvigo.com

 

[staucher]

1250 km in 31 days is amazing! That's an average of more than 40 km per day for an entire month, more than I can handle! A few years ago, I walked the Via de la Plata (from Seville) in 38 days (only 1008 km). On that Camino, I remember walking a few days with a Spanish pilgrim from Mallorca, also aged about 78 or 79 at the time, and he was in much better shape than me having walked Caminos his entire life.

 

[TeMahAbuela2023]

Fantastic. I aspire to be as agile and as blessed.

 

[Dani7]

Thank you for this video and post. Doing the Podiensis and Frances back to back when ill be 70 in 2026 seems even more doable. I can show this to family and friends who think its a crazy idea.

 

[ShoshTrvls]

The cathedral and the Xunta have marked a new annual record number of Compostelas with a small official welcome and presentation for the 438,308th pilgrim to receive a Compostela this year. A 79 year old man originally from Logrono but now resident in Huelva who had walked over 1,000km from Malaga. Breaking last year's record annual total with several weeks of the year still to run.

O Camiño de Santiago bate a súa marca oficial co peregrino 438.308

José Manuel Borrás, de 79 anos e natural de Logroño, recibe a credencial

www.g24.gal

I'm arriving on December 31 if walking goes as planned and understand that I will get my Compostela at the Cathedral. I'm somewhat curious if there will be a reverse line of sorts of Pilgrims who want to be the last person this year to receive their Compostela.

 

[Tincatinker]

get my Compostela at the Cathedral

No. You will be able to obtain your Compostela at the Pilgrims Office on Rúa Carretas, nº33. A few minutes walk from the Cathedral. The PO is closed on New Years day, the 1st January, as it is on Christmas Day. On those days you can obtain your Compostela from the Cathedral

 

[ShoshTrvls]

No. You will be able to obtain your Compostela at the Pilgrims Office on Rúa Carretas, nº33. A few minutes walk from the Cathedral

Ah, I thought the Office was closed on the 31st. Thanks for the correction.

Of course, the question still stands -- will there be jostling for being the last Pilgrim of the year?

 

[Tincatinker]

Ah, I thought the Office was closed on the 31st. Thanks for the correction.

Of course, the question still stands -- will there be jostling for being the last Pilgrim of the year?

That'll depend. I can imagine a small crowd of pilgrims milling around outside the PO as the clock ticks towards 6pm. The constant exchanges: "after you", "Después de usted", "Après vous", "אחריך", "Nach Ihnen", etc, etc. I can imagine a bit of elbowing occurring; a bit of pushing and shoving. I can imagine Security getting nervous...

But I have a very vivid imagination and a profound belief in absurdity.

Turn up at the PO at 17:59 on 31 December and all you are likely to encounter is a volunteer who just wants to go home and get ready to party

 

[ShoshTrvls]

Turn up at the PO at 17:59 on 31 December and all you are likely to encounter is a volunteer who just wants to go home and get ready to party

I'm a slow walker but hopefully not that slow -- while it might be fun to be the last, my plan is to take a long siesta between arrival and festivities.

 

[Hilary Van Norstrand]

Thank you for this video and post. Doing the Podiensis and Frances back to back when ill be 70 in 2026 seems even more doable. I can show this to family and friends who think its a crazy idea.

Doing the same God willing this upcoming mid August to mid October. Can’t wait. Don’t let anyone call you “crazy.”

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

It's going to be interesting to see if we hit 450,000 for the year. As of yesterday it had already topped 440,000, it only needs another 250 a day, which we're currently exceeding. @ShoshTrvls , I'd love to hear what number you ultimately receive!