Pilgrims passport

[trueheart]

Hi Im still getting used to what is recommeded as part of being on a camino. I have afriend who did it a few years ago (she lives in paris), and she said to sign up as a member of a st james association to get a 'pilgrim passport'; when she completed the camino with all stamps she was able to get a free flight back to a european destination (with Iberia) as well as a free meal somewhere. i was starting in St Jean Pied de Port, can i get the passport there or do I need to buy it in advance before I leaving my country of origin (Australia), and is it true that you can get afree flight & meal. If so do you book the flight in advance. It seems too good to be true, but this friend claims that is what she did.

From Therese

 

[Deleted member 3000]

I doubt that airlines give free flights. With a copy of your Compostela, you can get three free meals in the following three days (or is it 9 meals total?) at the Parador Hotel (Dos Reyes Catolicos) by being one of the first 10 pilgrims at each one. The competition is fierce, so you probably will have to get there an hour or more before the meal. It is first come, first serve, and the few times I tried it, it looked like the same people trying at every meal. You enter through the garage entrance and check in with the guard there. He is barely civil, having to deal with complainers (me) and freeloaders (everybody else) three times a day, so don't expect anything more from him than waiting to see if you are one of the first ten. Pilgrims try to hold places for friends that are not waiting, or stop early to leave a copy and reserve a place in line. Sometimes that seems to work, most of the time you have to be present to be counted in line. Pretty women seem to get preference, but that is the case in a lot of places in Spain. Korean pilgrims seem to have made it part of the routine, like hugging the St. James statue, so often the first ten slots are all-Korean. For 20 Euro, you can have a first class brunch in the hotel dining room at the morning hour of your choosing, which was my favorite activity in Santiago.

 

[jeff001]

You can get the passport/credential at the Pilgrim Office in StJean. The cost is minimal - a euro or 2.

 

[JohnnieWalker]

I understand that for some time Iberia did offer a discount (not free) on their full fare flights

 

[trueheart]

Thanks for that, the friend I spoke to seemed convinced that she travelled back to france for free, but I think it was a fair while ago; and thanks for telling me how to get a pilgrim passport, is St jean where you also become a member of the confraternity of st james?

 

[JohnnieWalker]

Hi - you don't need to be a member of a Confraternity to get a credencial or pilgrim passport - just turn up at the pilgrims' Office in St Jean and they will provide one. They are also available in albergues along the routes. If you want to join a Confraternity to help support the pilgrim movement for example you can get further information here http://www.csj.org.uk

Best wishes

John

 

[trueheart]

Thank you again for you your help everyone

 

[Gillian]

Hi

I'm planning to start in Roncesvalles, can I pick up a credential there?

I notice some places it says you need to get a reference from your parish before you leave home, is this the case?

Gillian

 

[JohnnieWalker]

Gillian - the practice of pilgrims carrying the letter to which you refer fell into disuse a considerable time ago - you can readily obtain a Credencial in Roncesvalles.

Regards

John

 

[Gillian]

Thanks John!