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I have seen that journal on sale in various gift shops along the Camino Frances - including the Cathedral gift shop in Santiago - which doesn’t really answer your question.I was given one of the following
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Are they(it, I only have one) valid credentials for getting you Compostela in Santiago, with the stamps/sellos in the book?
https://zaragozabuenasnoticias.com/...dencial-del-peregrino-para-el-camino-frances/ where I found the images on the book/credencial
I have one giant problem with that article. It is written by people that are selling the journal-credential. The only people that seem to say it is "official" are those selling it.Yes, it's official. According to the linked article:
There may be nobody on this forum, neither pilgrim nor volunteer, who has ever seen the credential filled with stamps and held it in their hands. I think that you can trust the information provided by @trecile. This credencial was issued in 2016 as a numbered and limited edition. The publisher, Andavira, appears to be a small but genuine Spanish company. And while the text is difficult to read, you can see the signature of Segundo Perez Lopez, the long-time dean of the Cathedral of Santiago and boss of the Pilgrims Office, below the text in the lower right section of the screenshot.I would love to hear in from any of those that volunteer at the pilgrims office if they have even seen one used and accepted.
For what it is worth, I will confirm that the credencial in question is an approved, booklet version. It was introduced, as a gift item, perhaps four years ago.I have seen that journal on sale in various gift shops along the Camino Frances - including the Cathedral gift shop in Santiago - which doesn’t really answer your question.
I recall having a good look at one, deciding I didn’t need the extra weight, and moving on.
For an authoritative answer you’ll have to await @t2andreo or one of the other regular pilgrim office volunteers, but the link you posted claims that it is recognised:
Acreditada como Credencial Oficial por la Oficina de Acogida al Peregrino de la Catedral de Santiago,
I think that based on what you have said, and the fact that others have said it is too heavy to carry (why is that the case?) that it was issued as a nice keepsake and to be sold more as a souvenir than as an actual credential that pilgrims used as they walked to get their sellos and prove they are a pilgrim for entry into pilgrim only albergues. Is this a generally correct statement? Do you know of any pilgrims who walked in to the Pilgrim office and presented this credential to get their Compostela?For what it is worth, I will confirm that the credencial in question is an approved, booklet version. It was introduced, as a gift item, perhaps four years ago.
It was first sold at the Pilgrim Office gift shop. I recall that Ivar offered it for a time, in his online shop.
The standard credencial costs about €1,50. The horizontally aligned decorative booklet cost at least €10,00 if I recall correctly. I say this because I bought one just to have it. It makes a very nice momento.
Hope this helps.
Tom
Is this a generally correct statement?
I think that based on what you have said, and the fact that others have said it is too heavy to carry (why is that the case?) that it was issued as a nice keepsake and to be sold more as a souvenir than as an actual credential that pilgrims used as they walked to get their sellos and prove they are a pilgrim for entry into pilgrim only albergues. Is this a generally correct statement? Do you know of any pilgrims who walked in to the Pilgrim office and presented this credential to get their Compostela?
Thanks Tom,On the one hand, I do not recall seeing anyone present this fancy credencial at the counter. However, logically some pilgrims must have done so.
Then again, I have not been doing Compostelas, as my Spanish has not been up to snuff, until this year - so I would not have generally seen these credencials. In any event, the occurrence of these fancy, decorative, heavier credencials would be an exception. Most all pilgrims use a lighter, approved card stock credencial that is easier to carry and protect.
On the other hand, they DO weight considerably more than the standard olive brown and gold trimmed official credencial that is available across Spain. They are all shipped from the Pilgrim Office to city tourist offices, churches Cathedrals, and Camino groups across Europe and mostly in Spain.
If I had to carry it, I would opt for the lighter standard variety credencial. Grams add up to kilograms = pain at some point. Just sayin -
Hope this helps.
Tom
You sound like my dad! Even though he only had a high school education (night school at that too, as he had to work to help his family. Depression days) He had an amazing command of the English language. Partly because he was really smart and because he took Latin in Junior High and High School. When I was in college if I finished a paper early enough I would copy what I wrote and mail it to him so he could check the grammar, spelling and punctuation. He would always say that after reading what I wrote that they must let anyone into college and must give scholarships to everyone too. How did my son get a scholarship?????? I loved him lotsThere's a verb missing somewhere in that statement, so it is hard to say.But I think you are casting doubt on the conclusions that were reached in the thread, in which @t2andreo and others confirmed that it IS a valid credential. (Even if it were sold "more as a souvenir", that does not invalidate it as a functioning credencial.)
I think it was sold to be both. It is certainly too heavy for some to carry. But people carry all sorts of things on Camino. Heck, I've even heard of rice cookers being carried.I think that based on what you have said, and the fact that others have said it is too heavy to carry (why is that the case?) that it was issued as a nice keepsake and to be sold more as a souvenir than as an actual credential that pilgrims used as they walked to get their sellos and prove they are a pilgrim for entry into pilgrim only albergues. Is this a generally correct statement? Do you know of any pilgrims who walked in to the Pilgrim office and presented this credential to get their Compostela?
This year I am volunteering in September (7 - 21), as I had to recover fully from a very serious illness earlier in the year. Plus, the ACC volunteer service was closed until around June. They got a late start this year.Thanks Tom,
Now that you mentioned it I now remember you saying that you did not work the desk at the Pilgrim Office. My questions were more out of curiosity than the thought of using this credential. I wonder if they still sell them. I will check at the Pilgrim Gift Shop in December. If the price is 10 Euros or more (if they are still available) they better be REALLY nice!!! haha
I appreciate your response and maybe one of these days I will see you, unless of course you only volunteer during the summer. Buen Camino
So good you have recovered and doing what you love. I am going to PM to talk to you about volunteering if it is ok. I am happy I will not be arriving into Santiago until December 7 or so. Just looking at the temperatures everywhere and now in Sevilla I almost wish I was starting later in October.This year I am volunteering in September (7 - 21), as I had to recover fully from a very serious illness earlier in the year. Plus, the ACC volunteer service was closed until around June. They got a late start this year.
I hope to be back to my customary four weeks spanning the Feast of Santiago on 25 July, and the Feast of the Assumption on 15 August. Both weeks are peak arrival times for pilgrims.
I look forward to seeing anyone who comes by the office when I am there.
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