Douglas Christel
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Frances (May 2019)
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Shells at the pilgrims office are offered for a donation as I recall from last year.. There are pretty thick and came with the predrilled hole and string, I had no breakage with mine. Ones in the tourist shops I considered to be much thinner. I bought a few in Santiago as souvenirs for friends. Also I considered the Shell I have from St. Jean to be special, one of my most prized possessions and It will accompany me on the Norte this year.Instead of buying a shell at the Pilgrim's office or some tourist shop, I'm taking along a shell that I found at my mother's house. Given that shells aren't that sturdy and they'll be banging around the back of packs and lodged against walls for over a month, would it be helpful to protect the shell by putting on a coat or two of lacquer, polyurethane, or shellack (assuming they'll stick to calcium carbonate shells)? I'd prefer to return my mother's shell intact if at all possible to add to her collection. Thanks in advance for any advice!
Doug
For what it's worth, shells can be quite robust - I'm sure there are some breakages, but I know people who have carried the same shell on the outside of their rucksacks over many Caminos. Shells protect their inhabitants from the ravages of the ocean, so I guess they're stronger than they look.
It was actually my mother's idea for me to take the shell along, and she suggested considering protecting it with polyurethane. I'm a marine biologist and brought this shell back to my mother during one of my research trips. I'm taking it to bring it even more meaning when I return. It was one of the few that survived my old rucksack, so I know they can be brittle and want to explore how to preserve it during my trek.I'd ask your mother if she'd rather you cover it in lacquer or risk breaking it.
That might be a better solution. Thanks!I did the same thing and brought one that my father in law painted. I covered the bottom with clear packing tape that came right off when I was done.
And I never met anyone whose shell broke.I can't tell you how many times I dropped my shell. It did not break.
And I forgot to take mine off my backpack and it was subjected to the rigeurs of being loaded in and out of aircraft holds, and still didnt break.And I never met anyone whose shell broke.
Great pun @trecile.I really don't see how shellac would prevent it from breaking
Yes, I agree. My shell from the Pilgrims Office in SJPdP, for a donation, proved to be more robust than me most of the time!!!And I never met anyone whose shell broke.
Instead of buying a shell at the Pilgrim's office or some tourist shop, I'm taking along a shell that I found at my mother's house. Given that shells aren't that sturdy and they'll be banging around the back of packs and lodged against walls for over a month, would it be helpful to protect the shell by putting on a coat or two of lacquer, polyurethane, or shellack (assuming they'll stick to calcium carbonate shells)? I'd prefer to return my mother's shell intact if at all possible to add to her collection. Thanks in advance for any advice!
Doug
...protect the shell by putting on a coat or two of lacquer, polyurethane, or shellac...
Doug
I'd ask your mother if she'd rather you cover it in lacquer or risk breaking it. She might surprise you. Perhaps she feels that it's highly valuable (and then, perhaps you should leave it behind) or not worth worrying about (in which case, why spoil it with lacquer?).
For what it's worth, shells can be quite robust - I'm sure there are some breakages, but I know people who have carried the same shell on the outside of their rucksacks over many Caminos. Shells protect their inhabitants from the ravages of the ocean, so I guess they're stronger than they look.
Cape Finesterre.You should get the shell at Cape beach at end of Camino, that's what pilgrims did originally. I have shells from the beach ,it's very special.
I wonder about that, pilgrims going on to find a shell at Fisterra I mean. If the aim of a medieval pilgrim was to visit with St James why would they need to go on to Fisterra? After all they needed to get back home to tend the land and they were walking back not jetting off like we do. More likely they bought their shells along with their pieces of the True Cross, and slithers of the bones of St James from a peddler in Santiago.You should get the shell at Cape beach at end of Camino, that's what pilgrims did originally. I have shells from the beach ,it's very special.
I think it was to do with proof they had done the pilgrimage. Pilgrims definitely did bring a shell with them, so it only recently that people started sticking a shell on their rucksack.I wonder about that, pilgrims going on to find a shell at Fisterra I mean. If the aim of a medieval pilgrim was to visit with St James why would they need to go on to Fisterra? After all they needed to get back home to tend the land and they were walking back not jetting off like we do. More likely they bought their shells along with their pieces of the True Cross, and slithers of the bones of St James from a peddler in Santiago.
I've got sixI think it was to do with proof they had done the pilgrimage. Pilgrims definitely did bring a shell with them, so it only recently that people started sticking a shell on their rucksack.
Everybody does their own thing, but a shell on your rucksack on the way to Santiago does not say a lot.
Get the shell at Finisterre , and treasure it
Gorilla Glue is your friend - I hope you kept the pieces.Sadly my scallop shell broke half way along my first camino; I carried all the pieces to Santiago. In a strange way, I liked the realization of fragility and there is so much beauty in brokenness. I'm stopping now before I get all deep and meaningful....
Medieval pilgrim's took a shell home with them, but I don't think there is much evidence that they necessarily walked several days more to Finisterre to get it when there were plenty of similar shells much closer to Santiago (and probably in Santiago itself).I think it was to do with proof they had done the pilgrimage. Pilgrims definitely did bring a shell with them, so it only recently that people started sticking a shell on their rucksack.
Everybody does their own thing, but a shell on your rucksack on the way to Santiago does not say a lot.
Get the shell at Finisterre , and treasure it
Interesting, David, but do you need a shell on your backpack to show are a pilgrim? I am currently on my 6th Camino (Mozarabe) I never felt the need to say I am pilgrim , I have my credential that's the important thing. But I understand everyone has their own Camino so if you need it then fine but it is very much a recent occurrenceMedieval pilgrim's took a shell home with them, but I don't think there is much evidence that they necessarily walked several days more to Finisterre to get it when there were plenty of similar shells much closer to Santiago (and probably in Santiago itself).
We are no longer medieval pilgrim's, though. Today, a shell on your backpack says you are a pilgrim on the way to Santiago de Compostela. For some of us, that's a lot.
How was the walk from Almeria! Bet it's lovely there at the moment - I miss it greatly!Interesting, David, but do you need a shell on your backpack to show are a pilgrim? I am currently on my 6th Camino (Mozarabe) I never felt the need to say I am pilgrim , I have my credential that's the important thing. But I understand everyone has their own Camino so if you need it then fine but it is very much a recent occurrence. My last words are; just enjoy the experience
Loving every moment, few blisters but that is part of the Camino. Just finished day 3, in Alba, great donatavo. Blue skies, warm in afternoons, cold in evening and morningsHow was the walk from Almeria! Bet it's lovely there at the moment - I miss it greatly!
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