walking sticks and pilgrim passport

[plugrules]

Walking stick:

Seeing as I am flying with Ryanair, which has the ludicrous policy of charging 10 pounds for each piece of checked luggage, I am hoping to be able to buy a walking stick in Seville or Merida. Does anyone have any ideas of where I can find them or how much they might cost? I don't want walking poles; I would like a good old fashioned walking stick. Suggestions?

Pilgrim Passport:

I am leaving for the camino on the 22nd and will be starting in Merida but will have a day or two in Seville. Is it possible to acquire a passport in Merida if I don't manage to obtain one in Seville?

Any help is much appreciated,

Michael

 

[Kevin F. O*brien]

Passport first. You are going to Seville and will therefore see the great Cathedral. Around the side of that is the pilgrim office and there you can get your passport. If not you can no doubt get one from CSJ before you leave. Send them a mail on "Contact us".
Walking sticks are fairly easily found (and disposed of) along the way.

 

[JohnnieWalker]

From what I can tell you can get a credencial/passport in Merida from here:

ASOCIACIÓN DE AMIGOS DEL CAMINO DE SANTIAGO DE MERIDA
Delgado Valencia, 3 - 06300 - Mérida
Telf: 924 312 309

Asociación de Amigos del Camino de Santiago, Mérida - Aljucén
C/ San Andrés, 23
Aljucén (Mérida)
Telf.: 690 06 09 75

In Sevilla you know about the Cathedral Office. They are also available at the office of the Friends of the Camino based at:

c/ San Jacinto, 25. Portal 6, local 4. 41010 Sevilla

Telephone: 954 335 274 Mobile: 696 600 602

The Office appears to be open Monday to Friday 9am - 1pm
and Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 7pm until 9pm.

The office is just across the Triana Bridge right next to the Bar Miami which has an interesting display on the walls about the Camino because the owner is a camino veteran on horseback. It is a few yards off the route if you follow the arrows from the Cathedral.

I don't use a stick all the time and therefore was content to use what was easily available when I needed it.

Buen Camino

John

 

[Minkey]

I'd have though that there'd be a Corte Ingles in Seville so you should be able to get a hiking pole from there. Alternatively buy one at home and strap it to your pack.

 

[JohnnieWalker]

there certainly is a Corte but as I remember it wasn't great for outdoor stuff - they referred me to a place I couldn't find! But Minkey, the pilgirm is look for a walking stick - a Baston - on the VdlP I just picked up sticks whenever I needed one - which is certainly the case on the first few stages - especially before going into Monasterio where the path is precariously perched behind the barrier on the hard shoulder!

Now an idea might be to set up a redistribution business for all of the sticks left at the pilgrims' office in Santiago - Ivar????

 

[Minkey]

Ah... Just a suggestion! I think poles are better than old fashioned sticks, personally! On my first time around I took nothing and suffered. I didn't want to fork out for a stick that'd been carved and polished and failed to see anything remotely walking stick like on the way!

 

[John Hussey]

same 'ole stick

IO have used the same 'ole stick now for thousands of miles (and many more kilometers) and am reluctant to retire it. But I have come up with a more travler friendly alternative and am going to start with it on my next Camino!