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I know this is kind of a weird question and I'm not quite sure how clear this is, but I'm trying to figure out when I'll truly feel like I'm on my Camino. I don't think it'll feel like a pilgrimage when I'm fighting my way through JFK airport, or even when I'm flying, but I'm not sure. Did it feel like the Camino was truly underway when you began to walk? When you got to your starting point? Landed in Spain? Or at another point?
And what about the ending? Was it complete when you walked into the cathedral? When you handed over your credential? When you headed home?
I'm asking partly because I'm curious, but mostly because I'm trying to figure out how much planning and pre-booking I should do. Will I feel disappointed or relieved if I book my first night before I start walking? Will I regret it if I book a hotel with a private room on my very last day, or will I feel like I'm finished and returning to normal (non-albergue) life?
What was your experience around the sense of being on a pilgrimage? When did it start and end for you?
They have one. When I was in Ribadiso an APCO member was there volunteering and stamping our credenciales with the albergue stamp and the APCO's.I sort of wish that the APOC Cofraternity had a sello that could stamp the first spot in the Credencial when it is sent out.
Planning is probably more fun than the walking. It certainly is less painful.I'm asking partly because I'm curious, but mostly because I'm trying to figure out how much planning and pre-booking I should do.
Will I feel disappointed or relieved if I book my first night before I start walking? Will I regret it if I book a hotel with a private room on my very last day, or will I feel like I'm finished and returning to normal (non-albergue) life?
I opened the envelope and saw the Credencials and when I say the place where my name, address, etc was all filled in, I thought to myself, 'Yup, my Camino has started.'
For me it's all about backpacks. My camino starts when I begin planning what to take. It finishes when I unpack my backpack. This may explain why my pack is still sitting in a corner not yet fully empty even though I finished my second camino in May this year.
Sense of being on a pilgrimage: I cannot say that I have truly interiorised the sense of being on pilgrimage. I did dedicate each step of the Camino Frances to a different person a day at a time. That meant giving thanks for the beauty, as well as the pain, somehow hoping that the mental connection would fly like an arrow straight to the person in whose honour I was walking that day.I know this is kind of a weird question and I'm not quite sure how clear this is, but I'm trying to figure out when I'll truly feel like I'm on my Camino. I don't think it'll feel like a pilgrimage when I'm fighting my way through JFK airport, or even when I'm flying, but I'm not sure. Did it feel like the Camino was truly underway when you began to walk? When you got to your starting point? Landed in Spain? Or at another point?
And what about the ending? Was it complete when you walked into the cathedral? When you handed over your credential? When you headed home?
I'm asking partly because I'm curious, but mostly because I'm trying to figure out how much planning and pre-booking I should do. Will I feel disappointed or relieved if I book my first night before I start walking? Will I regret it if I book a hotel with a private room on my very last day, or will I feel like I'm finished and returning to normal (non-albergue) life?
What was your experience around the sense of being on a pilgrimage? When did it start and end for you?
Snip....
....I sort of wish that the APOC Cofraternity had a sello that could stamp the first spot in the Credencial when it is sent out.
The Seattle (Puget Sound) group of the American Pilgrims has a great stamp (sello) that is perfect for those first stamp in your credentials.
If you still have time...you may want to contact them.
I suspect each person has his/her own moment when they realize their camino or pilgrimage has begun. My physical caminos each began when I carried my backpack out the back door ready for my ride to the airport. My physical caminos each ended when I was on the plane flying out of Madrid because the flight pattern to Boston actually goes over Santiago de Compostela, and I was able to say a last good bye before continuing forward. However, my sense of being on pilgrimage only occurred after days on my first camino when I realized that the intent of my walking had been changing. On my second camino, I finally accepted that I was a pilgrim when I saw a souvenir in Pamplona that read "Aqui vive una peregrina," and bought it when I reached Santiago. Towards the end of both of these caminos, I slowed down walking into Santiago because I did not want the camino to end, and I felt this in contrast to an urgency among my other pilgrims who seemed to speed up. Entering the Cathedral plaza both times were anti-climatic. My third camino, I knew I was a pilgrim and on a pilgrimage. I felt the joy of others at the Cathedral, and I was happy because they were. I also discovered that maybe I have been on one pilgrimage all this time, and I am still walking it today.I know this is kind of a weird question and I'm not quite sure how clear this is, but I'm trying to figure out when I'll truly feel like I'm on my Camino. I don't think it'll feel like a pilgrimage when I'm fighting my way through JFK airport, or even when I'm flying, but I'm not sure. Did it feel like the Camino was truly underway when you began to walk? When you got to your starting point? Landed in Spain? Or at another point?
And what about the ending? Was it complete when you walked into the cathedral? When you handed over your credential? When you headed home?
I'm asking partly because I'm curious, but mostly because I'm trying to figure out how much planning and pre-booking I should do. Will I feel disappointed or relieved if I book my first night before I start walking? Will I regret it if I book a hotel with a private room on my very last day, or will I feel like I'm finished and returning to normal (non-albergue) life?
What was your experience around the sense of being on a pilgrimage? When did it start and end for you?
I'm trying to figure out when I'll truly feel like I'm on my Camino.
The APOC credential may be free, but they do suggest a donation of $2 or so to cover the cost of shipping and handling--a small price to pay for the convenience of having your credential in hand when you hit the ground in Spain or France or Portugal or wherever you actually begin walking. As for an initial sello, our local APOC chapter (Colorado Front Range) has a sello, and I suspect other chapters do too. That won't help you of course if you don't live near one of the chapters, but if you really want a "first" sello from home, perhaps your local church has something they can stamp for you. Otherwise, the church, tourist office, or albergue in the town where you start walking will do.A coincidental post. Today's mail produced two Credencials from the American Pilgrims on the Camino organization; one for me and one for my son, Caleb. I had placed an online order about two months ago (they're free) after filling out their request form. I opened the envelope and saw the Credencials and when I say the place where my name, address, etc was all filled in, I thought to myself, 'Yup, my Camino has started.'
The appearence of the front cover of the APOC Credencial is different then the one I saw in Ivar's store. But, it is officially approved by the authorizing powers-that-be. It is also pretty cool that the Cofraternities of Ireland and Canada also have their own design on the front covers, too. I sort of wish that the APOC Cofraternity had a sello that could stamp the first spot in the Credencial when it is sent out.
The APOC credential may be free, but they do suggest a donation of $2 or so to cover the cost of shipping and handling--a small price to pay for the convenience of having your credential in hand when you hit the ground in Spain or France or Portugal or wherever you actually begin walking.
I agree 100%, especially if you're able to participate in a local chapter. For instance, my wife and I just participated in a chapter hike this morning. The chapter has hikes almost monthly, social gatherings, workshops, shell ceremonies for new pilgrims beginning walks, etc. It's well worth the annual dues and the small donations for services such as the credentials.... I think the mission of APOC is a great thing, for a variety of reasons.
Hi, the start for me was when I got on the train, the end? I don't know as it never really finished! I think it's called the "Camino Bug" ! Booking a hotel for the first night is good as you will be tired and jet lagged it will give you time to have a day in St Jean and talking to other pilgrims, last day is great but you don't want to book too early as you wont know your date of arrival! The Camino is different for everyone, just do not get too mixed up with booking ahead, you will surely miss the point of your Pilgrimage if you do! Like a lot of people do in concerts, they spend all their time recording the event but miss the event itself! Most people will only be able to do the Camino once in their lives, don't miss the experience, with your eyes glued to a phone! Buen Camino! - and don't forget - its not a race!I know this is kind of a weird question and I'm not quite sure how clear this is, but I'm trying to figure out when I'll truly feel like I'm on my Camino. I don't think it'll feel like a pilgrimage when I'm fighting my way through JFK airport, or even when I'm flying, but I'm not sure. Did it feel like the Camino was truly underway when you began to walk? When you got to your starting point? Landed in Spain? Or at another point?
And what about the ending? Was it complete when you walked into the cathedral? When you handed over your credential? When you headed home?
I'm asking partly because I'm curious, but mostly because I'm trying to figure out how much planning and pre-booking I should do. Will I feel disappointed or relieved if I book my first night before I start walking? Will I regret it if I book a hotel with a private room on my very last day, or will I feel like I'm finished and returning to normal (non-albergue) life?
What was your experience around the sense of being on a pilgrimage? When did it start and end for you?
Physically when I walked out the door...but it wasn't until my second day of walking when I began to feel this was much more than a physical challenge. I hadn't built myself up for the arrival in Santiago and whilst collecting my compostela was a little overwhelming, afterwards attending mass on my last night and seeing the botafumiero fly did kind of top and tail things for me. However at breakfast before I went to collect my compostela a fellow pilgrim carefully asked me 'how was your Camino'...my reply ... that I was still processing it. A couple of months on and I still am. I saw this on a slide in the Pilgrims office chapel ..."blessed are you pilgrim if you find the Camino opens your eyes to what is not seen..". Like many others here I remain on my journey.I know this is kind of a weird question and I'm not quite sure how clear this is, but I'm trying to figure out when I'll truly feel like I'm on my Camino. I don't think it'll feel like a pilgrimage when I'm fighting my way through JFK airport, or even when I'm flying, but I'm not sure. Did it feel like the Camino was truly underway when you began to walk? When you got to your starting point? Landed in Spain? Or at another point?
And what about the ending? Was it complete when you walked into the cathedral? When you handed over your credential? When you headed home?
I'm asking partly because I'm curious, but mostly because I'm trying to figure out how much planning and pre-booking I should do. Will I feel disappointed or relieved if I book my first night before I start walking? Will I regret it if I book a hotel with a private room on my very last day, or will I feel like I'm finished and returning to normal (non-albergue) life?
What was your experience around the sense of being on a pilgrimage? When did it start and end for you?
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