Where do I get the first STAMP?

[lukedarracott]

Hey everyone,

This Saturday - even though I still have a slightly injured ankle - I'm heading up to Santander to start my Camino de Santiago. I was wondering, if I'm starting in Santander on Sunday do I have to get a stamp to prove that I've begun? i.e. before I start walking out of the city. I will be sleeping Saturday night with some friends, not in an albuergue.

Many thanks,

Hope my ankle is near 100% by then!!

 

[Sojourner47]

You don't have to "prove" anything. As has been said umpteen times on this forum, the camino starts when you want it to.
The only requirement for a compostela is to obtain a daily stamp/or 2 stamps a day for the last 100kms before Santiago.

 

[William Marques]

It will probably be nice to start from somewhere significant like the cathedral or town hall and you can get your first stamp there. This applies to any starting point on any Camino or off any Camino. I have always got the first stamp from my local church before starting the journey.

 

[natasha.brambleski]

You don't have to "prove" anything. As has been said umpteen times on this forum, the camino starts when you want it to.
The only requirement for a compostela is to obtain a daily stamp/or 2 stamps a day for the last 100kms before Santiago.

do i need two stamps a day only do last 113kms?

 

[JabbaPapa]

If you're Catholic, ideally from your home parish prior to starting.

Otherwise, it's completely up to you

(personally, I've always liked getting the stamp from the starting point)

 

[William Marques]

The only requirement for a Compostela is to obtain a daily stamp/or 2 stamps a day for the last 100kms before Santiago.

Do I need two stamps a day only do last 113kms?

If you are only walking the last 113 km you would need 2 stamps a day.

 

[ChrisMO]

I love the idea to get a stamp from my local church, but how I can get the book before I start my pilgrimage?

 

[oursonpolaire]

I love the idea to get a stamp from my local church, but how I can get the book before I start my pilgrimage?

Order it from your national pilgrims' association (http://www.csj.org.uk/anglo-assocs.htm for links to Anglophone groups). Quite a few church-goers among the pilgrim set will get their home parish or even their local bishop to affix the first stamp, often after receiving a blessing for their pilgrimage.

However, the cathedral in Santander will simply send you to the office around the corner for your sello (stamp). Should all of this fail, get it stamped at your first albergue, or the local ayuntamiento (town hall) will cheerfully affix a stamp, as will pretty well any church or convent you pass by. On the Catalan route, I would often drop into the local rectory to get a sello and usually got a cup of coffee or some orange juice instead from the priest (not many pilgrims on this route, so you would be a novelty).

 

[ChrisMO]

Thanks! I just order for my family.

 

[ChrisMO]

Just got them in 1 week! Officially Peregrino