Where to buy a guide on the Camino?

kinkin_sh said:

One more question: Do you think sending stuff away to Santiago from the Pamplona post office will be safe? How long can the package stay at the Santiago post office without any claimer?

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I sent about 2.5 kilos worth of stuff to Santiago from Najera. It appears to be a common practice for pilgrims to mail extra gear to Santiago - the Najera post office knew exactly what to write on the box, despite my lack of postal Spanish ;-) When I arrived in Santiago, I presented my claim slip (whatever you do, don't lose it!) at the main post office and got my package. I also mailed a big box home to the US from Santiago (extra gear and souvenirs/gifts), and they cut the box to size and fill out the forms (muchas gracias for their kindness).

As for how long the post office will keep it - I've heard different accounts. I did the Camino from July-August of 2007, and on the trail I heard that the Santiago office would keep it for 3 months. However, others on this board have said thirty days is the maximum, and I believe one poster said their box was kept for 37 days (the topic has been discussed elsewhere on the board, so check around for different anecdotes). So, perhaps it would be prudent to assume 30 days in order to avoid an unpleasant surprise upon reaching Santiago.

I bough a really really good English guide in a small bookshop in Pamplona. Sorry I don't have a street name or shop name. But they are very serviceminded at the tourist office in Pamplona - and they speak English. Ask them for at good book store with travel guides.

The guide I have: Camino de Santiago - Way of St. Jamen from the Pyrenees to Santiago. By Cordula Raba. Rother Walking Guide is the publicher. It's very detailed and packed with informations. Everybody I met told me it THE best guide - never mistake the oranization skill of the Germans :lol:

I hope you find this guide somewhere on the camino. Ohhh I miss it - I have been home for two weeks and I'm still adapting to the "real and normal life". So do enjoy it all - every second! You will miss it....

Buen camino
Rikke back in Denmark.

The Pamplona Tourist Information Centre in the Plaza de San Francisco, usually have free maps and related Camino information, at least for the Navarra region.