Credentials

My credential so far. Some 56 slots and approximately 22 filed.

If you aren’t familiar, hotels, albergues and many other service providers offer a commemorative stamp which documents your arrival to a location. They are quite varied and some are more prized than others either for their beauty, the location they represent, or because they require a little extra effort to get.

The first time I did the Camino de Francesco with Sandy Brown we made the substantial mountainous climb to Faggio, an 800 year old tree St Francis took refuge under and blessed. We didn’t realize there was a stamp, either because it didn’t exist or it wasn’t exactly well marked. Two years later we made the same trek and by chance noticed it sitting on a nondescript picnic bench with no signage. We also heard the giggling of a young couple and discovered a parking lot a block away, complete with an easy access road to the tree.

Whatever. The stamp is a beautiful depiction of the tree, It required effort to get it hiking despite the auto access, and my favorite of that walk. This time my favorite so far is the cantina truck. Never seen one like it!

When we arrive at our final camino destination in Santiago, the credential will be offered at the pilgrim office as proof of our pilgrimage, where upon we receive the final stamp and certificate.

Although Santiago is the end of this Camino, it is not the end for us or for many. The Spanish coast is just a few days away, so we will be walking on to Finisterre, because what’s another 56 miles after 500?

©Theresa Elliott, All Rights Reserved

Cover or front of the credential which is folded like an accordion.

My favorite stamp from this camino so far. I’ve never seen one like it, from the cantina I wrote about in The Beauty of Spain, July 4th.