Final Bits ‘n’ Pieces

Exciting little package arrived in the mail today. All the way from Europe it was from the Camino de Santiago Forum Shop and all going well it should be the last of my object purchases (I still need to purchase my transport from Paris to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and likewise from Santiago de Compostela to Paris).

It was exciting because the package contained the acclaimed John Brierley book “A Pilgrim’s Guide to the Camino de Santiago – Camino Frances 2022 edition”, a Camino Pilgrim shell, a “Way of Saint James” patch for the pack, and most importantly, my Credencial Del Peregrino (my passport soon to be filled with stamps).

Everybody raves about John Brierley guides and I can see why, as they contain:

33 daily stage maps with contour guides
All pilgrim hostels and other lodging
Over 200 colour photographs
15 detailed town plans
Overall route planner
History and legend…

It should be a great Camino-Frances resource. If you want to check out my “intended” route and stages you can find it here.

The scallop shell is one of the traditional symbols that represents the Camino and it’s often hung from the pack of pilgrims walking the trail. Another traditional symbol is the red Cross of Saint James and my scallop shell doubles down on tradition and includes the cross painted on it.

My patch is… well… a memento patch. I like to collect patches as I travel to different countries and this momento of the Camino is no different.

And finally, there’s my Credencial (Pilgrim’s Passport). I need to collect two stamps a day (at least on the last 100km) in this book in order to be eligible for my Compostela (certificate) at Santiago de Compostela. Stamps can be collected at churches, hostels, town halls and cafes along the route.

To learn a little more about some of those symbolic items, the Credencial, and the History of the Camino in a condensed format, why not check out my “3 minute Quick Guide to the Santiago de Compostela“.

Products: Guidebook, Pilgrim Shell, Camino de Santiago patch, and Credencial

Brand: Various

Supplier: Ivar Rekve

Cost (AUD): $70.00

Weight: 345g

Carried: In/On Pack

Total Pack Weight to Date: 6.493kg

Total On Person Weight to Date: 2.583kg

Total Cost to Date (AUD): $3679.22