Last minute important questions

[Donald Schell]

Dear John,

> I will have in hand a Credential as supplied to me by Friends of the Road .
> Where do the documents get stamped?  At the stamping locations, are there any
> special hours of operation, Etc.? Also,I have noted some discussion about
> needing "2 stamps" in some areas of the camino, can anyone please enlighten
> me on that point?

The primary stamping you'll get is from refugio/albergues (the pilgrim
hostels) and you get them as you sign in.  Refugios usually open around 4
p.m.  Sometimes I have found them open and unattended.  That means you find
yourself a bed but also that you'll want to check back when the hospitalero
or hospitalera is there, pay (or make a donation) for your bed and get the
stamp on your credential.  The Friends of the Road credential is already
marked with a specific sequence of places (i.e. beginning at Burgos, it
continues with spaces for Castrojeriz, Fromista, Carrion de los Condes,
etc.).  There may be places along the route where you diverge from this
implied itinerary, forks in the camino or staying in refugios other than
those listed.  There are also places along the way that are not refugios
which will stamp your credential - cathedrals, churches, museums and a few
camino side water or lemonade stops.  As you fill your credential, wherever
you ignore the printed sequence, you'll probably be directing people where
to mark the stamps.

The 'two stamps' requirement is new since I walked in 1998 to Santiago and
was not relevant to my recent walk that stopped well short of Santiago.
Perhaps someone else here can fill you in on that before you leave.

Blessings on your camino!

Donald Schell

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