Passports and Stamps

[Maryjane Dunn]

Perhaps a clarification for our newer members...

The "stamps" are not postage-type stamps, but are rubber-stamped seals which
are used by the pilgrim office in Compostela to verify that the person in
question has actually walked, biked, or "horsed" the Route before they issue
the "Compostelana"--a lovely (it actually used to be lovelier, bigger and on
better quality paper) Latin document that says, essentially, "This person
was a pilgrim to Compostela".

For the Pilgrim Office the importance is in proving that the person has
traveled a minimum of the last 100 km on foot (bike or horseback) to obtain
the document. Along the route the stamps are important proof that you are a
"real" pilgrim (please, let's not start that discussion again!) and entitled
to lodging at the refugios along the way, and to buy the special-price
pilgrim's meal that is available in many restaurants.

Maryjane

> I'm new to this.  Do people really walk for the "stamps" or do
> they walk for
> the experience?  Do "stamps" make the journey or can the journey
> be complete
> without the "stamps"?
>
> George M. DeVoe, Jr.