Mail in Spain

[Rosina Lila]

Hi Joe,
Put your name in the sender's spot and add the word PEREGRINO.
As your  sender's address you can write your home address so that if
something happens to the package they can get in touch with you (I never heard of
anything happening to packages; but, let's say that you mail yourself a package
from Portomarin and four days later, on a Sunday, you must leave for home and
didn't have time to retrieve the package, or the package did not arrive before
you leave, they will contact you).
 As the addressee write:
                                              Your name
                                               Lista de Correos
                                               15780   Santiago de Compostela
                                                            Espana
You'll need to fill up remittance  papers with the same information, but on
the papers you will have to add the "province" which Santiago's is Coruna. A
copy of the papers will be given to you as a receipt and to enable to claim the
packages in Santiago.
       If  the sender is identified as a "Peregrino" (pilgrim), they'll keep
the packages at the Santiago post office for up to four months.  When you
retrieve them you will absolutely need to show your passport.  Apparently some
persons have found remittance papers and tried to retrieve packages as though
they were theirs, which is why they now require absolute identification before
handing packages to anyone.
       You can get a variety of boxes, padded envelopes, etc. at the post
offices themselves, and you can pack whatever you want to send right there.  The
boxes either glue themselves at one end or come with tape.  But if you are as
skittish as I about packages coming apart, you can get some cord and tie them
up or some extra packaging tape. (I carry both).
       Write your last name in clear capital case letters because they store
the packages alphabetically.
       The post office in Santiago is open every day Monday to Friday  from
8:30 a.m. until 6: p.m., but on Saturdays it is only open until 2:00 p.m. and
it is closed on Sundays.
When you go into the post office there are machines that dispense a number;
the machines have two buttons, press the button for "ENVIAR" (to send) and
watch the screens for your number and counter.  The same button applies to the pur
chase of stamps. The numbers are rigurously observed by the post office
employees who collect them in order.
Most post offices have nice seats and ways to wait for your number to come
up.
Warm regards,
Rosina (presently in Portomarin)
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