Portomarin, Friday 27th May 2011
Anyone can join the Camino at any place, walk as far (or as near) as they wish, and then go home!
Most people walk with a destination in mind and by far the most common destination is Santiago de Compostela, the cathedral city of St.James the apostle.
The walk may be undertaken and completed in a single visit, or it can be covered by several phases over several years. At the chosen point of origin (which can be anywhere along the way) it is customnary to obtain a credencial . This is the Pilgrim Passport. Itś a simple official document which confirms starting point and date as well as mode of travel (foot, bike, or horse).Along the way the credencial is stamped at the places visited.I have generally sought to get my credencial stamped at those places where I have stayed overnight. Some go for stamps at any place they can get them, often filling more than one credencial. At Santiago, the cathedral authorities check the credencial and then decide if the pilgrim (peregrino) has earned his/her Compostela, an official certificate of completion, the traditional certificate of pilgrimage (which I think is in Latin!).
A further requirement for the Compostela is that the pilgrim has either walked the last 100Km or cycled the last 200Km - no buses allowed (nor taxis, trains, boats or planes). For walkers the last 100Km starts around Sarria. Consequently, at this point it is not unusual for pilgrim numbers to increase substantially. Apparently many people arrive at Sarria to walk just the final portion in order to obtain their Compostela. One writer graciously gives a warning against resentment at ¨my"camino being intruded upon by such brash newcomers.
Indeed, everyone has their own Camino to walk and this is no place to exercise judgment of any kind.
We are now in the final stages. Since O Cebreiro markers have occurred at intervals of 500m, recording the distance yet to go to Santiago. The last marker before I stopped today was 89.5Km.
Iḿ getting closer.
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