Las Credenciales arrived

Our "Credencial del Peregrino" - Pilgrim's Passports - arrived in the mail for our walk on the Camino to Santiago de Compostela. The first step in becoming an official pilgrim! We requested these official Credenciales from the American Pilgrims on the Camino, based in Palo Alto, California. This group provides information and assistance to pilgrims from the U.S. The Credenciales are smallish fold-outs of thick paper with each of our names and city and country of origin.

The cover is a very nice sepia with the print of an old bridge, a copy of the "Pilgrim's Prayer" from the 12th century Codex Calixtinus - an very early "guide book" about the Camino, a map of the various pilgrim routes across Europe to Spain, and a lovely list called "Spirit of the Camino" with such reminders as "Give thanks at the end of each day," "Watch for the signs that you are on the path," and " Welcome all that comes to you."

The Credenciales must be stamped at specific stops along the way - usually in the church in the town or village. To be an official pilgrim and receive the "Compostela" or certificate stating that you have made the pilgrimage, you must complete the final 100 kilometers on foot or final 200 kilometers if on horse or bicycle. We will be on foot.

Tomorrow - more about our preparation for the journey and our departure in October.