Compostela (and dinner)

My sister Karen asked a great question, “What is a compostela?”

Essentially it is a diploma for walking at least 100km of the Camino. While walking, we have a “pilgrim passport” which we get stamped every night and at any other significant sites (churches, restaurants, museums, etc.). I’ve posted a picture of my pilgrim passport in its current state.

From Sarria on it fills up more quickly because we’re required to get two stamps each day. Most pilgrims simply get their albergue to stamp it at night and in the morning.

A small church in Sahagun (which we should reach tomorrow) offers a “halfway” compostela for those who started in St. Jean Pied de Port, which we did. I’m not certain whether some of the taxi/bus/train rides that we have taken will disqualify us or not, but we’ll see.

I’ve also posted a picture of dinner first course (white beans with squid) as well as Sean’s Camino friend Brandon. Sean barely touched his dinner and the albergue graciously offered him other dishes and then only charged half-price. Very kind!Read more