On the Camino

When I was in Santiago this year there I visited Pilgrim House again.

A fairly simple gift to make for someone walking the Camino is one of these bears made of course in the yellow and blue of the Camino.

I have found a website which lists accommodation along the Via Francigena at http://www.viefrancigene.org/en/visit/dove-dormire/  . The lists are given in English as well as what I think is Italian (my languages really are not very good!). The lists start at Colle del Gran San Bernardo/Piacenza (the Saint Bernard pass which is the border between Switzerland and Italy) and run to Rome  and simply list accommodation with type, address and telephone number. The information comes in PDF form and so can be printed out or downloaded onto an e-reader easily, I have no idea how accurate they are or anything but every little bit of information can help. Image taken from http://www.viefrancigene.org/en/visit/dove-dormire/

This site http://www.visit.viefrancigene.org/en/mappe/download/pdf/  has maps of the route of the Via Francigena from Saint Bernard's pass to Rome - you can get these as PDF files to be printed or put on your e-reader or as files to put on your smart phone. I've only looked at the PDF files and they are not fantastically detailed but at least have the topographic profile as well as showing where accommodation/water fountains and places to eat are.

I have only walked the first 20miles of this route so have no idea about the accuracy/usefulness of any of these books  - if anyone does have any experience then do please let us know in the comments below. Good walking books have an ebook 'Tavel Via Francigenia Canterbury to Rome for $7 Australian (about £4 as I was writing this post) - it is available at http://www.goodwalkingbooks.com/travel_vf.html  (you can also look at a sample here although this does not show much it looks like the book is part guide, part diary of the author's walk) Lightfoot Guide Books publishes a guide in three parts: Canterbury to Bescancon, Bescancon to Vercelli and Vercelli to Rome which vary in price from 12-25 Euros (about £9.50-20) depending on volume and whether you buy the ebook or the paperback version (reading some people's experience with these books has taught me that if you buy all three they weigh about a kilogram!) Image from http://pilgrimagepublications.com/pp_2014/pr...

The information on credentials usually comes only in Spanish so below is a translation of what it says as well as information on where you can get a Credential.  Necessary considerations: This credential is only for pilgrims on foot, bike or horseback, who wish to undertake a pilgrimage with Christian intention, even if it is only searching. The credential's aim is to encourage piety. therefore the issuing of it should be a Parish, Confraternity or Amigos association  etc. The Credential does not accrue any pilgrim rights. It has two practical purposes: 1. To regulate access to Albergues, the Christian hospitality of the Camino 2. To be a record for the Compostela awarded by the Cathedral in Santiago which is the certificate of completion.

The Correos (Post Office) has started to do sellos for Pilgrim's Credentials and their website states that: 'At any post office will postmark your credential and many of them well, you'll find special postmark that we designed with the picture of some place or landmark event in the town. So you'll get memory in your Credencial all those places that you could see and visit on your Camino de Santiago' (taken from http://www.elcaminoconcorreos.com/es/sellos-credencial.php ) Below are the last lot of the sellos that they have released on-line: