The Pilgrim Office

St Jean Pied-de-Port is a beautiful old walled city with many lovely views, cobblestoned streets-and many hills


 
 
I dropped my bags at the Albergue and ventured across the street to the Pilgrim Office. These can found in most pilgrim towns and the one in SJPP is busy helping the 50,000-60,000 who being their Camino here each year. In the busiest months of May and September, about 500 people begin each day.
 
The Pilgrim Office is staffed by local volunteers, Les Amin du Chemin de Saint-Jacques, and they provide credential, your first sello or stamp, and can advise on weather conditions crossing over into Spain  
 

 
 

These stamps are issued all along the way and serve to certify that you have actually walked the Camino. Upon arrival in Santiago,you present your credential; they review it and then issue you your compestela, your document certifying that you have completed a Camino.  
 
Each location has a different stamp and many are very charming. Pilgrims cherish their completed credential. 
 

 





It was quite reassuring to talk with someone who had done this walk themselves and could reassure about difficulty, weather and terrain.  Now armed with my credential and sello, I headed back across the street to the albergue.



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