The Pilgrims Credential is a document, kind of like a passport, that you carry with you on the Camino de Santiago. At various places you stop along your journey, you have it stamped to show you were there. Two stamps per day from different villages are best. You can get stamps in churches, hotels, albergues, cafes and restaurants. Upon arrival into Santiago de Compostela, you take your credential to the official office, where they interview you and once verified, you receive a Compostela,  which is a certificate of completion of walking the Camino de Santiago.

Today our walk took us into Sahagún,  Spain, which is the mid-way point of the Camino between Ronesvalles and Santiago de Compostela. In the city center of Sahagún is an old monastery that has been restored. The nuns that run the updated ruins of the old monastery take your pilgrims credential and provide you with a mid point certificate of completion. I was on my way to the monastery when I ran into Graham, as he was just arriving into town, still with backpack in tow. He decided to join me and we started wallking to the monastery. We then ran into Ebony having a snack in an outdoor cafe. She decided to walk with us as well, so the three of us wandered and found our way to the monastery for a mid Camino certificate.

Today, as I departed Calzadilla, I decided to walk alone for the day. Donna decided she needed a couple more days to fully recover and Eladio wanted to leave a bit later. I set out from Calzadilla in the morning sunshine to a chorus of coo-coo birds singing from every direction, it was magical. The Camino took me through 4 villages, each with their own charm. The most memorable was Moratinas. They had houses built into the hills of the town that looked a lot like hobbit houses. The structures are more than 500 years old. Its strange seeing television antennas and chimneys coming up from the ground.

I felt a deep love for the Camino today. It’s incredibly peaceful and such a beautiful way to spend a day, collecting thoughts and becoming more in touch with my true self. I had my paper pilgrims credential stamped today, but that’s nothing in comparison with the mark the trail is leaving in my heart.

My Pilgrims Credential

My pilgrims credential

Departing Calzadilla alone with the call of coo-coos

Walking the Camino alone in the morning

Walking alone in the quiet morning

Hillside home in Moritana Spain

Home built into hillside, kinda like hobbit homes

Bodega built into hillside, over 500 years old

Cute bridge and church just outside Sahagún

Cute church just outside Sahagún

Ebony waiting for monastery to open for mid way certificate

Old monastery converted to art exhibit center

Art inside restored monastery

Old, restored monastery converted to art center

My mid way certificate from Sahagún

Dinner with Eladio, Ebony and Graham