Thank you. Also, is the Camino Passport the same as the Credencial? If they are different, how many passports would I need for multiple Caminos?
I have long deprecated the use of the term "pilgrim passport" from the days when I issued credentials and encountered an extremely furious pilgrim who had thought that the "pilgrim passport" was an easily-obtained and economical alternative to a Canadian passport, and was blazing with anger (and obscenities) when he found out that the airlines would not accept them to board their aircraft.
What you described in your opening paragraphs (
Camino Madrid, to Camino San Salvador, to Camino Norte, to Santiago) was one Camino--- one pilgrimage to Santiago-- albeit cobbling together bits of different routes to get you there. As others have pointed out, likely one credencial will get you there. If you are like me, a collector of sellos, obtaining them from every church I visit (as well as from guardia civil stations and local ayuntamientos), you may need more than one. Still, if you want to use four, you can, although you will be carrying them and every gram counts.
I am informed by a local police detective that they can serve as backup for your alibi so if the police are investigating a bank robbery and you are asked where you were on (say) September 10, you can honestly respond and say "Medina de Rioseco at the albergue in Santa Clara's monastery, and boy did they snore."
PS If you are a RC priest, you might want to schlep your celebret with you. If you don't normally carry one (ssome dioceses issue them in the form of a little ID card, but some don't), your diocesan vicar general will get you one. This will enable you to assist at masses along the way, and to do so at the Cathedral in Santiago-- they supply the kit (although one priest I know carried a travelling stole to hear confessions along the route.... to no avail, as apparently none of the pilgrims he met seemed to feel sinful).
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