Do French and Finisterre ways continuously or pause in SdC a

[irishmancamino]

Hi everybody,

I'm walking the French way (starting 13th June), obviously extremely excited about the adventure ahead and looking forward to meeting some amazing people along the way.

I'm spending just a little over 6 weeks in Spain as I also want to complete the Camino Finisterre whilst I'm there and I don't want to rush anything.

I'm just wondering how people have done this in the past? Have you gone to the cathedral in SdC, attended the pilgrim mass and received your certificate and then went onto Finisterre/Muxia OR did you bypass the city and keep walking onto Finisterre and Muxia and then return to SdC and do the formalities then? Is there an official way to do this?

Also, where do you go to get your certificate when completing the Camino Finisterre?

Advice is greatly appreciated!

Buen Camino!

Joe

 

[mspath]

Joe,

Pilgrims arriving in Santiago de Compostela often go first to the Pilgrims' Center located on rua de Vilar near the cathedral where they receive their Compostella, then attend mass at the cathedral and a day or two later walk on to Finisterre and/or Muxia. The Galicia Tourist Office in Santiago at 30 rua de Vilar has a good free list of ALL services on the paths to both Finisterre and Muxia. This includes food shops, albergues, lodgings, restaurants, bars, banks, buses, etc. Their multilingual staff is also most helpful. At the municipal albergue in Negreira you can pick up a special pilgrim Credential for the Finisterre walk or continue to use your first one. When you arrive on foot at Finisterre you can obtain a Certificate at the municipal albergue centrally located at Calle Real, 2. In the same way when you walk into Muxia you can obtain a Certificate at the municipal albergue on Calle Enfesto.

For me one special vista on these walks is always the first glimpse of the distant sea as seen from the rolling hills near Cee. Near-by is the simple, welcoming albergue at San Roque/Corcubion. >> http://caminodesantiago.consumer.es./al ... san-roque/ From their dorm window when you see the timeless lighthouse beacon at Finisterre shining in the black night sky all is magical.

Buen Camino,

Margaret Meredith

 

[irishmancamino]

Many thanks for that information Margaret, you're very good to send that on!

Buen Camino!

Joe

 

[Pieces]

I think such things are better decided once there...

what ever you feel like doing will be the right thing

 

[irishmancamino]

Thank you, Pieces!

 

[colinPeter]

Hola irishmancamino,
To me one of the highlites of the Camino is spending a couple of days in SDC and meeting again pilgrims you met along the way. Apart from the exhileration of arriving yourself, to meet others, some who you've seen struggling, some who battled with injuries, the joy of greetings and many times hugs with them is something that stays with you forever. Of course, I realize you need the time, but it's worth considering if you have the time.
Did I mention sitting in the sun at Plaza De Fonseca (or similar) having a drink with a bunch of fellow pilgrims.
Buen Camino
Colin

 

[irishmancamino]

Gracias Colin,
Something to very much keep in mind!

 

[tyrrek]

Totally agree with the above posts. It's great spending a couple of days in SdC watching other pilgrims arrive and bumping into people you met along the Way who arrive a day or so before/after you. One of the nicest things about Santiago is just watching pilgrims in the street shriek and start hugging each other if they see someone they met and lost along the Way...especially if you're involved in the shrieking/hugging yourself. Buen Camino!

 

[julie]

To me one of the highlites of the Camino is spending a couple of days in SDC and meeting again pilgrims you met along the way. Apart from the exhileration of arriving yourself, to meet others, some who you've seen struggling, some who battled with injuries, the joy of greetings and many times hugs with them is something that stays with you forever. Of course, I realize you need the time, but it's worth considering if you have the time.
Did I mention sitting in the sun at Plaza De Fonseca (or similar) having a drink with a bunch of fellow pilgrims.

I couldn't agree more!

What's even better is that you can do that in SDC then walk to Finisterre/Muxia, go back to SDC and do it all again with the people you met on the way to Finisterre.

 

[irishmancamino]

Thanks Tyrrek and Julie! I'm getting even more excited at the prospect of that experience twice over!!

Buen Camino!

 

[BrendanJoseph]

Hi Joe,
Tony and I are starting off from SJPDP on 13th June and hoping to get to SDC about 19th July. We are planning to check in, get passport stamped, stay the night and then start off for Finisterre the following morning. We will then return to SDC on 23rd July and stay there until 26th, which will cover the feast of St James on 25th July.
I am sure we will meet you along the Way, somewhere.
Buen Camino,
Brendan

 

[scruffy1]

Hi Joe
Go on to Fistera if you must, I am not a great fan of the place, oh the light house at sunset and the 0 kilometer milestone are all right but the place has grown terribly commerical. You get your Fistera document after 1630 at the municipal albergue there provided you have had your Santiago credencial stamped along the way from Santiago to Fistera. Do consider Muxia, a wonderfully small village quiet relaxing and exactly the opposite in all ways from Fistera.
Go n-éirí an bóthar leat