- Time of past OR future Camino
- Too many and too often!
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A friend lost her passport while on the Camino. It was a pain to have to go to the Embassy in Madrid, but it wasn't a huge problem. I would recommend scanning your passport and emailing the image to yourself so that you can retrieve it anywhere that you can get online. I'm sure that being able to show them the scanned image with its data would be useful in getting an emergency passport. Also, print out a copy of your passport and carry it with you, perhaps laminate it too.I’m so glad to hear this, as it’s actually my very worst nightmare, having my passport lost or stolen, leaving me stranded and unable to return home to the US*. I know that this does happen and that it can be resolved, but I know I’ll panic, not knowing what to do. Anything else would be aggravating, but this is the one loss I fear the most.
Thanks! I can certainly do the copies and scanned versions, but still, what if I’m in the middle of nowhere, like the Meseta? Do I have to interrupt my trip and go all the way to the embassy in Madrid? A more specific nightmare is having my passport stolen the night before my morning return flight. I know, I know, it’s solvable, but I want to have an idea on what to do. As for the cellphone being stolen, that’s certainly another worry, since I’m on the verge of buying a brand new one, which I plan to backup, and to remind myself that in the old days, we managed to get by without these things and that it’s easy to get paranoid about these things...A friend lost her passport while on the Camino. It was a pain to have to go to the Embassy in Madrid, but it wasn't a huge problem. I would recommend scanning your passport and emailing the image to yourself so that you can retrieve it anywhere that you can get online. I'm sure that being able to show them the scanned image with its data would be useful in getting an emergency passport. Also, print out a copy of your passport and carry it with you, perhaps laminate it too.
My bigger fear is losing my phone! All of my contacts and important information are on it.
The reliance on the phone will get ever greater. It can’t be long before the physical passport becomes no longer (I am finding it increasingly bizarre we carry these big books with stamps in) and it’s stored on our, errr… phones.i carry two phones, one is not linked to a number (it obviously could be) but at least I can use it to go online where there is WiFi and access anything.Thanks! I can certainly do the copies and scanned versions, but still, what if I’m in the middle of nowhere, like the Meseta? Do I have to interrupt my trip and go all the way to the embassy in Madrid? A more specific nightmare is having my passport stolen the night before my morning return flight. I know, I know, it’s solvable, but I want to have an idea on what to do. As for the cellphone being stolen, that’s certainly another worry, since I’m on the verge of buying a brand new one, which I plan to backup, and to remind myself that in the old days, we managed to get by without these things and that it’s easy to get paranoid about these things...
OK amigo, you are still h*ll bend on running yourself ragged! CHILLThanks! I can certainly do the copies and scanned versions, but still, what if I’m in the middle of nowhere, like the Meseta? Do I have to interrupt my trip and go all the way to the embassy in Madrid? A more specific nightmare is having my passport stolen the night before my morning return flight.
Thanks!OK amigo, you are still h*ll bend on running yourself ragged! CHILL
Or we'll be reading about you in the news being another casualty of the Camino...
OK, so... 1/2way jokingly and 1/2 way serious
1.I would not interrupt my trip in the middle of Meseta. Until you are ready to go home your US passport means little on the Camino. Just try not to lose the credential
2.Where, Pray tell me, you are planning to spend a night before you fly home that you may worry about your documents being stolen?
I pretty much did what @trecile said - copied the passport, emailed it to myself, uploaded it onto Google drive and, for a good measure, printed out the copy (that's what we dinosaurs used to do before the humans started roaming the ....er.... before there were mobile smart phones) and kept it in a totally separate place. By all means feel free to use all 3 options or any combination of thereof.
I understand your trepidations, but seriously - its kind of reminds me of people who are afraid to go out for the fear that something will happen to them. To which I usually quip that if you think "that way" then your house is not safe either for the floor or the ceiling can cave in at any given moment.
Our lives are so much full of what-ifs that one may have to start wondering what's the use of living, PERIOD?! I'd rather quote Sir Paul from one of his songs: What's the use of worrying? (No Use)
More and more each day I begin to believe that you NEED the Camino! Go, my friend, Carpe Diem, throw caution to the wind (but be mindful of obvious things) and have a WONDERFUL AWESOME adventure and time (and then be prepared to catch the Camino-litis for it will no doubt get under your skin as it did for pretty much all of us)
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I ALREADY loooove the Camino, without even being there yet! I just hate the thought of it being ruined by thieves. Also, it may be a matter of temperament and bad experiences. Throwing caution to the wind has resulted in dire consequences for me, so it’s much harder to be as relaxed and care-free if it was otherwise. It’s a balancing act, being open to a new experience but not being so naive to not prepare for things like these, and we all differ on our individual risk tolerance and how much we can/should push our limits. I’m grateful for your enthusiasm!Honestly God - I feel more "nervous" when I go to NYC then any place in Europe. I was lucky enough to very quickly identify 3 attempts (and 'clumsy' at that may I add) to try to pickpocket me on the (in)famous LaRamblas and through all my times in Barca that was the extent of it. By all means I do always keep my guard and I do take cerain precautions but international travel is nothing to be afraid of. Heck I sent out my 25yo nephew all by himself to Paris his 1st everything incl plane flight. (Oh and I have to mention that he is, or rather WAS, quite an introvert at the time). Very much a seasoned traveler now, with multiple languages under the belt, reasonably outgoing and now-a-days eyeing Africa (as in Morocco) for a 'challenge"
Yeah you'll be fine. The more we hyperventilate - the more we "hyperventilate" and THAT produces 'errors' not to mention more stress.
Once more - you wil LOVE the Camino!!!!
I would do the former, but not necessarily the latter. I say this because, around the time of my first Camino, I did something similar, carrying a photocopy of my passport in case I lost it (emailing it to myself or saving a scan online wasn't a possibility back then). What happened was that the photocopy was stolen and used by someone else to attempt to request a passport in my name. Since then, it's always taken me a lot longer to get a renewed passport than anyone else in my family.I would recommend scanning your passport and emailing the image to yourself so that you can retrieve it anywhere that you can get online. I'm sure that being able to show them the scanned image with its data would be useful in getting an emergency passport. Also, print out a copy of your passport and carry it with you, perhaps laminate it too.
Wow, that sucks! I only suggested it because I have read posts here and elsewhere that some people show the photocopy of their passport when they check in at albergues (I know that hospitaleros can insist on seeing the real thing, but this is what some have reported), and leave their real passport in their backpack. That's not something that I would do, because I keep my valuables in my crossbody bag which I keep on all the time - I don't want my valuables buried in my backpack where I can't check on them easily.I would do the former, but not necessarily the latter. I say this because, around the time of my first Camino, I did something similar, carrying a photocopy of my passport in case I lost it (emailing it to myself or saving a scan online wasn't a possibility back then). What happened was that the photocopy was stolen and used by someone else to attempt to request a passport in my name.
We got the “bird poop” scam in Barcelona. I had just read about it on the Rick Steves website or it would have worked. I was SHOCKED that the culprit was a well groomed gentleman in a business suit! I read that site before each trip to hear the latest, now.Before my first time in Paris in 2014, I had done some research of pickpocket scams in the city. I was very surprised when two of the main scams attempted to scam me!...what are the odds?
One was the "string scam" and the other the "brass ring" scam.
Make a back up before you leave.My bigger fear is losing my phone! All of my contacts and important information are on it.
I am pretty certain that most legitimate accomodations in Spain require your passport when you check in. So while you might be able to get by for a night or two w/o you will need a police report pretty quickly (both to hopefully get accommodation and for your embassy) and won't be able to finish the Camino until that is sorted.OK, so... 1/2way jokingly and 1/2 way serious
1.I would not interrupt my trip in the middle of Meseta. Until you are ready to go home your US passport means little on the Camino. Just try not to lose the credential
2.Where, Pray tell me, you are planning to spend a night before you fly home that you may worry about your documents being stolen?
I have had that attempted on me a couple of times, most recently in Buenos Aires. It’s boomtime for the thieves there as due to the currency situ, tourists are entering the country with wads of USD or withdrawing loads of cash in one hit from Western Union. Lots of long and wide streets too perfect for watching you prey!We got the “bird poop” scam in Barcelona. I had just read about it on the Rick Steves website or it would have worked. I was SHOCKED that the culprit was a well groomed gentleman in a business suit! I read that site before each trip to hear the latest, now.
what if I’m in the middle of nowhere, like the Meseta? Do I have to interrupt my trip and go all the way to the embassy in Madrid?
Definitely I would do that! I’m not sure what kind of help is available for pilgrims having this problem, as I’m sure it’s happened several times. Would the Gusrdia Civil help me in arranging for a new passport? Having to go physically to the Madrid embassy can be very difficult (isn’t a passport required to take the bus or train?)Malicious people would make use of the passport or/and information in the passport to forge identity. As such, I wouldn't take any chance and immediately report the lost of the passport.
Download the Guardia Civil's AlertCops app to your phone. You can get in touch with the GC easily with it.Definitely I would do that! I’m not sure what kind of help is available for pilgrims having this problem, as I’m sure it’s happened several times. Would the Gusrdia Civil help me in arranging for a new passport? Having to go physically to the Madrid embassy can be very difficult (isn’t a passport required to take the bus or train?)
I laminate the info page of my passport and use this everywhere except the airport when I show the original which is always in a waist belt under my clothes. No one has ever refused the laminated copy. I I put my phone number on my passport.A friend lost her passport while on the Camino. It was a pain to have to go to the Embassy in Madrid, but it wasn't a huge problem. I would recommend scanning your passport and emailing the image to yourself so that you can retrieve it anywhere that you can get online. I'm sure that being able to show them the scanned image with its data would be useful in getting an emergency passport. Also, print out a copy of your passport and carry it with you, perhaps laminate it too.
My bigger fear is losing my phone! All of my contacts and important information are on it.
Ah YES!!!! The ultimate joy of returning home....Immigration at Gatwick, however, were not so happy....I was made to sit...for about 30 minutes until they grudgingly let me in to my own country.
The first thing in case of a lost or stolen passport would be to look up the advice on your government’s website.Definitely I would do that! I’m not sure what kind of help is available for pilgrims having this problem, as I’m sure it’s happened several times. Would the Gusrdia Civil help me in arranging for a new passport? Having to go physically to the Madrid embassy can be very difficult (isn’t a passport required to take the bus or train?)
It's better that you know this before leaving home.The first thing in case of a lost or stolen passport would be to look up the advice on your government’s website.
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