Johnnyjenga
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- April 2024 Portugues
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I'm even more curmudgeonly than that. My last experience of requesting a Compostela at the pilgrim office was so unpleasant that I have no plans to repeat the process in future. For the past few years I have been amongst the (growing?) invisible group that walks the Caminos but does not appear in the annual statistics.just to say - if you are as curmudgeonly as me,
The new process seems so impersonal...I'm even more curmudgeonly than that. My last experience of requesting a Compostela at the pilgrim office was so unpleasant that I have no plans to repeat the process in future. For the past few years I have been amongst the (growing?) invisible group that walks the Caminos but does not appear in the annual statistics.
I would register after I have started walking.Planning my camino in 2019, I registered then. Subsequently plans were put on hold due to covid and transport strikes in the UK. Would it be a good idea to register again now that plans are finalised for April 2024?
My advice is look for a time in the day with no queue outside, and then it will generally go very quickly.After arriving in SDC, how long should I plan for submitting the credencial until I receive the compostela?
I've never found it so, but then again I am personally somewhat atypical.The new process seems so impersonal...
Even if your Camino is outside the pre-determined parameters that are perfectly fine for 95%+ of pilgrims, or you have a non-compatible smartphone etc, it's still a quite speedy process. The lengthiest stays at the counter seem generally to be from requests for a distance certificate, though I'm sure other difficulties than that can arise.My daughter and I arrived at the Pilgrim Office, in late October, 2023, without pre-registering online. It took perhaps five minutes to enter our information in the kiosk in the lobby, then perhaps another five minute wait in the hallway around the corner. Both of us were greeted by the most charming, helpful people at the counter inside. A very pleasant and efficient process.
You still get your Compostela from a real person. The person who gave me mine was quite personable and gave me individual attention, however automated the data acquisition may have initially been.The new process seems so impersonal...
There is no standing in line with the walking wounded. Seeing old friends, etc. Very modern day no waiting... we all suffered a little...it seems very sterile and a little too easy now.You still get your Compostela from a real person. The person who gave me mine was quite personable and gave me individual attention, however automated the data acquisition may have initially been.
There is no standing in line with the walking wounded. Seeing old friends, etc. Very modern day no waiting... we all suffered a little...it seems very sterile and a little too easy now.
A little more suffering needs to be involved by all parties...
That's the experience for most, thankfully. While many of us lament the handwritten process, less time spent concentrating on writing etc, means less stress and allows more time for a relaxed interaction. A little less frustration and drama is no bad thing!You still get your Compostela from a real person. The person who gave me mine was quite personable and gave me individual attention, however automated the data acquisition may have initially been.
I don't think that's the case at all, though perhaps it might be the perception if one arrives in the depths of winter, with anticipation and expectations when there are almost zero pilgrims in town.There is no standing in line with the walking wounded. Seeing old friends, etc. Very modern day no waiting... we all suffered a little...it seems very sterile and a little too easy now.
Really? Well, speak for yourself on that one.. isn't there enough suffering in the world?A little more suffering needs to be involved by all parties...
Thank you. One more tick on the plan.I would register after I have started walking.
I agree to a degree, but it was absolutely necessary. It is simply not possible to hire enough humans to duplicate the processing and issuance of a FREE certificate - the Compostela. There exists neither the money, nor the physical space to do this.The new process seems so impersonal...
Yes, thanks @t2andreo and @Flog And all of you who volunteer. I do see it is a real timesaver and a real savings for the pilgrim office. I have waited in the long line in 2016 in July and this last year I've done the new quicker method twice. I just compare that time we waited in line reflecting and talking with others to the pop in and pop out improved method. I treasured the less hurried moments and maybe less efficient moments. I probably won't seek a compostella again although might register my route.I agree to a degree, but it was absolutely necessary. It is simply not possible to hire enough humans to duplicate the processing and issuance of a FREE certificate - the Compostela. There exists neither the money, nor the physical space to do this.
While sales of optional services (Distance Certificate) and souvenir items do generate some revenue to defer some of the personnel and other overhead costs, it is a mathematical impossibility to provide enough human help to accomplish this, particularly during the 'Season" Easter to November. The cathedral simply does not have the funds to fully fund the pilgrim office operation. This is one reason why volunteers continue to be highly valued.
I worked as a volunteer in 2014-2017, before any automation was attempted, as well as in the years following this. I can tell you that lines of three and four hours were commonplace during the nicer months. When it rained, pilgrims were miserable, as we could not get them all inside.
The present scheme reduces the wait - even during periods of peak arrival over the summer - to less than 30 minutes. It is really remarkable when you stop to consider what is involved, without seeking methods to mitigate the cost. There are ONLY three logical solutions:
(1) Hire more and more people to do the manual work - but you will run out of space to do the work;
(2) Automate at least a portion of the work to mitigate the number of humans needed in the process; OR
(3) Stop issuing Compostelas and all other certificates (never going to happen).
Very early on (2015-2017), I had some basic input to the current process, making written recommendations based on my professional career. While I was not present for the actual 'doing,' many of the features, as I only ever worked as a volunteer, that I suggested are in the final 'as is' process. I do not care who got the credit. I am pleased to have played even a peripheral and small role in advancing the automation concept.
While using the internet to submit the same data, one previously, had to handwrite and someone had to re-input to a computer is efficient and does save a lot of time. Consider that it is a human who still greets and welcomes each pilgrim and delivers the - now legibly written - certificates.
I might argue that the personal touch is actually enhanced by the staff person or volunteer, being better able to turn their fully attention to greeting the pilgrim, instead of stressing to get all the data entered accurately.
I hope this helps the dialog,
Tom
Just a minute or two , depends how many persons are in front of You !After arriving in SDC, how long should I plan for submitting the credencial until I receive the compostela?
Oh, you really are too modest, Tom.While I was not present for the actual 'doing,' many of the features, as I only ever worked as a volunteer, that I suggested are in the final 'as is' process. I do not care who got the credit.
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