Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela

[hastings1066]

My local fishmonger has only had scallops off the shell for weeks now. Suggestions please about where one gets a scallop shell- I really would like to wear this traditional badge of the pilgrim all along my route. I will be walking the Camino Ingles in September.
Hastings1066

[sillydoll]

In Spain - shops, roadside sellers, albergues, some cafe-bars, tourism offices - almost anywhere sells them.
At home? Check out the catering supply shops. We can buy sets of six scallops here to serve fish startes.

[hastings1066]

Sil- Thanks for the advice--if bought in Spain will the shell have some means of attaching it to my pack?
Anne

[lckgj]

The shells generally have two holes drilled in the corners of the 'wings' (oops just shown complete ignorance of shell atanomy..) and has a string threaded through so you can tie it to your backpack.

Pretty common on the camino frances but I havn't done the ingles yet so don't know how available they are they. I think there is someone who sells them on ebay!

Laura

[Mercury]

Hi Anne

Brother David who is also a Forum member has a website
http://www.PilgrimSupplies.Org I'm sure that you could get one from there if you want to be sure of having one before you leave home. Otherwise, certainly on the Camno Frances it was easy to pick one up along the way.

Mercury

[William Marques]

If you find one at home, drilling the shell with an electric drill and high speed drill bit is surprisingly easy.

[MaxKolbe]

My brother kindly collected some for me (empty on the beach). But I am in two minds wether to wear it or not going towards Santiago as I heard it was traditionally only worn after reaching Santiago. I may be being overly pedantic!!

[WolverineDG]

Originally, the shell was worn on the trip home, since in the Middle Ages, you walked to AND from Santiago. In modern times, however, we only walk one way & it's quite common to see pilgrims with shells on their packs on their way TO Santiago.

The shells I have seen for sale on the Camino Frances have cords on them, but some still break out their sewing kits & sew the shell onto their packs.

Buen Camino!

Kelly

[Deirdre]

Hi,
For my first Camino (summer, 2007) I purchased a shell in Puente la Reina. However, when we arrived in Fisterra one of my companions collected a beautiful small shell for each of us as a gift. For my second Camino (summer 2008) I drilled two small holes in it and sewed it on my pack. It wasn't as big or jangly,(is that a word? or am I making it up?) and it didn't have the Santiago cross painted on it, but it had special meaning and I was very pleased to take it along with me.

I have found that when I am in other places in Spain and see people with a backpack, if I note the vieira I will sometimes speak to them about the Camino...at least you can identify them as Pilgrims not just backpackers or hikers.

Buen Camino,

[Scallop Researcher]

Hello

I am carrying out some preliminary research for a radio documentary about the scallop.
We are hoping to talk to pilgrims and people involved in the scallop industry - preferably someone who incorporates both of these things ie a scallop diver about to set off on the camino...

I'd appreciate any help, hints or tips that anyone can offer - no matter how small/seemingly irrelevant

Thank you!

[sillydoll]

You could try wiki - and this website for info:

http://seagrant.gso.uri.edu/factsheets/scallop.html

Not sure about scallop divers.

This blog reported on the recent scallop scandal involving a Michelin-starred chef in Santiago.

http://www.gourmet.com/travel/2008/09/s ... op-scandal

This foodie blog reports on the main scallop fishing areas along the French and Spanish coasts.

France not only produces, but also imported 7840 metric tons of scallops in 2007 alone, including 60% of the UK catch . In the UK during 2007 nearly 18,500 tons of scallops were landed grossing £32,000,000 for the fishing industry, but so few are eaten by the inhabitants.

http://catchingarainbow.blogs.letelegra ... g/scallops

And, then you have the recent story of William and Harry who requested the simple symbol of a scallop shell to feature on both their crests and Coat of Arms. The scallop is the symbol for the Spencer family Coat of Arms and was Princess Diana’s as well.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... crest.html