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France Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port

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  • TravelerCamino De Santiago (Francés)
    1112
    Day 6–8

    St. Jean Pied de Port

    April 11 in France ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F

    St. Jean Pied de Port… I am here!!!
    It was amazing to see the train packed with pilgrims and hearing so many different languages!
    St. Jean in a beautiful little town tucked in the foothills of the Pyrenees, with narrow, cobblestone streets and old basque facades.
    The town was surprisingly quiet at 6:30 pm already and by 9, after settling in my room and taking a shower, it was difficult to find a place to have dinner.
    But I found it! And to celebrate, I treated myself to a nice steak and a glass of sangria.
    1st. Night Stay: Gîte Le Chemin vers l'Etoile.
    10 bed room, 8 men and only two women: myself and a lady from Australia who was beyond excited and a little uneasy about having been placed with so many men.
    The night was quiet, but we were up to a rude awakening in the morning when most of the men got up, turned on the bright lights and starting chatting and laughing like there was nobody else still sleeping.
    2nd. Night Stay: Gite D’Etape Zuharpeta.

    To celebrate the beginning of the walk, we had a nice dinner of traditional dishes and some Basque cider.
    Then we walked over one of the places in the movie “The way,my way” and had another drink before retiring for the night.

    We can hear the thunderstorm and the rain coming down. I guess we will have the full Camino experience tomorrow!    Read more

  • TravelerCamino Frances 2025
    11123
    Day 5

    St. Michel, France ... to Auberge Borda

    April 5 in France ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F

    Day one on the Camino was filled with wonderful moments, redefining leg/glute day, and increased heart rates! 😝 I met some amazing people along the road, the first of which informed me that was going the wrong way! Lol... so had they, and I'm thankful that I had not gone nearly as far as they had! Once on the right path, the crisp fresh air, the incredible beauty, and the tranquility of it all quickly filled my senses with a feeling of calm that I couldn't explain. My first day on the Camino ended at Auberge Borda in St. Michel, France. A few of the pilgrims I had met on the walk during the day were also staying there. Our host, Miguel, made us a wonderful pilgrim meal for supper, and we sat together, sharing where we came from and why we were there. There was a heartwarming sense of commaraderie and so many laugh out loud moments... especially when I revealed that for the first time in my life, I was living without adult supervision and wondered what could possibly go wrong!! 😂 I met people from the Netherlands, Australia, Korea, Japan, Great Britain, and many other parts of the USA. The walk during the day was nothing short of amazing...albeit physically demanding! 😬 At the end of the day, we were rewarded with a most spectacular sunset... 😍Read more

  • TravelerCamino Frances 2025
    1571
    Day 1

    Bayonne Day 1... 💜

    April 1 in France ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F

    After an incredible day navigating my way from Madrid and arriving at Ben and Elodie's, I had to force my brain to STOP thinking and go to sleep. Last I looked at the clock, it was nearly 3 am! I finally awoke just before 1:00 pm!! It felt amazing to sleep that long. After a shower and a delicious omelet for breakfast (it still counts as breakfast at 2 p.m., when you've "fasted since 7 a.m., the day before!! 😂), we headed to the beach for a long walk! The views gave me goosebumps, as it finally hit me that I was nearly halfway around the world on another continent! We walked nearly 5 miles. With the company of Ben and Elodie, the amazing views, it was nothing short of spectacular! 💜Read more

  • Camino De Santiago 2024
    21
    Day 2

    Mad Cow Attack

    September 23, 2024 in France ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Today was 8k uphill on a glorious day for hiking through the Pyrenees. We started off slowly enjoying an espresso in SJPP before we left. I was feeling a little nervous about the long walk ahead. Todays lesson which cannot be underestimated was the need to focus on todays journey and not the enormous big task ahead. We need to get into a rhythm and everything’s a bit clunky at the start. I’ve fussed around with organising where to put things in the backpack and bumbag and keeping the important things accessible. The views all the way up today were just gorgeous, beautiful mountain scenery, very green and leafy with enormous expanding vistas in all directions. A few hawks flew overhead but mostly it was peaceful. We were delighted to hear cowbells and cows wandering on the track in front of us. They looked cute and gentle. But be warned! Cows are dangerous. To our surprise and shock one of them attacked Michael. Sounds dramatic but he was gored in the chest and knocked backwards off the track. Michael sustained a red graze on his chest, and was bleeding from the leg where he went into bushes on the side of the road trying to get away from it. He’s pretty lucky not to break a rib or puncture a lung. We had a bit if a laugh about it but it was not funny really. Day One and we’re all still here resting up at Refuge Orisson. Winning!Read more

  • Camino Spring 2024
    11112
    Day 5

    Over the pyranees part 2

    April 13, 2024 in France ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F

    Too many good photos - had to share more!

    I love seeing the horses free to go wherever they wish. And some of them wear bells, just like the cows in Switzerland. Have the sound on for the videos - so cool.

    Somewhere along the way we crossed over into Spain, but it was not super clear except for the slight change in the route markers.

    I was pretty pooped at the 3 hour mark, so by the 6 hour mark, I think I was running on just water and Paul’s encouragement. We started sharing which body parts were talking to us.

    We’ll see how sore we are in the morning.

    The Albergue is part of a monastery set in the hills of Roncesvalles. It’s incredibly well organized, clean, and volunteers help with the set up process.

    I’m impressed with the beds and lockers, clean shared bathroom and hot shower.

    Glad to pay for the pilgrim’s dinner and breakfast. When do we eat??    Read more

  • TravelerCamino 2023
    Day 4

    First day on the Camino

    May 14, 2023 in France ⋅ 🌧 54 °F

    We walked what is considered a half stage today, but it was actually farther than I've walked on the first day on the Camino Francés. This is the "crossing the Pyrenees" stage. While the terrain isn't difficult (it's actually foothills of the Pyrenees and most of the walking is on a paved road), it is very steep. The first five miles is the steepest section on the entire Camino Francés.

    In the past I've split this section by spending the night at Refuge Orisson which was the only hostel between St Jean Pied de Port in France and Roncesvalles in Spain. There is now another hostel one kilometer up the road, but my walking companions weren't keen on sleeping in bunk beds so we chose to use a service that picked us up when we reached the halfway point of this stage - about 7.5 miles.

    The day started out drizzly, but the walk was fairly dry until we reached Orisson where we stopped for lunch before continuing for 3 more miles. After a bowl of delicious vegetable soup we set out again for about another hour or so of walking until we reached our pick up point. Then it started to rain - lightly at first and we all put on our ponchos and deployed our handsfree hiking umbrellas. It wasn't long before we were in a torrential downpour with some hail mixed in. I also heard some thunder rumbling in the distance, and I thought of my umbrella and poles - the umbrella has a fiberglass shaft and ribs, and the piles are carbon fiber, so I was hoping that they wouldn't make me a lightning rod! Fortunately, I didn't see any lightning - in fact I couldn't see much at all at this point due to the mist that formed up in the mountains. Thankfully, the shuttle service sent the van up early because of the worsening weather and I arrived at the meeting point just as he got there. The others were behind me, and very happy to see a warm, dry van waiting for them.

    As is typical of days like this when we got back to town the skies cleared and it was beautiful!

    Until the rain really started the views were stunning, and I regret not taking more pictures.

    In the afternoon we walked around a bit more in St Jean which is an interesting old walled Basque town before heading to dinner.

    Tomorrow we will take the shuttle back to where we left off - hopefully it will be a lot dryer!    Read more

  • TravelerCamino de Santiago - May 2025
    211
    Day 3

    Day 1 - The first step

    April 28 in France ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C

    St Jean Pied Du Port to Refuge Orisson
    Bags got collected from the Air BnB and I bought some rations at the local store, then off to the starting line. 800km is about 1 million steps, so the first step through the Porte d’Espagne was memorable. My great trek has started!
    Even though town was quiet with not too many pilgrims around, a snaking line of bright colours soon settled into a rhythm along the path.
    Feeling really grateful to have this opportunity and blessing, feeling nervous and excited about what’s to come, feeling uncertain about my ability to complete, and feeling curious about all the wonderful sights, sounds, people and experiences over the coming days.
    Moments of the day - The first step of 1 million, seeing the mist in the valley of the Pyrenees foothills, and watching the souring eagles so close I could hear the wind passing over their wings.    Read more

  • TravelerCamino de Santiago - May 2025
    Day 2

    Day 0 - Saint Jean Pied Du Port

    April 27 in France ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    An early bus from San Sebastián to Bayonne to catch the connecting train, only for the train to be cancelled. A bus arrived, we all piled on without checking tickets, and made our way through pretty green scenery to Saint Jean Pied Du Port in the rain. Settled in to the Air BnB and explored the very cute town.
    Was lucky with almost no one collecting Pilgrim passports so was attended to quickly. I checked in with an 88 year old man on his 5th Camino!
    Hopefully the grim weather improves tomorrow.
    Moment of the day - sitting down in front of the very helpful French lady to get my Pilgrim Passport and the very first stamp.    Read more

  • TravelerCamino de Santiago/ Camino Fra
    Day 4

    Day 4 Orisson

    April 25 in France ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    Day 4 Friday April 25th from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Orison. I was excited to start my first day of the walk. Well guess what I slept in! I was up for part of the night because the lady beside me was snoring and my ear plugs were still packed. Finally I got them and slept in. I was a little frazzled when I woke up but got ready and left Jean Pied de Port with other pilgrims.

    I walked up the mountains for four hours with my backpack. I have to admit it was difficult. If I was having trouble breathing I just stopped got my breath and then started again. I was not alone many other pilgrims walking together. It’s amazing and I‘meeting do many people from around the world.
    I am staying at an Albergue. A Albergue is a building with rooms like a hostel with simple accommodation, men and women mixed. We got a coin when we checked in for a 5 shower! I was surprised 5 minutes was enough and I even washed my hair! Let just say no fancy stuff and I’m going “au natural!”

    Now we are relaxing. Later we will have dinner together called pilgrims dinner.
    Guess what at dinner I met Dan Spiteri from Nova Scotia who is Maltese … can you believe it!!!

    Till tomorrow !    Read more

  • TravelerCamino de Santiago- Francis
    1
    Day 5–6

    SJPDP - Orison/Borda 8 km

    April 21 in France ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    Walked 8 km with 8.5 kg weight to 864m. It took about 2.5 hrs only. Really not as bad as it was promoted to be. I was told tmr would be worse. Today Ii was light rain and damp in the morning. But as we reached to Orison the sun came out at 2 pm. It’s beautiful. Feeling great.

    In the past days there was storm, snow and rain. It was intimidating abut My intuition told me to go up today. It was great. While tmr there is a 99% rain while we climb the steepest hill to the peak and descend through muddy road. 19 km

    Whatever the result is. It is what it should be.

    About simplicity,
    we constantly reexamine what can we take out to reduce the weight. We tend to carry a lot of stuff for just in case. Extra something because we are scared and worried. Once you go on the journey, then you realize what you need is really little and adjust along the way. Don’t we tend to worry too much and over stocking ? I do, I am making a list of things I want to remove from my Toronto place.

    Sense of Urgency,
    at work or in life we are given artificial timelines to go and do something. And over time we didn’t even know we are rushing for no reason. honestly, today I could have push more and I feel a bit of regret because It could be a great day to move 25Km in a good weather. But what’s the rush? Would I enjoy this journey as I am taking time for myself now? if I am stressed about reaching the destination and carry my gears? And I would have missed this cute Arbuerge Borda. I am giving myself permission to connect with myself and my intuition and I deserve all the time I need.

    Something worth paying.
    my family thinks I tend to live frugal. Ahahaha well this time I think at I get the most fancy place on this mountain. Having all the nonessential furnitures in a private room and a shower with hot water are something. I had to book it because it was my last option. But hey! All worth it! Turns out I also found another roomate ( Israeli girl) to share this small luxury with me. It’s heated at night with cozy siting place next to a fireplace what more can I ask for?

    “You gain strength and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face” - Eleanor Roosevelt    Read more

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