And We Are Off

We left Paris at 7:11 and arrived in the south of France 4 hours later. This is why.

First site off the train in St Jean Pies de Port. I hope we look better than that when we are done.

First stop was at the Pilgrims office to register and get our Pilgrims passport  (Credencial del Peregrino). You need this to be able to stay at the lower cost Albergues (hostels). This is a kind of passport you get stamped at places along the way. Cafe's, albergues, churches etc. For the last 100 km you must have 2 stamps a day to qualify for a Camino Compostela Certificate. We are after the distance one too. I guess back in the middle ages you could walk the Camino as penance and a shell was the Certificate but of course it turns out there was trade in fraud as shells were bought and sold. In the 13th century the church required a lettered Compostela  to show you had done your penance and had your ticket to heaven that you could show at the pearly gates to St Peter. Of course as expected this resulted in the  big business of forgery. Now of course it is a souvenir to show how far you have come no matter what your reasons for walking whether it be spiritual, religious, or other. 

Line up at the Pilgrims office. The slope of the hill should have been a give away of what was to come.

St Jean Pied de Port is a cute little medival town that is the start of the Camino Frances although if you talk to some people they wonder why we start at the hardest part and not start a few days in France before tackling the Pyrenees. The old medieval town is surrounded by a more modern area of hotels and restaurants and housing. Lots of tourists come here.

The walled  medieval part has a lovely bridge over a river and then gates into the city.

Roz wasn't feeling well still so she went to bed and I went for a walk around the walled city.

While Roz slept I also went to the Pilgrims mass. There was a Pilgrims' blessing at the end. So weird to hear it in French. Beautiful church and the acoustics were amazing. There was an older lady who talked to a few people in the pews to see if they knew the French Alleuia and another part. When then started singing it was spine chilling. A few voices filled the church.

I lit a candle and said a prayer for Ed and my friend Karen who passed away right before I left.
Tomorrow we are off. I hope Roz has got something in the tank.