News from a Pilgrim
After arriving in Barcelona Monday evening, I had to get to the beginning of the route in St-Jean Pied de Port in France, so after an overnight train in a bunk bed from to Pamplona, I took a bus to the precious San Sebastian where I had the chance to see a game of "basque pelota" on the beach!!!
after jumping on the bus to Bayonne, I have taken the last train to St-Jean-Pied-de-Port and the first pilgrim I've met was a French canadian as well!!! How odd...
The morning of our departure was a beautiful sunny day, so we decided to take the most direct route that goes up to and I have put my short on.... what a stupid idea. After 1 hour, it started to wind really badly, so much that it was hard to walk if it was in front of us and we wouldn't even feel like we were going up when the wind was in our back. Then, the pouring rain for at least an hour... and the rain changed into snow and ice... On the top of the montain, the wind was blowing at 110 km per hour, Sylvain and I were all wet and freezing, I really thought that we would not make it at some point... I couldn't feel my hands or my legs... But after the first 22 km, we have finally reached the top well covered in snow and it was worth it, the view was breathtaking and the feeling of accomplishment incredible!!! There was only 5 km to go and going down all the way, a piece of cake really!
The same evening, we assisted at the mass in Roncesvalles where they bless the pilgrims in 5 different languages like they have been doing it for 1000 years, really impressive.
Second day, another 27 km, but in the pouring rain this time. After 5 minutes, we have made up our mind that we wuold be soaking wet for the next 6 hours and it was a big reward when we saw a bit of sun towards the end!! We arrived in the albergue in Larrasoaña, a little village of 700 habitants where there is no shop or restaurant, we had to ask food to some locals and one of our friend from Milan cooked a splendid Risotto Milanese and we went to bed happy.
Third day, it is 7:15, and we are going in 2 minutes, I will try to walk to PUnta la REina today, it's a 40 km walk, so I have to go if I want to get there before the sun sets...
Big kissess from Espain
PIerre xxx
And we were up
after jumping on the bus to Bayonne, I have taken the last train to St-Jean-Pied-de-Port and the first pilgrim I've met was a French canadian as well!!! How odd...
The morning of our departure was a beautiful sunny day, so we decided to take the most direct route that goes up to and I have put my short on.... what a stupid idea. After 1 hour, it started to wind really badly, so much that it was hard to walk if it was in front of us and we wouldn't even feel like we were going up when the wind was in our back. Then, the pouring rain for at least an hour... and the rain changed into snow and ice... On the top of the montain, the wind was blowing at 110 km per hour, Sylvain and I were all wet and freezing, I really thought that we would not make it at some point... I couldn't feel my hands or my legs... But after the first 22 km, we have finally reached the top well covered in snow and it was worth it, the view was breathtaking and the feeling of accomplishment incredible!!! There was only 5 km to go and going down all the way, a piece of cake really!
The same evening, we assisted at the mass in Roncesvalles where they bless the pilgrims in 5 different languages like they have been doing it for 1000 years, really impressive.
Second day, another 27 km, but in the pouring rain this time. After 5 minutes, we have made up our mind that we wuold be soaking wet for the next 6 hours and it was a big reward when we saw a bit of sun towards the end!! We arrived in the albergue in Larrasoaña, a little village of 700 habitants where there is no shop or restaurant, we had to ask food to some locals and one of our friend from Milan cooked a splendid Risotto Milanese and we went to bed happy.
Third day, it is 7:15, and we are going in 2 minutes, I will try to walk to PUnta la REina today, it's a 40 km walk, so I have to go if I want to get there before the sun sets...
Big kissess from Espain
PIerre xxx
And we were up
posted by Pierre Corky at
10:14 PM
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