Bayonne to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (‘Saint John at the foot of the mountain pass’). The train leaves later this morning; takes about an hour. Good weather up there today – this forecast from yr.no:
Early afternoon …
Wonderful trip up into the Pyrenean foothills, for much of the way alongside a river and through farmland.
What’s the collective noun for a train load of disembarking peregrinos (pilgrims)? A disembarkment?
Seems the town name is hyphenated. Must fix in all my posts.
In and around the township (the old town is walled):
Cathedral count so far (Gothic or otherwise): 0 (not including Bayonne; expect count to increase over coming months)
Splendid bucolic scenes: 47+ (gave up counting soon after leaving Bayonne)
Peregrinos on the train: maybe 50 (all strangely quiet)
A queue at the pilgrim information centre (where you get your pilgrim passport) …
… but patience paid off and I got in later during a lull.
The albergue where I’m staying for a couple of nights opened at 2:30. Josef the owner explained the house rules, the most important of which is the communal dinner at 7:30 and a close second being the hours of silence. Nice place (will post some photos tomorrow) and the communal dinner will be an opportunity to meet some people.
The ‘family’ who stayed the night at the albergue.
Beautiful scenery. Looks like you will be one of the younger pilgrims!!