Camino Preparation: May 2015

Arrived yesterday [May 15th] around 11:30am. After 3 flights, a shuttle and a taxi.

Toronto to Montreal, Montreal to Paris, Shuttle to Orly, Orly to Biarritz and finally a taxi to St Jean Pied de Port.

I arrived at my Hotel, Hotel Ramuntcho and the room wasn't ready...funny, ya travel 24+ hours and somehow you expect them to have the room ready!!

Went for a walk and for somehing to eat. By 1pm my room was ready and, I was ready for my room.

I closed the curtains, set the alarm for 4pm and I was asleep in seconds.

I felt somewhat refreshed when I woke up and started walking about town even though it was raining.

St Jean is very hilly, reminded me of Quebec city. There are many old ruins, cobble stone streets, and great achitectural buildings. Every building has stucko, clay roofs, and shutters. The colours are red, white and green representing the colours of the country!

Ate at Hurruo Eta Klik [food was so good, I went there again tonight] and was seated with another single person, apparently that is how they do it if the restaurant is busy. A man from Holland named Peter who is strarting his walk the next morning.

I was in bed by 8:30pm and did not wake up till almost 9am. Solid sleep and needed.

This morning [May 16] I met a woman who had started her Camino in Paris [an additional 400km]. Her name was Claudette and she was from Quebec. She was heading to Orisson, which is part way up the Pyranees, 4 hour walk.

Met anoher nice Parisian women later in the day, we shared a table otside a caffe and to my surprise and delight, she paid for my drink!!!

Had a nice day walking, sometimes in the rain, the hills here are a great practice for tomorrows ascent!