Awesome first day of the Camino!
Yesterday we travelled by train from Madrid to Pamplona- didn't see any bulls :) and then bus to St. John through narrow winding roads to a beautiful town nestled in the Pyrennees. What was better than that was actually walking these mountains but back to that later. When we arrived in St John there were no alburgues available but this little French lady took a liking to Blair and offered us a room for much the same money as an alburgues. So we had a room to ourselves and as we wanted to get off early this was a good thing. We heard people out in the streets at 6 am but we refused to start before it was light which is about 7 a.m. It was like they were thieves sneaking around many of them just wanted a head start to get a bed at the alburgue of their choice (in the case of Roncesvalles the only place in town).
St. John Pied de Port in front of pilgrim's office
View from pilgrim's office
Heading out in the morning.
We left at about 7:10 and the first part of the walk is a killer as it is just about straight up. Sharon was going to take a picture of Blair at the point where the trail starts but the trail did not begin for a few kms. As I said before the views climbing out of St. John are stupendous. I'm afraid out pictures do not do it justice. Beautiful rolling mountains with cattle, sheep and horses grazing in many places. You have to kind of just shut off all the voices around you, needless to say it is very busy and people are from all around the world.
2 views from morning walk to trailhead
Trailhead leaving St John
Watch out for caminos on the road!
Lunch time vista
Lunchtime on the trail
We found the walk tiring but not too bad it was about 20 km up and 5 km down. There was 2 ways down, a difficult and easy, guess which one Blair picked? Sharon nearly broke her ankle twice! No, just jokes! It was actually the best way down because we were ready to be done for the day.
At the end of this stage, Roncesvalles, is a huge alburgue that is really quite new but is mixed in with 12th century architecture. There are 183 bunks, Blair gets the upper but nice showers and washrooms, closets for your packs. After a shower and a beer we are felling human again and will go supper at 7 in the restaurant through the hole in the wall!
New alburgue. Sharon doing blog in left hand corner.
12th century church
New church!
Can you find "the hole in the wall"?This is really a cool place, if you are very religious there are evening programmes for you, if you are a history buff there is a museum and if you just want to relax with beer you can do that, some are doing all three!
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Beauteous !!!!
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