Pleasantries of being a pilgrim

Day 1 Saint Jean-Pied-de-Port---> Roncesvalles 27km,16.77miles  Thursday, September 25th

Ready set CAMINO!

I've arrived in Saint Jean Pied de Port successfully and I'm in a cozy French hostile just sitting along the riverside. It's breath taking here and I'm already having such a unique experience. I took blabla car to Pamplona this morning from Madrid ( which is a European 'carpool website) and the driver ended up having trouble getting to the meeting spot and was 40 minutes late! I was getting a bit nervous because I had already purchased my bus ticket from Pamplona to Saint Jean Pied de Port and we were getting short in time. Luckily the driver was familiar with the drive to Pamplona, as he is from there and knew a shortcut to take! We paid for a toll road but nonetheless I made it to the bus station in plenty of time!
The driver  was about my age and left me  with an invitation to catch a ride back this coming Monday/ Tuesday and also to come over for the weekend festival parties in Pamplona! I was grateful I had finally made it safely and hopped on the bus. I met and American waiting for the bus also headed for the Camino. He is a bit older but very friendly, he talked my ear off most of the ride to France and was nice enough to buy me dinner later near the hostel !
It's been an exhilarating start and I have met some great people already. I've slept for an hour in the hostel and now I am wide awake trying not to disturb any of the others in my 7-person hostel room. Not sure why my body doesn't just let me adjust to normal sleeping habits yet, maybe I'm just excited.
Check back later for some pictures! This little French town is absolutely stunning!

Voy a hacer un parte del CAMINO DE SANTIAGO!!!:))

The Camino de Santiago has many different routes the one I'm choosing is the Camino Francés…where the initial part is of course in France. There are 31 stops to complete the entire Camino Francés however I will only cover about 5 of them. My hope is to one day finish all of it however many trips it takes. :)

Here's the website with more information on the course and the stops along the way. …

http://caminodesantiago.consumer.es/los-caminos-de-santiago/frances/

Also there's a cool movie called THE WAY and its about this Camino de Santiago!


Pray for me! I'm starting the Camino de Santiago tomorrow and I will be starting in Jean Pied de Port in France!I'll be doing 5 days on the camino and return on Monday before I start work on Wednesday. If I'm having a good time and my body can handle it I may stay until Tuesday. Each night I will stay in churches/hostels along the way. I'm excited and hope that I don't have anyone try to rob me during the night.

Here's the tentative plan

Tomorrow: Wednesday Sept 24

 12:00 Car ride to Pamplona approx 4 hours
  5:30 Bus from Pamplona to Saint Jean Pied de Port, France approx 1 hour 45 min
Stay overnight in Saint Jean


Thursday Sept 25

6am START CAMINO

Saint Jean Pied de Port - Roncesvalles

25.7 km=15.96 miles

Friday Sept 26

6am start the day while its cool out

Roncesvalles - Zubiri

13.35 Miles

Saturday Sept 27th

 Zubiri - Pamplona/Iruña

12.67 miles

Sunday September 28th

Pamplona/Iruña - Puente la Reina/Gares

14.91 Miles

Monday September 29th

Puente la Reina/Gares - Estella/Lizarra

13.67 miles

Tuesday September 30th 

TBD

Decide to hike another day and ride home or ride home in the morning

Its supposed to rain on Monday/Tuesday so we will see how everything goes in the rain! I have my rain jacket and cover for my backpack.

Sweet home Atascabama :) farewell beautiful summer, hello MADRID

Cayucos

Spanish breakfast with avocado :)

Mini Mac and Cheese Fest!:)