Finally I have reached Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. I'm gathering power to walk up the hills tomorrow. They have promised good weather so I think it will spectacular.
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| The pastoral Basque landscape in morning mist |
Well fist of all something about yesterday night. I was out having dinner at a small restaurant in Ostabat together with a french guy that I had met off and on the last week. He is an architect. But the interesting thin is that also "the illustrated girls" participated in that meal. It proved that they too came from Quebec in Canada. One of them spoke a little English. But their french accent is very special.
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| The pilgrims office where you get your credentials |
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| The river Nive that goes straight through town |
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| Inside the church |
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| Mr Walker himself in the Le Puy T-shirt |
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| Pilgrim street straight to the old town |
The walking today was rather undramatic. A very hilly landscape but the "Chemin" did not go up on those hills but kept reasonably near the main highway through a number of small Basque villages.
There was not much service until we reached Saint-Jean-le-Vieux where we the french architect and I had a beer together. It is said that this village was the original entry point for walking across the Pyrenees during the medieval ages and earlier.
But we continued to today's Saint-Jean-Pied-de Port. Also there the old town is situated inside fortress walls. An the pilgrim street with lots and lots of tourists goes straight through. A lot of albergues the pilgrims office and of course a number of souvenir shops. Walking through from the port of St Jean de Compostelle to Port d'Espange. I was out a while to see the city and met many of my friends from the last weeks. Among others the American-Norwegian triple. And of course I was for the occasion dressed in the Le Puy T-shirt that I got from my German friends with whom I walked to Le Puy during spring. Mission accomplished! Here reported! For the photo on the Nive bridge I have to thank one of my french friends that I kidnapped there for this.
But for present friends and acquaintances - here in this town our ways split. Some will walk over the Pyrenees to Roncevalles and one take the GR10 to connect to the Northern Camino. Some others will go home and yet others will make a tour by bus along the northern coast of Spain. On the other hand the city ifs full of new pilgrims from everywhere so I'll not be alone tomorrow.
El día final. El día de Saint-Jean-Pied-de Port. Con un poco niebla en la mañana en este
paisaje vasco fantástico. Y St Jean lleno de peregrinos, albergues y la oficina
peregrino oficial. Pero también turistas, turistas, turistas. Saint Jean como
un punto de separación de todos que he encontrado durante las últimas semanas.
Los caminos conducen a direcciones diferentes, a casa, a Santiago…
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