Stopping in Saint Jean Pied de Port

[Jack Russell]

Hi,
I'm flying from London to Biarritz and then catching the 18.11 train from Bayonne to SJPP on Tuesday 7 September.
I would like to start my walk the next day but am wondering if this is too soon. I am an experienced walker but new to the Camino. I am wondering if it would be better to rest on the Wednesday and start on the Thursday. Is there much to do in SJPP?
Thanks

[Covey]

There is not much to do in St Jean, and 60 minutes takes care of the sightseeing (The main street!). Virtually everyone starts out the next morning at dawn and heads up over the hills.

If you are flying in to London and straight out having come from the States or Oz/NZ then a days rest is no bad thing, because the first day of the Camino Frances from St Jean to Roncesvalles is the hardest days walk on the Camino. It is tough enough anyway, without one suffering from jet lag!

[Jack Russell]

Dear Covey,

Thank you. I was hoping this would be the answer but didn't want to be over ambitious or to rush things - that's not in the spirit of the walk.
I will head off the following day.

Cheers

[Leslie]

There is always the option of spliting the firts day and stoping at Orrison which is about half way between St Jean and Roncesvalles.

I stop there the first time I walked the Camino and the view first thing in the morning were great. Having my coffee in the quiet mountains and watching as some of the clouds below floated past was quite something for me.