Question about pilgrim passport

[Katie]

Hi everyone,

My boyfriend and I are doing the Camino for the first time in a week.

Can anyone tell me if we need to pre-register to get a pilgrim's passport at the office in Saint Jean Pied de Port - or do we just turn up and get one on the spot?

Also, we can't find much information on the bus or train times from Bayonne to Saint Jean Pied de Port. Our train arrives in Bayonne at about midday - is it quite simple to get a train/bus in the afteroon between the two towns or would we need to stay at Bayonne for the night (we'd like to avoid doing this if possible).

Thanks!

[Covey]

All you need do is pitch up at the Pilgrim Office in St Jean and they will issue a Pilgrim Passport (actually it is called a Carnet de Pelerin de Saint-Jacques)

The train times from Bayonne to St Jean are on: TER Aquitaine - SNCF - Itinéraires porte à porte

Buen Camino

[katkin]

when are you starting your walk? my mum and i are arriving in st jean late evening of the 11th, start walking on the 12th. we'll be taking it pretty slow, may bump into you on route.

[HuskyNerd]

my mum and i are arriving in st jean late evening of the 11th, start walking on the 12th.

Katkin, we'll be arriving the same day at St. Jean and will head out 12 May just after we stop by the pilgrim office and a boulangerie. Hope to see you and your mum.

[unadara]

Sandy
Is it ok to leave going to the office until the morning ? What will you buy for your lunch first day ? Are you a bread roll and ham/cheese person, sweet tooth, choc croissants again perhaps!

[HuskyNerd]

Hi Una ~
A stop at the pilgrim office the night before would be best in order to start walking at first light, but we don't expect to arrive at SJPP until around 22:00 on 11 May, so we're assuming we'll miss the kind pilgrim office volunteers that night and will instead meet them when their office opens at 07:00 the next day.

We need to pick up a credencial (my son procrastinated on getting his by mail), a scallop shell (we're one short), a stamp on our credenciales (Accueil St Jacques is one of the prettiest), their great one-page list of albergues and distances, and of course the weather report for the Route Napoleon. Breakfast is included at our little SJPP hotel, so I'll graze whatever boulangeries are open along the Rue de la Citadelle for some baguettes, cheese, a stray pain au chocolat and hopefully we'll also find an open market for some fruit for lunch. It always feels better to walk with a smile on the face after a chocolate croissant!

[Leslie]

Sandy all the best. Enjoy, we will miss you here. Have a great Camino.

[HuskyNerd]

Thanks, Leslie!

[Covey]

Take care Rock Star and have a peaceful Camino. Sounds as though your fans are awaiting your arrival!! (Only jealous as I have to wait until August to go!)

Buen Camino

[HuskyNerd]

Thank you, Covey. Take good care of our flock!

[unadara]

Sandy
What am I going to do while you are caminoeing!.
One poster and a "book" say that "one" picks up One's!! shell at the finish of Your (One's-yours , mine etc) Camino.. I however have shells here at home from good Wicklow Scallops that I am tempted to bring with me ?
What hotel have you booked in StJ ? is it good ? I will have been away from home on pilgrimage to Lourdes for 7 days before starting my Camino. It may be nice to treat ourselves to a hotel bed before starting on the "hostel" snoring scene.
I bought a pair of Merrell mid boots today as my hiking boots are too heavy and my trail shoes are worn at the heels (inside). And a light short and long pants, all in tkmaxx, my usual gear is too heavy and I use this clothing all the time.
Una

[grayland]

By all means bring your own shells from home if they are suitable. It would be a grand thing to bring some "extras" to gift fellow pilgrims.
The ones we get are pretty commercial and who knows where they are actually from.
I am sure your fellow pilgrims would enjoy Irish shells.

[HuskyNerd]

Una, you're so funny. I believe that in the ancient days (perhaps Celtic times?) people picked up their shell at Santiago or at the coast as a symbol they'd completed the pilgrimage. Judging by paintings of pilgrims from medieval times people wore their scallop shells with pride as they made their way to Santiago. Many pilgrims bring their scallop shells from the dinner table directly to the Camino. Others receive theirs as gifts. Others pick them up at a beach. Others buy them at Camino trinket shops at the start of their journey. These are often emblazoned with the red Cross of Santiago to mark their bearer as a peregrino(a) de Santiago.

Last time I was in St. Jean I stayed at a habitacion in the home of Mdme. Camino right on Rue de la Citadelle. This time I'm at Maison Bernat Chambres d'Htes St Jean Pied de Port dans le Pays Basque since it's one of the few hotels that has a room suitable for a pastor, his sister and his son. Not to mention his son's guitar, which will be along for the ride.

Two short days left. My heart is already on the Camino and my body will soon follow!

[unadara]

Sandy
You will be busy saying goodbyes to other loved ones over next 2 short days so I will say as you do Buen Camino..how do you get the upside down exclaimation mark!
It is wonderful to be able to have such an experience with your son, I look forward to hearing about the "songs he wrote".
Our son is 30 and presently out of work and our daughter a newly qualified teacher (23) out of work also, so we will think about them as we do our Camino later this year.
Regards
PS and I hope you meet some good Irish Pilgrims too.
Una

[Covey]

Una............The scallop shell has been the "badge" of a pilgrim for hundreds of years, and it would be rather nice to wear one from home rather than buy one from the souvenir stalls in Santiago. When you are sitting in the square in front of the Cathedral in Santiago having completed your Great Adventure, you will see the tour parties stocking up on shells and sticks and hoping it somehow will turn them in to a "pilgrim" like you, but they won't have the huge smile on their face!

A couple of years ago I was trudging up to the Iron Cross Hill just after Rabanal when a coach disgorged its load of Autobus Pilgrims who blocked the path. Whilst I was standing around waiting for the crowd to clear, one American lady said to her companion "Honey, why do some of these people have such large packs on their backs?" to which I retorted "Because we do not have a bus!" She then said "Have you walked from your hotel?" to which I replied "No, we have walked from France!" As I squeezed past the throng, someone else asked "Why would they do that?"!!