Getting to Saint Jean, reservations for 1st night in Saint Jean Pied de Port & Pilgrim Office Hours

[seattlewalker]

Hi,

I am traveling alone and will be arriving on Sunday afternoon about 15:00 the 13th of September, 2010 to Bayonne. I have 3 questions...

1. Do I need to make a train reservation to Saint Jean because there are only 2 trains on Sunday.
2. Should I make reservations somewhere in Saint Jean Pied de Port for Sunday night?
3. Also I was wondering if the Pilgrim office is open on Sundays?

Thanks!

[HuskyNerd]

Hi Seattlewalker ~
Welcome to the Forum and congrats on making your Camino. Great also to have another Seattleite onboard the Forum (look for me at the Madison Park Starbucks each morning). Are you part of the Seattle Camino Reunion Group? If not, let me make sure I have you on the list. Your questions:

1. Unlikely you need a reservation, but if you're concerned you can get one online no problem on the SNCF website: SNCF: Travel, Transport, and Logistics
2. Also unlikely you'll need a reservation for accommodation -- there are many options available and Sept 13 is after the high tourist season. L'Espirit du Chemin, the hostel right above the pilgrim office, does take reservations. Here's a link: reservations
3. I've never heard of the pilgrim office in SJPP being closed on Sunday during Sept. Here's a link Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port - Amis du chemin de Saint-Jacques de Compostelle P-A that includes their phone number.

If you'd like to sit down for coffee and talk Caminos please feel free to contact me. Here's my YouTube video of my 2008 Camino: YouTube - Camino de Santiago 2008

Buen Camino!
Sanford "Sandy" Brown, Seattle WA

[seattlewalker]

Thanks Sandy! Wow another Seattlelite! Yay. Thanks for all your tips. I will keep them in mind. I am actually beginning the walk on Monday and am writing this from London. I live in Queen Anne. When did you do the walk?

jennifer

[HuskyNerd]

Hi Jennifer ~
Awesome to be beginning the walk on Monday. You're in for a real treat. I walked from SJPP to Villafranca del Bierzo in May/June 2008, then from Villafranca to Santiago in Aug 2008. This July I walked from Puebla de Sanabria to Santiago on the Via de la Plata. My son walked to Santiago from SJPP last July/Aug and I'll be walking with him and my sister from SJPP next May/June.

Have a super Camino, Jennifer! Please check in when you return if you want to share stories. All the best ~
Sandy Brown

[seattlewalker]

HI Sandy, Thanks again for replying. I don't know anything about these cities. I guess I will find out. My plan is to do the walk for the next five weeks. Hope I make it! Already I feel like my bag is way too heavy, and my shoes aren't the right ones.

Jennifer

[HuskyNerd]

You'll be fine. No matter how light your bag is it will always feel heavy! And although everyone claims they have the best boots their feet all hurt after 20 kms!

You didn't ask, but here are a few tips -- for free no less.
* backpack should be 10% of body weight w/o food and water -- or a max of 20 lbs (8 kilos). More than that means you're packing too much.
* thick soled, high top boots seem to be best.
* don't be afraid to rest regularly. Some people plan on 10 minutes' rest per hour of walking. You'll last longer and be less tired at day's end.
* relax and enjoy the experience -- this is not work, it's a pilgrimage.
* make friends -- it's the best part of the walk. But also feel free to have your personal time and let people know when you need to walk alone.

All the free advice for now. It's worth 100% of what you paid for it. If you're blogging or Facebooking on your camino let me know the link so I can follow you.

Cloudy, 62 degrees in Seattle. Buen camino!