10.4.2014 Saint Jean pied de port

10.4.2014

St. Jean Pied de Port

There were finally 5 of us pilgrims on the bus to St.Jean. Two Swedish ladies, a Belgium guy and suprisingly a Czech girl coming form Prague through Paris.

I somehow roamed around this little town after I checked in and accommodated myself at local albergue and ended up at a local church attending Mass in French.

The priest called up all present pilgrims and we have received a special blessing of Saint Jacob for the whole journey to Santiago.

There is a quite handy store with outdoor merchandise not just a few meters away, actually on the same street as the municipal albergue I stayed in.

The store offers basic necessities for the journey and even though it is really small it is presenting itself with an interesting range of items from some basic clothes, even shoes, to walking sticks and Compedes for blisters.Of course you have to count double or even triple price for certain items, others sure comparable with any other similar store anywhere else.

The first night for me in the Albergue was of course full of expectations of the trip.

I did not sleep much maybe that was for the snoring which I found out later was a common and at the same time lesser problem on the Camino. I was ready for the situation by having my ears plugged with foam pads from a pharmacy store, however it did not eliminate the problem for good. Getting a bad quality sleep is part of a pilgrim's life.

Lovely look form Municipal Albergue in Saint Jean.