April 18th, 2023

I lost a day in the time change, I guess I will make it up on my return. I was up and packed from last night.  I went down for a Hotel breakfast, it was much better than we are accustomed to in the hotels in the states.

Everything on the plate was good.  The eggs were runny, usually not my choice, but they were so creamy.  Bacon was thick, but not smoked, croissant & bread were fresh, and cheese for breakfast was great.

Now I was ready to go back down to the train station to try and figure it out again.  I was plenty early, maybe that didn’t help.

I noticed everyone staring at the board, but doing nothing.  I found my train on the board, then I realized that people were staring at the board waiting to find the platform number.  Finally it was posted and ticket agents began to let people go down to the platform.

Next up was to wait for the train and to find the correct coach and seat.

Almost success, someone was in my seat, a mother with her children and husband.  The mom and children were sick so I was happy to not take my reserved seat. I sat behind them and hoped that the passenger for that seat did not show up.

I made it to Bordeaux where I needed to make my first train change.  I had the departure board down and must have looked the part as about 5 people asked me for help in French.  I did help one man find the ticket office only because I had just seen the sign and recognized the word when he said it. I talked with my first fellow pilgrim, a woman from Germany. There were plenty of other pilgrims with their backpacks and shells, I did not have a shell yet, but I knew I would be able to find one in St Jean.

One more stop in Bayonne before the final train to St Jean.  I am seeing other people with backpacks, probably doing the same thing as me.  I did meet a Dutch woman that spoke English.  We rode the final train together and took pictures for each other when we arrived in St Jean.  This last train was small and the seats were very close, it stopped a couple of times before reaching St Jean.

That may be the first mountain to climb, but I am not sure.  It was a short walk into town and I had a hotel for 2 nights.  I wanted to get over the travel before starting the first days walk.

The streets in St Jean either go uphill or downhill.  My hotel was very cute and well located.  My room was on the 3rd floor, it is cozy and narrow with a full bathroom. It is located right on the Camino as it passes through St Jean.

Time to go out and explore St Jean, I am tired, but trying to stay up as long as the sun does. St Jean is an old city, but this is not its first location. The city was relocated after a battle higher up from its original location for better defense.

This is a very old church that is directly on the Camino route.  It has a traditional mass for pilgrims that I plan to attend.  Pilgrims have started there pilgrimage here for as long as the church has been there. There is little doubt in my mind that millions of pilgrims have come to this church while walking on their pilgrimages over the centuries.