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Greetings from Basque country!

Seems a little too early to write, but after a week of near perfect (for the time of year) weather in Vienna it has decided to turn and now it’s raining.

Wet, cobbled street of SJPP

I haven’t begun the Camino; I decided to rest up for the day and stay the night in St Jean Pied de Port. It’s a wonder there’s not more tourists here – I’d imagine a place like this would be heaving. Maybe all French towns are this pretty? It’s the only one (other than Paris) that I’ve been to.

The Symbol of the Camino de Santiago

I’m starting the Camino (way) in St Jean: Au Coeur du Chemin (The Heart of the Way?). St Jean is at the confluence of 3 of the main routes in France before taking the last 774km to Santiago de Compostella. This part should take between 4-6 weeks on foot. Though I have a tendency to want to linger in beautiful places (today is a case in point) and this could affect the finish date.

Tonight I’m staying in a very comfortable municipal alberge. I’m not sure that the quality is maintained along the way – it would be too easy. Tomorrow morning I’ll rise early to cross the Pyrenees. This little baptism of fire will take me on a 1300m climb over 19km to Roncevalles, crossing into Spain about two thirds of the way along.

My official starting point?

Anyway, I’ll have more to say next time I write (get access to the Internet).

I’m sorry I didn’t get to say goodbye to all of you before I left – the lead up to departure wasn’t without incident, though, and I’ll be able to say ‘hello!’ to you when I get back…