André from France

[André Hospitalet]

We are Odile and André from Aire sur l'Adour on le Puy road in France.
We are two pilgrims and we continue to be. We have walk all the Camino many times (8) at once.
In 2007 walking to Compostelle we have pass in front our house which was to be sold, we visit it and coming back from Compostelle we buy it. Inside we have make a pilgrims'home, whose name is Hospitalet Saint Jacques, to give Hospitality only to walking pilgrims bearing their rucksack and we don't welcome big groups.
We don't join this forum to make publicity but only to try to help pilgrims coming from foreign countries and speaking english. We wish to share our experience of way. In advance please excuse me if I make a mistake, my english is not so good.
ULTREIA

 

[KiwiNomad06]

Odile and André, it is lovely to see you here!

I'd like to tell others on the Forum about my experience at the Hospitalet Saint Jacques, in 2008. I have lovely memories of Odile and André's kindness.

I arrived at Aire-sur-l'Adour at about the same time that a couple of biggish groups were starting their walks from out of the city. Now, in Spain that is not unusual, but in France, accommodation options are more limited, and I was having trouble making onward bookings for the days ahead. I think I was tired, and this upset me. Odile kindly tried to ring ahead for me, but nobody seemed to be answering the phone. I was worried and didn't sleep so well. But Odile hadn't forgotten my worry, and first thing the next morning, she had tried a number again, and had reached someone. (It turned out it was a farmhouse, and the farmer had been busy outdoors.) With Odile's help I was able to make the reservation that I needed. I was so very grateful to Odile, who knew I was worried, and went out of her way to help me.

Another really nice thing at the Hospitalet Saint Jacques was that they had a room in which they just put four of us single women. It was so nice to be free of the male snorers :wink:

All the best for the new pilgrim 'season' ahead Odile and André, and may you have many visitors in 2011.
Margaret

 

[JohnnieWalker]

Hola André

Good luck with your adventure of providing hospitality to pilgrims. Where is your house and how do pilgrims get to it?

Please tell us more about your life and the pilgrims who stay with you.

Best wishes

John

 

[KiwiNomad06]

Hola André Where is your house and how do pilgrims get to it?
Please tell us more about your life and the pilgrims who stay with you. John

I know where their house is Johnnie It is right on the Chemin, on the hill that you climb up to the Église Sainte-Quitterie, and then on out of the city. It is not too far from the Cathedral, where in 2008 they had a lovely welcoming presence for pilgrims. And pilgrims like me stay with Odile and André.
Margaret

Oh, and they have a wonderful big back garden to relax in, except the weather wasn't conducive to relaxing outdoors the day I was there...

 

[Caminando]

Good to hear your news André.

Thank you.

 

[André Hospitalet]

Hello
Particulary to Margaret. It is so nice to have contact with you again.
We are so happy to help pilgrims with the forum.
By expect we can make your reservations for France and give you very good adress of gites on the Camino Frances where it is possible to make reservation, in calm and not crouded places. These adresses are fresh because we have walk again to Compostelle, Finisterra and Muxia last winter.
To answer to a part of your questions, you can have a look on our site:
http://www.saintjacques-hospitalet.fr
ULTREIA
Odile André