Arles route October November zero French

[Michael Glennon]

Hi all wondering if anyone has any advice for me on my planned journey. To begin with I will arrive in Paris on October 10 and fly out November 20 2016. A night in Paris should clear the jet lag then the next day I'll catch the train to Arles.
I don't speak a word of French although I don't speak any Spanish either and when I walked the Camino Mozarabe and Via de la Plata to Santiago it was one of the best experiences I've ever had.
I am looking forward to long days on the trail camping most nights and sampling the food and wine in the villages along the way.
I will not be bringing a phone or a gps.
I have ordered Pilgrim Guides to France and Spain part 1 & 2 from CSJ.
Best and thanks in advance.
Michael

 

[Kitsambler]

So you have four months to learn some basic French. Duolingo on your iPhone and Michel Thomas' app are great places to start.

 

[Michael Glennon]

Thanks I'll work on it. Do you know the best way to get to Arles from Paris ?

 

[mspath]

Thanks I'll work on it. Do you know the best way to get to Arles from Paris ?

Check out the various transport possibilities by using the handy English web www.Rome2Rio.com.

Bon voyage et Bon chemin!

 

[filly]

Hi all wondering if anyone has any advice for me on my planned journey. To begin with I will arrive in Paris on October 10 and fly out November 20 2016. A night in Paris should clear the jet lag then the next day I'll catch the train to Arles.
I don't speak a word of French although I don't speak any Spanish either and when I walked the Camino Mozarabe and Via de la Plata to Santiago it was one of the best experiences I've ever had.
I am looking forward to long days on the trail camping most nights and sampling the food and wine in the villages along the way.
I will not be bringing a phone or a gps.
I have ordered Pilgrim Guides to France and Spain part 1 & 2 from CSJ.
Best and thanks in advance.
Michael

Hello Michael (or rather Michel!) I am starting off on 27 August alone. I am bilingual and am planning on 32 days to Puenta la Reina. You can contact me as I go along to get an update on accommodation, terrain and weather. I have had no luck in finding anyone else walking this route. I have an English guide and the indispensable French Miam Miam DoDo which lists ALL THE FACILITIES ON THE ROUTE (with no translation necessary). I too loved the via de la Plata/Sanabres and am just back from completing the Norte from Asturias airport to Santiago, then meeting a friend walking up from Seville at La Gudina and walking with her to Ourense before my flight back. You might be better getting a TGV high speed train to Avignon and getting to see that lovely place. This is what I am doing - a booked a shared space in a 4 bed room for 23 euros at Pop'Hostel right in the centre and will take the train the next morning (30 kms) to Arles and sightsee there before beginning, taking the canal alternative way.

 

[Isca-camigo]

I had zero French before walking the Arles route, apart from greetings, thank you and please. It has it moments, however the French are usually very welcoming and will go out of their way to help you, quite a few speak English . If you feel you need to book a place ahead someone was usually around who could do it for me.

If for some reason you don't want to spend a night in Paris, the train station at CDG airport has direct links to the south of France, I caught a train from Lille to Montpellier( 5hrs), it went through and stopped at CDG train terminal, around 4hrs from there.

 

[marbuck]

We walked the Le Puy with absolutely no French and managed to not only survive but loved the entire walk. Just go ahead and do your walk, it will all fall into place. Enjoy, France is wonderful.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

I don't think you will find many pilgrims to act as a translator at that time of year, so you will have to rely on hand gestures and a smile! The French are welcoming and helpful, but knowing zero French may be a bit off-putting even to the most accommodating. The balises on the route are not good, particularly leaving Toulouse, so be prepared with good maps and guides. You probably need to phone ahead for gites and chambres. Hosts don't wait around for the occasional fall pilgrim! Most of them have lives beyond the pilgrimage, so they may be out for hours, days, or weeks living life. You may find you need to leave a message and get a return call. It will be in French.

 

[Michael Glennon]

I don't think you will find many pilgrims to act as a translator at that time of year, so you will have to rely on hand gestures and a smile! The French are welcoming and helpful, but knowing zero French may be a bit off-putting even to the most accommodating. The balises on the route are not good, particularly leaving Toulouse, so be prepared with good maps and guides. You probably need to phone ahead for gites and chambres. Hosts don't wait around for the occasional fall pilgrim! Most of them have lives beyond the pilgrimage, so they may be out for hours, days, or weeks living life. You may find you need to leave a message and get a return call. It will be in French.

Thanks for the info falcon I must say I am very good with smiles and gestures it's a wonderful language that has helped me out in many remote corners of the world.
I do actually want to camp although I know there will be times when I'm cold and wet and want the comfort of a room but rather than take a phone I'd rather leave it up to the Gods.
I've got a warm dry tent with sleeping pad and bag it's not that hard.
Now if I can't get a hot meal I'll really have to dig deep !!!

 

[Kitsambler]

Do you know the best way to get to Arles from Paris ?

Take the TGV from Paris to Avignon, then change to a local train for the short hop to Arles. See the TGV route map here: http://www.bonjourlafrance.com/france-trains/tgv-map.htm There is a TGV station at the Paris airport CDG, making for an easy connection if you don't plan to spend any time in Paris. Do pick up a sandwich or two before boarding, however!

 

[pudgypilgrim]

Is there accommodation on this route after Toussaint?

 

[SusanReneGr65]

I would recommend Jenny and Keith's excellent blog:
http://walkinginfrance.info/pilgrimages/the-way-of-arles/
They have walked all over France, including Arles. They walked it summer 2012 and they camp in a tent.

 

[Michael Glennon]

I would recommend Jenny and Keith's excellent blog:
http://walkinginfrance.info/pilgrimages/the-way-of-arles/
They have walked all over France, including Arles. They walked it summer 2012 and they camp in a tent.

Thanks Susan they have some great info

 

[newfydog]

Go to a skype based French tudor through a service like Mingyl. Tell the instructor your plans and get some French lessons which will be customized for what you need. There is plenty of time, it is fun and effective and you we make a French friend before going. One of my instructors convinced us to go off route and have dinner with his family.

 

[oursonpolaire]

Thanks for the info falcon I must say I am very good with smiles and gestures it's a wonderful language that has helped me out in many remote corners of the world.
I do actually want to camp although I know there will be times when I'm cold and wet and want the comfort of a room but rather than take a phone I'd rather leave it up to the Gods.
I've got a warm dry tent with sleeping pad and bag it's not that hard.
Now if I can't get a hot meal I'll really have to dig deep !!!

Unlike other routes, there is not a lot of infrastructure here, in terms of there being cafes etc every few km. While it was 10 years ago when I walked it with a unilingual Australian (my French was good, but I could not for the life of me follow the markings well, and relied greatly on her outback-honed tracking and blazing skills), we had to be careful about our stages. There would be stretches where wild camping is not that practical. However, you will find that the tourisme offices are very helpful and will often telephone around for a pilgrim. As well, mairies will often have English-speaking staff to cope with the numbers of UK residents in the area (although this may change in the next little while, depending on the results of this week's referendum!!!). Contrary to popular lore, I found that the French were very helpful to hikers and walking or cycling pilgrims, and would often go out of their way to be of assistance.

I see no reason why you cannot learn a bit of French-- there is plenty of online assistance and perfect grammar is not expected of a foreigner-- not only will it be of practical help, but it is a courtesy to the people through whose country we are travelling. The French, for historical reasons, love Australians--- Sydney has got an Alliance Française and I think that you will be pleasantly surprised at how much a little will open doors for you.

 

[Michael Glennon]

Unlike other routes, there is not a lot of infrastructure here, in terms of there being cafes etc every few km. While it was 10 years ago when I walked it with a unilingual Australian (my French was good, but I could not for the life of me follow the markings well, and relied greatly on her outback-honed tracking and blazing skills), we had to be careful about our stages. There would be stretches where wild camping is not that practical. However, you will find that the tourisme offices are very helpful and will often telephone around for a pilgrim. As well, mairies will often have English-speaking staff to cope with the numbers of UK residents in the area (although this may change in the next little while, depending on the results of this week's referendum!!!). Contrary to popular lore, I found that the French were very helpful to hikers and walking or cycling pilgrims, and would often go out of their way to be of assistance.

I see no reason why you cannot learn a bit of French-- there is plenty of online assistance and perfect grammar is not expected of a foreigner-- not only will it be of practical help, but it is a courtesy to the people through whose country we are travelling. The French, for historical reasons, love Australians--- Sydney has got an Alliance Française and I think that you will be pleasantly surprised at how much a little will open doors for you.

I will be starting a course in basic french at the Alliance Française next week. The course runs for two hours twice a week for eight weeks.
Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Binya]

wondering...
Can you walk from Avignon to Arles (no, not on the highway...but an off-road route?).

 

[mspath]

wondering...
Can you walk from Avignon to Arles (no, not on the highway...but an off-road route?).

See what this link suggests as a possible route from Avignon to Arles.

Happy planning and Bon chemin!

 

[Binya]

Merci
I had a look...55 kms! (instead of 30 km which is the train route).

 

[Michael Glennon]

Hello Michael (or rather Michel!) I am starting off on 27 August alone. I am bilingual and am planning on 32 days to Puenta la Reina. You can contact me as I go along to get an update on accommodation, terrain and weather. I have had no luck in finding anyone else walking this route. I have an English guide and the indispensable French Miam Miam DoDo which lists ALL THE FACILITIES ON THE ROUTE (with no translation necessary). I too loved the via de la Plata/Sanabres and am just back from completing the Norte from Asturias airport to Santiago, then meeting a friend walking up from Seville at La Gudina and walking with her to Ourense before my flight back. You might be better getting a TGV high speed train to Avignon and getting to see that lovely place. This is what I am doing - a booked a shared space in a 4 bed room for 23 euros at Pop'Hostel right in the centre and will take the train the next morning (30 kms) to Arles and sightsee there before beginning, taking the canal alternative way.

Hi Filly I'm thinking about walking the canal route to St Gilles too so I'd love to hear how you go. I looked on Google Earth and the only difficulties I could see were a motorway and a railway line to cross.
What's the best way to follow your journey ?
Thanks for the tip on Pop' Hostel, I've booked for October 10.

 

[Michael Glennon]

Does anyone have a place they can recommend to stay in Arles.

 

[filly]

Does anyone have a place they can recommend to stay in Arles.

Yes I have booked directly at a private hostel for 20 euros including a basic breakfast, very close to the arena, called something Pelerin. Does mot require a deposit. Found it via Trioadvisor.