Arriving (too?) early

[TheoCamino]

Hello,
this is my very first post and it is about the very beginning of the journey.

I will arrive in Bayonne august 17th at 9 am. I will be exhausted from a very long bustrip, so I decided it would be a very bad idea to already walk that same day to Roncesvalles.

My question to you is surprisingly simple: what should I do that day?
Should I wander in the (beautiful?) city of Bayonne? Or should I go ASAP to SJPDP to find an albergue, since I have the possibility to arrive early and thus pick a cheap one? When I arrive that early in SJPDP, can I do something there or is it just a wasted day?

Thanks in advance & hope to see you there ;-)

 

[Deleted member 3000]

what should I do that day?

Bayonne is a very nice city with a nice cathedral and good riverfront restaurants. SJPdP also has things to see and good food to eat. You could split your time. Staying out in the sun helps adjust to time zone changes, but you also will want to catch up on sleep. If you do not want to feel pressed for time at all, take the next train to SJPdP, check into a hotel, walk around, eat an early dinner, and go to bed. You will be ready to go the next morning! Buen camino.

 

[bunnymac]

You could book the Albergue at Orisson for the night of 17th august. It's about 2 hrs walk from St Jean. This would allow you time to have a look around the town of SJPP and also to break the back of the journey to Roncesvalles.

 

[Mark Lee]

I recommend taking the next train or bus to SJPdP, find an albergue to stay in and then roam about a bit, get your pilgrim's passport, some snacks for the next day, etc. Early next morning start walking your Camino and trek on down to Roncesvalles.
That's the way I always did it. Worked great.
cheers and ultreia

 

[gerardcarey]

Take the next train to St Jean, get settled into your accommodation, have a nice lazy day wandering about this pretty, historical, Basque town, and an early night to ensure your batteries are recharged for your assault on the Pyrenees.
Regards & good travelling,
Gerard

 

[NualaOC]

Bayonne is a really nice city, but you might not be in the mood for exploring it after a long bus journey. If you are, you could pick up your pilgrim passport and first stamp at the cathedral and relax in one of the many cafes before taking the train to St. Jean. The pilgrim desk in Bayonne cathedral (open 9am to 12pm) will give you the same information that you get in St. Jean (but probably not the same help with finding accommodation, which may be an issue if you haven't booked a bed).

Buen Camino!

 

[TheoCamino]

Thanks for your advice! I will probably take the next train to St Jean and just take an easy day off in preparation for a hard and long month...

 

[Felipe]

I had a similar situation in SJPP. Frankly, there is not much to do; you can visit the old fortress, walk along the river, see the old church...and still have a loooong day for doing nothing. I was restless...
Bayonne, on the other side, is a beautiful city, with a a cathedral and museum, delicious Basque gastronomy and it is considered as "the chocolate capital of France". It is also the beginning of three different Camino routes, with its own "Amis du Chemin" Association. And the picturesque Biarritz, with its beach and old residences, is quite close.
You can make an albergue reservation by phone in SJPP.
Anyway you decide, enjoy your day of rest!

 

[obinjatoo]

Are you in a hurry? Spend some time in both places. If you're one of thise folks that has your pilgrimage planned down to the minute then I have no suggestions to offer. However, If you are letting the Camino be your guide THEN I suggest drinking it all in and taking your time.
Buen Camino

 

[TheoCamino]

Are you in a hurry? Spend some time in both places. If you're one of thise folks that has your pilgrimage planned down to the minute then I have no suggestions to offer. However, If you are letting the Camino be your guide THEN I suggest drinking it all in and taking your time.
Buen Camino

True, after some more thinking I decided to not book any transport in advance and just see where things lead me.
(Like it should be?)

 

[obinjatoo]

True, after some more thinking I decided to not book any transport in advance and just see where things lead me.
(Like it should be?)

As it should be. Good for you! The only thing I booked in advance was my one way ticket TO Spain. That way, the decision as to whether or not to go was decided. And I bought it months in advance. The only thing I really planned (if you could call it that) was volunteering at an albergue.
And that worked out quite well. It was a profound experience for me.
Buen Camino!