Establishing meeting spot in SJPdP?

[Kev]

I know there is an established meeting spot in Santiago de Compostela, but I have not heard of one established in Saint Jean Pied de Port. Judging from the forum postings (2015 SEPTEMBER PILGRIMS in particular), there are enough pilgrims departing regularly where an established gathering spot and time might be nice for those that have the inkling and energy.
One proposal was to establish a set meeting time outside the pilgrim office and let each group decide on a spot.
What are peoples thoughts on the subject?

Kevin

 

[C clearly]

Not necessary! The office and the albergue the night before will be your first, if not the trip from wherever you land in Spain. In September, the walk from the Pilgrims Office all the way to Orisson will be one long meeting spot. Just say hello and share the newness of the experience. My view is that it is better to test it out like that, rather than committing yourself to someone you have never walked or talked with.

 

[Anniesantiago]

SJPP is a tiny village with one main street through the village where most of the albergues, the pilgrim office, the museum and the church are located. There is a gate leading out of the village and once you leave that gate, you are on the Camino. No need to meet up with anyone. You'll have plenty of company on the route, which is road walking most of the way to Orisson.

 

[Griffin57]

Hi Kev, do you know which albergue you are going to?
I know that some Forum members are staying at Beilari and you will meet at dinner. @HalfDomeOrBust Ed and his wife are definitely there. Not sure what time arriving though perhaps you could PM?
Wherever you go in SJPP you will meet pilgrims but not all Forum members have Forum patches to identify themselves, also people arrive at different times. I won't arrive in SJPP till 7pm but I have exchanged messages and know at least one other member is in my albergue and I will meet more at Orisson.

 

[Coleen Clark]

Hi Kev, do you know which albergue you are going to?
I know that some Forum members are staying at Beilari and you will meet at dinner. @HalfDomeOrBust Ed and his wife are definitely there. Not sure what time arriving though perhaps you could PM?
Wherever you go in SJPP you will meet pilgrims but not all Forum members have Forum patches to identify themselves, also people arrive at different times. I won't arrive in SJPP till 7pm but I have exchanged messages and know at least one other member is in my albergue and I will meet more at Orisson.

FORUM PATCH???? I gotta get me one of those! Let me see.....

 

[Griffin57]

FORUM PATCH???? I gotta get me one of those! Let me see.....

In Ivar's shop on this forum with the guide books and credentials.

 

[Coleen Clark]

In Ivar's shop on this forum with the guide books and credentials.

Oh I am going to be stylin' the Way! Hope it gets here before I leave.....

 

[Kev]

Hi Kev, do you know which albergue you are going to?
I know that some Forum members are staying at Beilari and you will meet at dinner. @HalfDomeOrBust Ed and his wife are definitely there. Not sure what time arriving though perhaps you could PM?
Wherever you go in SJPP you will meet pilgrims but not all Forum members have Forum patches to identify themselves, also people arrive at different times. I won't arrive in SJPP till 7pm but I have exchanged messages and know at least one other member is in my albergue and I will meet more at Orisson.

I will be staying at Hotel des Ramparts on the 4 th, because I am looking for a more leisurely start to Orisson on the 5 th and wanted the ability to catch more zzzs and recover from Jet-lag.

I like the proposal to meet outside the pilgrim office if you want to chat face to face with forum members you have come to know. (7pm sound good?)

 

[MTtoCamino]

I am always amazed at how organized folks are. There are so many countries represented when you arrive the few on this forum is just a drop in the bucket. Even if you did not have someone from this forum arriving you will quickly have a family if you are so inclined. It really is a warm fuzzy as you meet people from all parts of our planet.
Buen Camino

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

I know there is an established meeting spot in Santiago de Compostela, but I have not heard of one established in Saint Jean Pied de Port. Judging from the forum postings (2015 SEPTEMBER PILGRIMS in particular), there are enough pilgrims departing regularly where an established gathering spot and time might be nice for those that have the inkling and energy.
One proposal was to establish a set meeting time outside the pilgrim office and let each group decide on a spot.
What are peoples thoughts on the subject?

Kevin

Hi Kevin, it took me about 20 minutes to meet up with people on my way to the albergue Orisson. Before I reach Orisson I meet up with 3 Australian , 2 American woman and a couple from Germany. So you see meeting up with people is no problem. Wish you well and a Buen Camino, Peter.

 

[Griffin57]

I will be staying at Hotel des Ramparts on the 4 th, because I am looking for a more leisurely start to Orisson on the 5 th and wanted the ability to catch more zzzs and recover from Jet-lag.

I like the proposal to meet outside the pilgrim office if you want to chat face to face with forum members you have come to know. (7pm sound good?)

Hi Kev, I would like nothing more than to meet up with you but unfortunately I don't arrive in St Jean till the 17th.
I have sent a PM to @HalfDomeOrBust but I think he will be at dinner at 7pm?
If the staff at Beilari follow the old format the evening meal is at 6.30 so not sure that time would work? Maybe before or after? I'm sure when I was there some other pilgrims joined us for drinks after the meal.
Everyone gets in at different times, last time for me I arrived about 4pm, so I had lots of time to socialise, next time won't be till about 7pm. What time do you arrive?
No harm in starting some private conversations with others who are on your start date? At the last count including spouses and companions we are up to 15 that will be in STJPP on the 4th.
I admire your initiative Kev it is really nice to meet other Forum members face to face. I am absolutely sure some of the 15 are staying in Orisson where there is a communal dinner and everyone introduces themselves.
Good luck and Buen camino
Sarah

 

[Kev]

Hi Kevin, it took me about 20 minutes to meet up with people on my way to the albergue Orisson. Before I reach Orisson I meet up with 3 Australian , 2 American woman and a couple from Germany. So you see meeting up with people is no problem. Wish you well and a Buen Camino, Peter.

I think you mis-understand the desire to meet people from the forum face-to-face vs meeting people on the Camino. I have no fears about meeting new people and making friends, but at the same time I have conversed a lot with people on the forums, many who are leaving around the same time-frame I am. An opportunity for forums members to meet face to face to forum names is all I propose.

 

[CaminoRay]

Hi Kevin, I am arriving to SJDP on Sept. 4th and staying at Gite Azkorria. I also have a reservation on the 5th for Orisson. I would like to meet up with September Pilgrims the evening of the 4th as well. Include me on your list.

 

[Griffin57]

Hi Kev, could you please PM @HalfDomeOrBust he would like to meet up with you?
Sarah

 

[nidarosa]

The restaurant on the other side of the river gets my vote! The one with outside tables and little lights, if I remember correctly? Anyone know what it's called?

Edit: After some googling I think I mean the Brasserie/Café Ttipia, lovely on a warm evening.

Also beware of Italians - not in general, but some of them do have a patch that looks a lot like the forum one, but it isn't. I have spoken to many Italians because of this

 

[Eleanor L.]

Not necessary! The office and the albergue the night before will be your first, if not the trip from wherever you land in Spain. In September, the walk from the Pilgrims Office all the way to Orisson will be one long meeting spot. Just say hello and share the newness of the experience. My view is that it is better to test it out like that, rather than committing yourself to someone you have never walked or talked with.

I do like the idea of meeting others in SJ. Not sure of good meeting spot/time, but perhaps someone else who's walked would have an idea.

 

[Kev]

I would like to hear from veterans, where in SJPdP is a good spot for forum badge members to gather, put faces to names, enjoy a drink, and wish each other Buen Camino?

[Edit]
Cafe Ttipia has been suggested
Relais de la nive (opposite side of the river, opposite side of the street) was mentioned in a separate post.
Both sound good, both are easy to find, Cafe Ttipia looks like it might have more seating (only from google pictures).

Thoughts?

 

[wayfarer]

My recommendation would be Cafe de la Paix, just over the bridge, nice food, nice staff and a good central position. I have met loads of pilgrims here just passing as I sat outside.

https://www.google.ie/maps/@43.1622...FTV0xySdW8BDv-z6xaFQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

I think you mis-understand the desire to meet people from the forum face-to-face vs meeting people on the Camino. I have no fears about meeting new people and making friends, but at the same time I have conversed a lot with people on the forums, many who are leaving around the same time-frame I am. An opportunity for forums members to meet face to face to forum names is all I propose.

Sorry about that, I met and walk with 7 forum members along my Camino this year. That was very nice, wish you well, Peter.

 

[Mooncat]

Hey Kev, I hope to arrive at SJPP on Sept. 3 and venture forth on Sept. 4. I have no forum patch yet and have been mistaken for Italian at least once in the past. So, if you see me, just call out "Mooncat" and I will break free from my new Italian friends and go through introductions with your group. What an adventure! I have no reservations in SJPP, but am thinking of finding a hotel also to reset my clock after jetlag. Hope to see you there. Buon Camino! Mooncat

 

[HalfDomeOrBust]

Hey Kev, great idea and thx for posting so we can get a chance to meet before we start the camino.

 

[Kev]

Does anyone have any e-mail contact information for any of the suggested locations in SJPdP?
I have found plenty of phone numbers, but no other contact information. I would like to contact some of the locations and see if they are interested in having a permanent meeting spot.
I even thought of e-mailing the pilgrim office, but fell shy of finding an e-mail address for them.

Kevin

 

[wayfarer]

Cafe de la Paix
4 Place Floquet 64220 Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port France‎
+33 5 59 37 00 99

Edit:
saint.jean.pied.de.port@wanadoo.fr

 

[Kev]

Cafe de la Paix
4 Place Floquet 64220 Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port France‎
+33 5 59 37 00 99

Edit:
saint.jean.pied.de.port@wanadoo.fr

Thank you, I submitted a request for information. We'll see how this goes.

 

[Kev]

I got a dead-end with the tourist office, but found another lead that I am pending a response on. Let's hope something pans out.

 

[waveprof]

I am always amazed at how organized folks are. There are so many countries represented when you arrive the few on this forum is just a drop in the bucket. Even if you did not have someone from this forum arriving you will quickly have a family if you are so inclined. It really is a warm fuzzy as you meet people from all parts of our planet.
Buen Camino

I actually think limiting yourself to members of this forum (or emphasizing them) could get in the way of just how international (and random) Camino friendships are. I value this forum very, very much, but I didn't even consider a forum patch for my bag.....I didn't want to be identified on Camino as the guy from the forum. It's also why I didn't mention taking our son ahead of time because I thought that would make me easier to identify. I liked letting the Camino just happen.....

Irony being I unwittingly met and made friends on the Camino with several people from the forum. But we didn't realize it till we were back home and on the internet.

 

[gerardcarey]

I know there is an established meeting spot in Santiago de Compostela, but I have not hear
One proposal was to establish a set meeting time outside the pilgrim office and let each group decide on a spot.
What are peoples thoughts on the subject?

Kevin

Hi Kevin
We did try to organise something similar Sept last year. What we found was it is particularly difficult to organise a time in the evenings due to "Welcome Pilgrim Dinners".
Someplaces they are almost compulsory. They generally start around 7pm, are good fun, so tend to drag on and before you know it's lights out and lock up at 10pm for those who are hostelling.
So I'd suggest a meet up time in the later afternoon, say around 4 or 5 o'clock. A good time for drinkies and a chat.
Whatever it was great to meet up with other forum members (there is usually just a few).
I can say that it was great to meet up with forum members having chatted online with them beforehand when all are very excited and looking forward to their great adventure.
Regds
Gerard
PS
This was not, repeat not, about making friends to walk with.

 

[Kev]

So, the past week has not been without activity regarding setting up a meeting spot. Unfortunately the efforts have yielded Zer0 results .
Rather then keep spinning this around and around, I propose we set Cafe Ttipia (just over the bridge, overlooking the river) as the unofficial interim gathering spot. As meal-times vary from place to place, it seems an earlier meeting time might be more beneficial. I propose 4pm on allowing people to meet before their evening meals.
When I arrive in SJPdP, I will be better able to establish a permanent meeting spot and we can take things from there for 2016,

Kevin

 

[Griffin57]

So, the past week has not been without activity regarding setting up a meeting spot. Unfortunately the efforts have yielded Zer0 results .
Rather then keep spinning this around and around, I propose we set Cafe Ttipia (just over the bridge, overlooking the river) as the unofficial interim gathering spot. As meal-times vary from place to place, it seems an earlier meeting time might be more beneficial. I propose 4pm on allowing people to meet before their evening meals.
When I arrive in SJPdP, I will be better able to establish a permanent meeting spot and we can take things from there for 2016,

Kevin

Thank you for this Kev it's a great idea. Just letting you know you may not have too many Brits if they are coming from Stansted. Last time my flight landed in Biarritz about 1.30pm so with a taxi transfer I arrived about 3.30. This year the Stansted flight doesn't land till after 5pm.

Are you already planning a second trip? Deadfred has already started a September 2016 thread.

 

[Kev]

Thank you for this Kev it's a great idea. Just letting you know you may not have too many Brits if they are coming from Stansted. Last time my flight landed in Biarritz about 1.30pm so with a taxi transfer I arrived about 3.30. This year the Stansted flight doesn't land till after 5pm.

Are you already planning a second trip? Deadfred has already started a September 2016 thread.

No second trip.... Yet!
I suspect I'll be planning one before this one is even finished

 

[Susan Peacock]

Three of us will arrive in SJPdP early afternoon on September 4th. We will drop by the meeting place at 4:00

 

[Kanga]

@nidarosa me too! Very embarrassing, especially as I don't speak Italian and they did not speak English. Their patch is virtually identical - I had to get up really close before I could see it was not our forum. Trying to explain was impossible.

 

[Kev]

Three of us will arrive in SJPdP early afternoon on September 4th. We will drop by the meeting place at 4:00

Conveniently that is the same day I will be arriving in SJPdP, I'll see you there.