Introduction and questions

[sgilker]

Hi, we are Carol and Stephen from Quebec, Canada and plan to start our Camino in St Jean on the Easter weekend 2006. We are concerned as to what businesses will be open Easter Sunday and Monday in St. Jean and we have noticed that there is a market on Mondays in St.Jean, Does that hold true for Easter Monday.

Sph

 

[Peter Robins]

Can't tell you specifically on St-Jean but in general most shops will be closed, except for a few like bakers which open early morning, and possibly later in the afternoon as well. Hotels, restaurants and bars will all be open - restaurants do a roaring trade Sunday midday in both France and Spain (well, in Spain it's more like mid-afternoon), as that's when the extended family gets together for an extended meal. So you won't starve but don't expect to be able to do extensive shopping. More may be open on Monday, but don't count on it; businesses in France often close on Mondays anyway, including government ones like municipally owned museums. I would doubt whether the market will be there, but it is possible there may be some special event over the Easter weekend. The tourist office is at http://www.terre-basque.com/ - not hugely informative but you could try emailing them.

[Went through New Carlisle on the train once, many years ago. Beautiful weather and a beautiful part of the world.]