Looking for some information

[haloranch]

I am walking the Le Puy route to Santiago this spring. Having walked the Camino Frances starting in STPDP in 2007 I am thinking of switching from the Via Podensis to the Camino del Norte at some point (rather than rewalking the 2007 route). Any views on a good point to transition? Is there a marked walking route or will I need to take a bus or train? Any ideas would be appreciated.

Moved from VdlP forum

 

[Caminando]

Hi halo

Welcome.

 

[Canuck]

Indeed!

 

[jl]

There is a post somewhere on the forum with suggestions to get down to Bayonne. You can walk all the way from Le Puy to St Jean and then either walk out to Bayonne or catch the train to there. The other option is to follow the GR10 along the mountains to Irun and pick up the Camino del Norte from there. Take the advise of the locals though if you decide to take this option - weather can be bad and there is a part of the path on that stretch where there are sheer drops - dangerous in a fog! The path is well waymarked from Bayonne - though the accommodation options are limited (especially if it is tourist season) along the stretch from Bayonne to Irun - I slept under the stars fro my night along that stretch! Cheers, Janet

 

[bjorgts]

You should ask this question on "Le Puy route" or "El camino de Norte" to get more answers. Here is a link to somewhere else on the forum on this question: el-camino-del-norte/topic5642.html
Bjørg

 

[Kitsambler]

Oh good grief. He's starting in Le Puy, and he asked his route question in the Le Puy thread. That's exactly what we would want him to do.

I assume there's a crossover point somewhere past Ostabat. Is Sil familiar with the specifics here, perhaps?

 

[William Marques]

This thread has been moved from the Via de la Plata forum to the Le Puy forum that is why some of the posts read the way they do.

 

[jl]

This path goes through Ostobat to St Jean, and then one has to make a way out to the coast either to Bayonne or alternatively to Hendaye / Irun on the French / Spanish border. If one wanted to catch public transport the best option would be in either Saint Palais or alternatively in St Jean, otherwise walk out, as I have already stated in the post above - this is what I researched and did in 2009. Mind you I was coming from Troyes - but those three paths (Paris, Vezelay, Le Puy) converge at the Stele Gibralter before going to St Jean (although the Paris path can go down the coast too). Janet

 

[Canuck]

Hi! Haloranch,

Here's an option if you have time and want to walk it:

Firs, SJPDP - Bayonne on ''Voie de la Nive'', backward: http://vppyr.free.fr/pages_transversale ... tp=accueil

Then, Bayonne - Irun on Via de Bayona: http://www.caminosantiagoviadebayona.com/

Finally, Irun - Santiago on Camino del Norte as planned.

Enjoy,
Jean-Marc

 

[haloranch]

Thanks for all the information. I'm still not sure that I will switch over to the Camino del Norte wken I get to the Pyreneese Mountains.

I have another question (not sure if it belongs here or in the "Miscllaneous" forum).

Reluctantly I am strongly considering having a cell phone for the French section of my Camino in order to book "gites" ahead. I am totally unfamiliar with the use of cell phones or even what type and where to buy when I get to Le Puy. Can some one comment on this or guide me to the correct forum?

Haloranch

 

[kaylfrazer]

Hi Haloranch
I am also looking for an answer to this so will be interested in any answers you get. I will be leaving Le Puy in late May and am currently looking at TravelSim http://www.travelsim.com/.. this seems to be available in quite a number of countries around the world and is advertised here in NZ http://www.travelsim.co.nz/ as an alternative to having your own phone roam. I don't like cell phones so am interested in this concept as it allows me to take my own phone with a different sim card rather than having to get used to a totally new phone. Good luck with your search!
Kay

 

[jl]

When I walked from Le Puy in 2007 and Troyes in 2009 I didn't use a mobile phone (I don't own one, and don't even know how to use them!) I booked gites a day or so ahead through the tourist office on the Le Puy path, and just went to the Marie (where the key was usually picked up) on the Vezelay path without booking once. You say you are reluctanly thinking you will have to take one - if you feel that way why not leave it at home? (it is only more weight). For maintaining contact at home I would just use the internet when I could - the tourist offices usually had a computer (sometimes expensive, but they would often only charge the 15 min rate even though I had been on it for as long as an hour), and the biblioteque's, if your strike the right opening hours, will give free access to visitors.

I never had problems with the albergues on the del Norte either. Cheers, Janet

 

[Ange]

As I live in France I will check out buying a spare sim card on a Pay as you Go system which you can put into your own phone. Sometimes the phones here are locked so it isnt possible. So you would need to check that you can use another simcard in your phones. So next time I am out shopping I will go to one of the phone sections at the big supermarket stores like Leclerc, Auchan, Geant Casino, Carrefour, Cora or the specialist shop like SFR or Orange and ask the question, get prices and come back to everyone with the information. Give me a few days.... Ange

 

[Deleted member 3000]

I bought a phone similar to this for less than $10:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Motorola-RAZR-V3c-U ... 1c1a22299e

I stopped in the Orange store in Le-Puy-en-Velay for a SIM chip with some time on it. You will need a passport. If they want an address in France, use the one for the gite in Le Puy. I added time as needed at any tobacco shop, and had excellent coverage all the way to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.

Your cell phone must be at least a three-band GSR and unlocked. You cannot successfully install a SIM chip in a locked phone, and the cellular phone stores in France cannot unlock phones.

 

[haloranch]

When I walked from Le Puy in 2007 and Troyes in 2009 I didn't use a mobile phone (I don't own one, and don't even know how to use them!) I booked gites a day or so ahead through the tourist office on the Le Puy path, and just went to the Marie (where the key was usually picked up) on the Vezelay path without booking once. You say you are reluctanly thinking you will have to take one - if you feel that way why not leave it at home? (it is only more weight). For maintaining contact at home I would just use the internet when I could - the tourist offices usually had a computer (sometimes expensive, but they would often only charge the 15 min rate even though I had been on it for as long as an hour), and the biblioteque's, if your strike the right opening hours, will give free access to visitors.

I never had problems with the albergues on the del Norte either. Cheers, Janet

Hi Janet! I didn't use a phone on my first two Caminos. In fact I found it quite annoying when other peregrinos were using theirs. Of course there aren't too many people on the Via de la Plata in October or November. I was usually the only resident at the albergues. I got a little concerned about finding room at gites in France when I read Margaret's (Kiwi nomad) blog, "Il faut aller doucement...". I seem to be getting mixed signals about whether or not to get a local phone in France.

 

[jl]

I can only speak from my experience and I never found a phone necessary. I walked from early August from Le Puy and began walking from Troyes on July 5th and so on those 2 occasions it was summer time. There were always other walkers (not all were pilgrims, because this is a much loved GR path) at the gites on the le Puy path, but once I left Vezelay I was almost always the only person in the refuges on the Vezelay path (with the exception of about 8 nights out of the whole 7 weeks!). Despite not speaking French I managed to bumble my way through getting accomodation each night without too much trouble.

On the le Puy path we inadvertantly passed the gite we were booked into (I was walking with my sister in law on this stretch) and couldn't face the thought of retracing our steps 7 kms to get our bed that night! We asked the very helpful lass at the tourist office if she could help us find an hotel and if she would please cancel our booking at the gite so that it was free for others, which she cheerfully did!

Cheers, Janet

 

[Anna-Marie]

I seem to be getting mixed signals about whether or not to get a local phone in France.

I walked 2.5 years ago without a phone. I just took advantage of other people's cell phones (they were usually happy to book me in too when they were calling for themselves) or used phone booths with a calling card (the same card was good for calling home to Canada), or sometimes gite owners would offer to call ahead for me (since my French isn't wonderful).

I have to say it would've been a little easier if I had a phone, especially on the few occasions I couldn't get hold of anyone and just had to hope they got my message. But I never had any real problems.

Bon chemin!
Anna-Marie

 

[Ange]

This is Ange (in France) again, I havent checked prices yet - busy working. As I live in the country I don't get to the shops more than once a week. As soon as I do I will check actual prices. In the meantime check out this website page which details the more technical stuff, especially the fact that your phone may be locked. You can test this yourself by borrowing someone else's simcard and seeing if it works - I think.... I will be out on Tuesday and will check prices then.
http://gofrance.about.com/cs/cellphoner ... lphone.htm

 

[Ange]

Hi this is Ange again, Im not sure if my message was sent so better to have it twice. I will be out on Tuesday and will have a look at prices on simcards and will report back then. Check out this website for info. http://gofrance.about.com/cs/cellphoner ... lphone.htm

 

[haloranch]

Hi this is Ange again, Im not sure if my message was sent so better to have it twice. I will be out on Tuesday and will have a look at prices on simcards and will report back then. Check out this website for info. http://gofrance.about.com/cs/cellphoner ... lphone.htm

Hi Ange, this website has been very informative, especially for someone that knows diddly about cell phones.
Does anyone know where I can buy a cell phone within the following parameters? I arrive in Lyon late at night (11:15) by air but I have a little bit of time before my train leaves from the Lyon Part Dieu railway station for Le Puy-en-Velay at 11:21 the following morning. Might there be a place at the station? My other option is to purchase when I get to Le Puy. Any suggestions there?

Thanks,
Hans

 

[Deleted member 3000]

There are several cell phone stores in Le Puy. We had SFR and Orange phones, and the Orange seemed to have better coverage.

 

[Tia Valeria]

Orange phones also work in Spain OK. Our very basic, PAYG, UK ones worked fine using either Orange or Movistar transmitters. Because we bought them in UK we did pay roaming charges but it was cheaper than buying a new phone.

 

[rivir]

We are 2 women from Israel who wish to join a group of people for the pilgrim walk between July 4th-July 14th, 2012.
Do you know of such a group?
Peace,
Rivka

 

[Kitsambler]

We are 2 women from Israel who wish to join a group of people for the pilgrim walk

Every day people start the walk from Le Puy; in the ten days you have available to walk, you can make it certainly to Aumont-Aubrac and possibly to Conques. If you have a copy of the Miam Miam Dodo, it is very easy to plan your stages and obtain lodging. Every large town has Tourism Information offices, and almost every lodging owner is willing to help you by calling ahead for the next night's reservation.

So, you do not need a pre-planned group to enjoy the Chemin Saint Jacques. You will encounter many other walkers on the same route - and this can be your group.

 

[gypsy9]

Wise words Kit,

"So, you do not need a pre-planned group to enjoy the Chemin Saint Jacques. You will encounter many other walkers on the same route - and this can be your group".

I so look forward to meeting my "group" as I plan to arrive in Le Puy, July 20th...alone and in company is the beauty of The Way...
I am getting so very excited. The posts of pilgrims with woeful French and without mobile phones are wildly reassuring...
Bon Chemin!