jl said:
I have also puchased from CSJ the Itineraire du Pelerin de Saint-Jacques. Voie Historique de Vezelay, 2005 edition. Same thing applies - very good maps, and most information in French. However, purchasing From CSJ means that you can get the edition that has the English introduction (translated by Alison Raju) and a brief list of important words to help you translate the information.
Lynn
We are using this guide (by M and Mme Chassain) to plan our journey this September (14 more sleeps) which will take us from Reims through Vezelay and along the Via Lemonciencis. It is VERY informative. It has the maps for both the northern route (through Bourges) and the southern (through Nevers) which join up at Gargilesse and then go on via Limoges, Perigeux etc to SJPDP. It has masses of information about places to stay, not just pilgrim accommodation, but also hostels, gites d'etape, chambres d'hote, camping sites. It also says a bit about every village and town, where there are shops for food, tel numbers for everything....
Talking about the route - we considered going south from Vezelay to La Puy and had a broad outline route suggested by someone, but have decided to leave all that for another time. But have you looked at KiwiNomad's blog of her La Puy to SJPDP journey? Somehow to me it feels like it would fit better with your pilgrimage TO Vezelay, even though the La Puy north section would be a bit less well trodden and defined. By then you will have loads of confidence and experience and your french will be well brushed up (if it needs it).You'll be able to buy the IGN 1:100,000 maps as you go along. (You'd need 28, 36,43 and 50) They have the long distance paths, the Grandes Randommees , marked on them. The Morvan, where Paulus lives, would be your final stage - remote and beautiful, I believe.
lynnmanning said:
My plan is to start at Finisterre (September 22, 2008) walk to Santiago, take a train or bus to either Roncesvalles or St. Jean PdP and walk to Vezelay. I know it is "backwards" but I am calling it "homeward"! Can I get credentials in Santiago???? If not how should I obtain them? Also, anyone have any idea how I should get from Santiago to Roncevalles or St Jean? I will also ask this on the transportation questions thread!!!
I am wondering about you getting a credential or pilgrim passport if you are doing the journey backwards, not with the aim of getting to Santiago. What do others think? I am not making a point about the purpose of your journey, myself, but I wonder if others might?
In France you would not be so dependent on it for accommodation, anyway.
About the journey from Santiago to SJPdP - do consider trains or buses, rather than air travel, if you can. A chance to look out of the window and get a sense of the geography and people and everything - a part of the adventure!