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You didn't say where you are coming from. Every person and every trip is different, so it is impossible to predict. Your plan sounds fine to me!Does everyone think that 2 nights in Paris will be enough time to adjust?
You didn't say where you are coming from. Every person and every trip is different, so it is impossible to predict. Your plan sounds fine to me!
Interesting food for thought - thanks to the OP.
I have never been to Europe in my life - I plan on landing in Paris and spending two nights there before catching a bus to SJPdP. I should arrive with enough time to have a look around SJPdP before sundown and I plan on leaving for Roncesvalles at around 7:00am the following morning. Does everyone think that 2 nights in Paris will be enough time to adjust?
Hi, could you give me some info on the night train from Paris to Bayonne please? Was it a sleeper with berths?Two nights will probably be plenty. You could also cut the costs by getting out of Paris right away. Or you could begin your pilgrimage immediately by taking part of Adoration at Sacre Couer, spending the night there. (Perpetual adoration is a Catholic thing.. though, I would think other christians could take part.)
My son and I flew into Paris from Toronto (6 hour difference), spent one day looking around Paris (we put our packs in lockers at the train station), and then we took the night train to Bayonne. We arrived in Bayonne early in the morning, where we had time to visit the cathedral (get our credential stamped), stop for breakfast, and buy some bread and cheese at a morning market, and visit a museum. Then we hopped on the train to SJPP, checked in at the pilgrims' office, had a picnic lunch and walked to Orrison in the afternoon. It was a short uphill climb, but being jet lagged, it was long enough. The next day was short too-- we stopped at Roncevalles.
Hi, could you give me some info on the night train from Paris to Bayonne please? Was it a sleeper with berths?
Thank you. Trying to decide whether to fly from UK to Paris, then train to Bayonne, or train all the way.Yes, it is a sleeper with berths. I just checked with SNCF-- The train leaves Gare d'Austerlitz at 22:06, arriving in Bayonne at 10:30. So the time is different than the one I took-- I arrived before the market opened. It costs about 91 euro. -- I think I bought ours with a special sale on a French rail pass..
Thank you. Trying to decide whether to fly from UK to Paris, then train to Bayonne, or train all the way.
Haha! A Lazy Pilgrim and funny As a ‘fella’ islander, I’d add that unless you’re travelling business class, I don’t think just 2-days is enough time to adjust to the time difference. I’d opt for another night in St. Jean Pied de Port. Mind you, I’m obviously much older than you!!!Apologies - I'll be coming from Australia; a small island nation plopped somewhere in the Pacific Ocean where travelling on foot is never an option (what with all the wildlife). Fingers crossed you're right!
I have never been to Europe in my life - I plan on landing in Paris and spending two nights there before catching a bus to SJPdP.
Get to Bayonne as quick as you can on that day of landing
Stay in a good hotel and relax , its a great town.
Next day early train to StJPP , wander around and stay the night .
Depending on time of year next day Orisson or Valcarlos.
Then Burguete , 4 km past Roncesvalles [ great accommodation]......then Hotel Akerreta [ 1km past Larrasoana ] then a lovely 13km walk along the river to Pamplona where you spend all day and enjoy the tapas scene before bed.....in a good pension.
First days can do the damage mate , take the Vaseline and take your time.
Think of The Melbourne Cup ...go easy early .......get into a nice rhythm .......and have a bit of luck.
You collect 800km later.
Put away a few extra $$ NOW to spend on your self at the above stop overs.
Have a great Camino .
Fantastic! I am definitely doing it your way! Did you fly or train to Bayonne though?
Two nights will probably be plenty. You could also cut the costs by getting out of Paris right away. Or you could begin your pilgrimage immediately by taking part of Adoration at Sacre Couer, spending the night there. (Perpetual adoration is a Catholic thing.. though, I would think other christians could take part.)
My son and I flew into Paris from Toronto (6 hour difference), spent one day looking around Paris (we put our packs in lockers at the train station), and then we took the night train to Bayonne. We arrived in Bayonne early in the morning, where we had time to visit the cathedral (get our credential stamped), stop for breakfast, and buy some bread and cheese at a morning market, and visit a museum. Then we hopped on the train to SJPP, checked in at the pilgrims' office, had a picnic lunch and walked to Orrison in the afternoon. It was a short uphill climb, but being jet lagged, it was long enough. The next day was short too-- we stopped at Roncevalles.
Haha! A Lazy Pilgrim and funny As a ‘fella’ islander, I’d add that unless you’re travelling business class, I don’t think just 2-days is enough time to adjust to the time difference. I’d opt for another night in St. Jean Pied de Port. Mind you, I’m obviously much older than you!!!
Get to Bayonne as quick as you can on that day of landing
Stay in a good hotel and relax , its a great town.
Next day early train to StJPP , wander around and stay the night .
Depending on time of year next day Orisson or Valcarlos.
Then Burguete , 4 km past Roncesvalles [ great accommodation]......then Hotel Akerreta [ 1km past Larrasoana ] then a lovely 13km walk along the river to Pamplona where you spend all day and enjoy the tapas scene before bed.....in a good pension.
First days can do the damage mate , take the Vaseline and take your time.
Think of The Melbourne Cup ... early on , go easy .......get into a nice rhythm .......and have a bit of luck.
You collect 800km later.
Put away a few extra $$ NOW to spend on your self at the above stop overs.
Have a great Camino .
Great advice - aligns well with other experiences and recommendations in this forum. In mid-Sep18 I am flying straight through from Brisbane to CDG via Singapore arriving 0730, then 3hrs wait to catch the 1100 EasyJet flight to Biarritz, then bus to Bayonne for a night - a big first day. Next morning early train/bus/taxi to SJDPP for an easy day and night there then start the walk - just to Orisson on night one. Hope this sets me up for a good Camino. Would not have sorted this without all the good advice from your collective personal experiences. Thanks.Get to Bayonne as quick as you can on that day of landing
Stay in a good hotel and relax , its a great town.
Next day early train to StJPP , wander around and stay the night .
Depending on time of year next day Orisson or Valcarlos.
Then Burguete , 4 km past Roncesvalles [ great accommodation]......then Hotel Akerreta [ 1km past Larrasoana ] then a lovely 13km walk along the river to Pamplona where you spend all day and enjoy the tapas scene before bed.....in a good pension.
First days can do the damage mate , take the Vaseline and take your time.
Think of The Melbourne Cup ... early on , go easy .......get into a nice rhythm .......and have a bit of luck.
You collect 800km later.
Put away a few extra $$ NOW to spend on your self at the above stop overs.
Have a great Camino .
Thanks Kelleymac - I've never been to Paris though so I wanted to take a little bit of it in. I also have friends in Paris I can stay with so apart from possible ticket costs and some food, I won't be spending any money on accommodation. If I left Paris, the money I would save by not spending time there would otherwise be spent on accommodation!
Long flights and time-change have always affected my digestion.
I am not talking about getting sick from - recycled cabin air, germs/bacteria in food/water.
My gateway to SJPdP has been... flight to Barcelona, train to Pamplona, bus to SJPdP
I am talking - Stress of Travel, poor quality Sleep (if any), 6 hours of Time Change, and Dehydration.
Over the next several days, I may experience Constipation, and/or/then Diarrhea.
On my first Camino, it became VERY clear, that there are less then a handful of washrooms between SJPdP and Roncesvalles.
My solution (on our 2nd Camino) was to spend two nights (a full day) in Pamplona.
This allowed my body time to “adjust”.
What helped me on my 3rd Camino was...
before I left Home:
-a big bowl of Oatmeal (easy to digest, has roughage)
-bring Carrots and homemade Brand Muffins for the trip (easy to digest, has roughage)
-(and the big one) drink lots and lots of water before, during, after the flights.
Note: You're about to spend five weeks using Public Washroom. You may as well get started early.
This made a big difference.
I am now planning my 4th Camino and still intend to stay two nights (a full day) in Pamplona.
This still helps to adjust for time change.
Spending a full day in Pamplona allows me to:
-get a Spanish Sim Card
-get items that are not Carry-On compatible.
Small scissors
Pocket knife w/ corkscrew
Hiking Poles
-mail my real set of clothes/shoes to Santiago for when I arrive.
If you are Retired... You should think of a day or two to adjust.
If you are stuffing a 5 week walk into 4 weeks... to bad. Adjust on the trail (actually, beside the trail)
I love this itinerary!Two nights will probably be plenty. You could also cut the costs by getting out of Paris right away. Or you could begin your pilgrimage immediately by taking part of Adoration at Sacre Couer, spending the night there. (Perpetual adoration is a Catholic thing.. though, I would think other christians could take part.)
My son and I flew into Paris from Toronto (6 hour difference), spent one day looking around Paris (we put our packs in lockers at the train station), and then we took the night train to Bayonne. We arrived in Bayonne early in the morning, where we had time to visit the cathedral (get our credential stamped), stop for breakfast, and buy some bread and cheese at a morning market, and visit a museum. Then we hopped on the train to SJPP, checked in at the pilgrims' office, had a picnic lunch and walked to Orrison in the afternoon. It was a short uphill climb, but being jet lagged, it was long enough. The next day was short too-- we stopped at Roncevalles.
As we grow older time evaporates in front of us in ways we don't see when we're twenty-five. (Although it's happening then also.) I suggest quality in execution of time and experiences over quantity, but that's just my opinion, there is no right or wrong.
Sooo... In the beginning I never question my decisions. If I walk 25k great! If I walk 15k great! If walk ---???k, I love it. My body/ mind dictates. I trust my decisions and never look back. Eventually the walk smooths out and I go into overdrive.
Apologies - I'll be coming from Australia; a small island nation plopped somewhere in the Pacific Ocean where travelling on foot is never an option (what with all the wildlife). Fingers crossed you're right!
Sounds great Karen. I’m going to do first night at Orisson too.Hi Mary, my husband and I are leaving Australia on the 30th September to walk the Camino Frances. We have organised 2 days in Paris, 2 days in SJPP and overnight in Orisson. As a frequent traveller to Europe (my family are all in Scotland) the jet lag can be a real killer. Thanks for the tip about Notre Dame and the pilgrim services.
Hi there, I’m from Sydney and I’m a regular traveler to Europe. A couple of things that work for me are 1) using the refueling stop to have a shower, massage, walk around the airport to stretch my legs. Most airports have lounges you can book into, which have showering facilities. Doha (my favorite) has a swimming pool so I do some laps. I try to find flights with a decent break (Singapore, Dubai - all have good facilities). This helps my body cope with the long haul flights; 2) lots of fluids and for me, a sleeping tablet on the ~13 hour leg (only time I take them ). I end up with a solid 6-7 hours sleep that way. Book an aisle seat so you can stretch your legs out. Use flight/compression socks - keeps the feet swelling down after 30+ hours sitting.
I’m planning my Camino next year: Sydney-Paris 2 nights; train to SJPP, then 2 nights SJPP with an early start the next morning. It takes me 2-3 days to adjust to the time difference and recover from the flight. You may or may not suffer jet lag (I usually get it coming back), but it’s awful if you do, so I would advise giving yourself a little space just in case.
Paris is really special. If you look up Notre Dame website you’ll see several pilgrim services and blessings. It’s an inspiring place and when the choir fills the space it’s breathtaking. I think a couple of days rest and reflection in Paris (and a stamp from ND) might be a nice way to start; stock up on some nice food for the train journey to SJPP and enjoy watching the countryside roll past. European trains are really comfortable and you can buy tickets online from 3 months in advance. The earlier you book, the cheaper the tickets. User friendly sites with English language options. Anyway, that’s just my thoughts - you’ll find what resonates for you. It will be wonderful!! Buen Camino, Mary
Hi there, I’m from Sydney and I’m a regular traveler to Europe. A couple of things that work for me are 1) using the refueling stop to have a shower, massage, walk around the airport to stretch my legs. Most airports have lounges you can book into, which have showering facilities. Doha (my favorite) has a swimming pool so I do some laps. I try to find flights with a decent break (Singapore, Dubai - all have good facilities). This helps my body cope with the long haul flights; 2) lots of fluids and for me, a sleeping tablet on the ~13 hour leg (only time I take them ). I end up with a solid 6-7 hours sleep that way. Book an aisle seat so you can stretch your legs out. Use flight/compression socks - keeps the feet swelling down after 30+ hours sitting.
I’m planning my Camino next year: Sydney-Paris 2 nights; train to SJPP, then 2 nights SJPP with an early start the next morning. It takes me 2-3 days to adjust to the time difference and recover from the flight. You may or may not suffer jet lag (I usually get it coming back), but it’s awful if you do, so I would advise giving yourself a little space just in case.
Paris is really special. If you look up Notre Dame website you’ll see several pilgrim services and blessings. It’s an inspiring place and when the choir fills the space it’s breathtaking. I think a couple of days rest and reflection in Paris (and a stamp from ND) might be a nice way to start; stock up on some nice food for the train journey to SJPP and enjoy watching the countryside roll past. European trains are really comfortable and you can buy tickets online from 3 months in advance. The earlier you book, the cheaper the tickets. User friendly sites with English language options. Anyway, that’s just my thoughts - you’ll find what resonates for you. It will be wonderful!! Buen Camino, Mary
Hi Mary, thank you for the ideaMost airports have lounges you can book into, which have showering facilities. Doha (my favorite) has a swimming pool so I do some laps.
Hi Mary, thank you for the idea
How big is the Doha airport? how long does it take to travel between arrivals/departures etc.? I will have three hours in transit only, but unfortunately as I can't follow the OP's advice and have a lot on my schedule for that day, would love to use some refreshment....
Thanks a lot.
Another newbie pilgrim here from "A small Pacific island" (Thank you, TheLazyPilgrim - you've made my day)
Doha isn’t that big - nothing like Dubai! Nice places to eat (for an airport!) Can reasonably walk one end to the other. If you do a google search for ‘swimming pool at Doha airport’ you can see the location of the pool/spa. You can just have a shower, which I feel normalises me a bit between flights. They supply everything including toothbrush kits. But if you just want to walk around it’s pleasant space. Hope that helps.Hi Mary, thank you for the idea
How big is the Doha airport? how long does it take to travel between arrivals/departures etc.? I will have three hours in transit only, but unfortunately as I can't follow the OP's advice and have a lot on my schedule for that day, would love to use some refreshment....
Thanks a lot.
Another newbie pilgrim here from "A small Pacific island" (Thank you, TheLazyPilgrim - you've made my day)
Sounds like a terrific plan! Have fun out there.Hi Mary - thank you for taking the time to reply so comprehensively. Very helpful. I am actually over-nighting in Seoul, and I was going to book a nice hotel. I'm going to have a nice Korean BBQ dinner and then spend a bit of time in the morning seeing a couple of sights before heading back to the airport for the remaining leg. I don't usually have any trouble sleeping on airplanes so I shouldn't need to have any sleeping tablets. I am doing much the same as you when I get there, except I am only having 1 night in SJPdP. I love your advice about Notre Dame. I'm also a big fan of the suggestion to stock up on food for the train ride - I think I'll try and get myself used to packing a lunch! I already have my train ticket. Thank you again for replying - I am less than a month away now!
Good advice, thanks. Perhaps a leisurely breakfast as I’ll book ahead for Orisson. Early the next morning to Roncesvalles will be needed thoughNo need to start too early from St JPP as Orrison is only a few hours walk.
Hi Mary, thank you for the idea
How big is the Doha airport? how long does it take to travel between arrivals/departures etc.? I will have three hours in transit only, but unfortunately as I can't follow the OP's advice and have a lot on my schedule for that day, would love to use some refreshment....
Thanks a lot.
Another newbie pilgrim here from "A small Pacific island" (Thank you, TheLazyPilgrim - you've made my day)
Good advice, thanks. Perhaps a leisurely breakfarrst as I’ll book ahead for Orisson. Early the next morning to Roncesvalles will be needed though
Thanks Thornley, much appreciated!Doha has the best business lounge in The World .
Not really Mary , start early if weather is hot .
The last few times we have stayed in Burguete which has great accommodation and many restaurants , it's only an extra 40 minutes.
Get to Bayonne as quick as you can on that day of landing
Stay in a good hotel and relax , its a great town.
Next day early train to StJPP , wander around and stay the night .
Depending on time of year next day Orisson or Valcarlos.
Then Burguete , 4 km past Roncesvalles [ great accommodation]......then Hotel Akerreta [ 1km past Larrasoana ] then a lovely 13km walk along the river to Pamplona where you spend all day and enjoy the tapas scene before bed.....in a good pension.
First days can do the damage mate , take the Vaseline and take your time.
Think of The Melbourne Cup ... early on , go easy .......get into a nice rhythm .......and have a bit of luck.
You collect 800km later.
Put away a few extra $$ NOW to spend on your self at the above stop overs.
Have a great Camino .
Get to Bayonne as quick as you can on that day of landing
Stay in a good hotel and relax , its a great town.
Next day early train to StJPP , wander around and stay the night .
Depending on time of year next day Orisson or Valcarlos.
Then Burguete , 4 km past Roncesvalles [ great accommodation]......then Hotel Akerreta [ 1km past Larrasoana ] then a lovely 13km walk along the river to Pamplona where you spend all day and enjoy the tapas scene before bed.....in a good pension.
First days can do the damage mate , take the Vaseline and take your time.
Think of The Melbourne Cup ... early on , go easy .......get into a nice rhythm .......and have a bit of luck.
You collect 800km later.
Put away a few extra $$ NOW to spend on your self at the above stop overs.
Have a great Camino .
It might be helpful to post this in the down under section, I’m pretty well travelled and didn’t know Emirates did Lyon. I totally agree, I consider people who say get out of Paris to either be locals who have no idea what they have on their doorstep, or deluded. I’ve always found Paris much cheaper than London tooFor Australian pilgrims, consider flying Emirates into Lyon (saving Paris for another time - it is too cruel to treat Paris as a mere stopover). The direct flight from Dubai arrives in Lyon late in the day, so a couple of nights there to recover (and walk around the Vieille Ville) is a good idea. Then hop on the Air France direct Hop! flight to Biarritz next morning, in Biarritz, walk over to the bus stop for the bus to Bayonne and catch the train from Bayonne to SJPP. That's what we did in August this year - I wish we had stayed an extra day in Bayonne en route because it looked lovely from the bus. We also stayed 2 nights in St Jean Pied de Port before starting our walk. We flew back to Adelaide on Emirates, out of Nice, by the way, having spent our last few days in Europe exploring Provence. And discovering the shell and Pilgrim signs all over the streets of Arles! Who knew? I want to do the Chemin d'Arles and walk to SJPP next time. And will fly Emirates from Oz when I do.
Will be glad to post it in the Down Under section - how do I do that?It might be helpful to post this in the down under section, I’m pretty well travelled and didn’t know Emirates did Lyon. I totally agree, I consider people who say get out of Paris to either be locals who have no idea what they have on their doorstep, or deluded. I’ve always found Paris much cheaper than London too
For Australian pilgrims, consider flying Emirates into Lyon
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