Camino de Santiago Day 1: St. Jean Pied de Port

Today was a grueling day of travel. First, I flew from Tampa to Chicago, then to Paris and on to Biaritz, France. From there, I shared a shuttle with a few other Peregrinas, and we rode about an hour to St. Jean Pied de Port.

It is gorgeous here! SJPP, as the pilgrims call it, is a beautiful town and a hidden gem on the border of France and Spain. Once I got to SJPP, I picked up a pair of trekking poles (couldn’t take mine through TSA), a knife and a wine bottle opener. So… the essentials.

My next stop was the Pilgrim Office. I received my official Credencial and got my first stamp from a lovely French gentleman, named Michel, who was working the desk today. He also gave me my scallop shell to hang from my backpack.

Cue the waterworks!!! I guess I have been waiting for this moment for so long.

After I received my stamp, and composed myself, I found my accommodations that just so happened to be next door to the pilgrim office and in the center of town. Gite Makila is a beautiful and quaint spot to stay. Their rooms are spacious (4 to a room), the showers and restrooms are clean and the view is spectacular. Not the mention the hotelier is very kind and funny.

View from Common Room

My Bunk

Once I was all settled in I found some incredible food, delicious wine and great people watching. I hope one day I can come back and explore this town a bit more.

St. Jean Pied de Port

Now it’s time for bed.

I’m grateful for the friends I met today and look forward to walking a little with them tomorrow. We’ve got quite the climb tomorrow as we begin our ascent up the Pyrenees - only 5 miles but almost 2,500 feet in elevation gain.

Thank you for all your continued prayers!! Please forgive any typos - I’m currently typing this under the covers trying not to disturb my bunk mates. 😂

Buen Camino