OUR WAY

 28th Apr 2025

To the start of the Camino

St Jean-Pied-de-Port

After flying from Bristol to Bordeaux the night before and walking 2km from the airport to our hotel, we woke to clear blue skies — and a few transport problems.

We had received a text informing us that our train to the start of the Camino had been cancelled, so we set off early to the tram stop, just 200m from our hotel, to get to the station and sort out our ticket. However, even getting on the tram proved difficult. None of our three debit cards worked at the ticket machine. Although we had cash, the machine only accepted coins and we only had notes. After about 30 minutes of downloading the tram app, registering an account, adding a payment method, and navigating various menus, we finally managed to purchase two tickets for €3.80.

The tram dropped us outside the train station. At the ticket office, I explained in French that our train had been cancelled. The attendant simply wrote the time of the next train on our ticket and sent us on our way.

With two hours to wait, we visited a bakery for chocolatines and coffee, a supermarket to stock up on food for the next few days, and McDonald's for a quick lunch. When we returned to board our train, we discovered that our tickets were not valid. After a short radio exchange between the platform attendant and the ticket office, we were allowed to board, although we wondered if there might be more problems ahead.

After changing trains in Bayonne, we crammed onto the two-carriage service to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. The train was packed with foreigners carrying rucksacks, with many standing in the aisles — no doubt all here to walk the Camino, just like us. At the end of the line, we disembarked and made our way to the Pilgrim Office, where we paid €2 each for our Pilgrim Passports. We then checked into our albergue, wandered around the town, bought supplies, and prepared for an early start the next day.

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port

Where we stayed
Le Chemin Vers L'Etoile
Over enthusiastic guy at check in more interested in telling us how to walk the Camino and didnt tell us basic stuff we needed to know about the hostel. Mattress lacking life. Good central location.
Our rating 6.5/10