Pantxo

Pronounced Poncho. This fellow is the host/owner of the gite where I stayed in SJPP. A wonderful guy full of humor and good will. He cleans the place by himself everyday. He prepares our breakfast, and when I returned from dinner, I learned he had arranged for my bag transfer and for transportation back down the mountain to my lodging (and for a ride back in the morning. And he gave me a Coke on the house!

September 4: Rest Day in SJPP

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France ( SJPP). Rest day. I am staying in an albergue in a private room. We must leave around 0900 so the owner can clean. He does it alone, and there are many areas to clean. We can return at 3:00.

The view from my balcony

September 3: Arrived at last! Met my first pilgrims

Settled in my room and found dinner. As it is on the Camino, a person can walk solo, but we are not without companions. Met my first Pilgrims over dinner. I shared a table with Matthew, an architectural student from Paris, and a couple from Portland, OR. Matthew walked here from Paris, carrying his little tent, cooking gear, and water filter for gathering drinking water from small creeks. The Oregon couple started this Camino in Le Puy, France, and will walk on to Santiago- about a 1,000 mile walk. He’s 66 and she’s 70.