Onward to Navarrenx

Yesterday we trained down to our starting point for the walk, Navarrenx. On the way to the station, Gare Montparnasse, a stop was made by Tour St. Jacques, or St. James tower, the traditional starting point for 16th century pilgrims who began walking from Paris. A perfect spot to begin the Camino!

A church on the site was called the "church of St. Jacques-de-la-Boucherie," whose name references the butchers in the nearby market, Les Halles. The structure was destroyed after the French Revolution, and just the tower was left standing.

Restored during the 19th c., the tower includes 

a statue of St. James on top.

At the train station in Dax we transferred to another train down to Pau. I've always enjoyed European train stations -- each one is unique and buzz with anticipation of travelers' journeys. 

From Pau the plan involved taking a bus to Navarrenx until we found out there was no bus service available. The only way to go there was by taxi -- our driver took shortcuts through winding farm country that turned into more hilly areas of the Pyrenees. About an hour later we reached Navarrenx and checked into the "gite" (pilgrim hostels in France). 

                                                          

Our room, chambre 1 -- we shared it with Clementine from France.

Navarrenx is charming with quaint architecture -- very French! A medieval wall surrounds several sides of the town. Today we spent the day exploring and getting ready to start the walk early tomorrow morning.

                                   

Along with the Camino shell, red and white stripes will guide us to Roncevalles. The stripes signify the Grande Randonnee (GR), or numbered system of hiking paths throughout France and other European countries. Our path was number 65.   

Tonight there was a 'pilgrim welcome' at the town church, and afterwards drinks and cookies were served. We also bought our credencials and got our first stamps.

Walkers put pins on a world map where they're from -- 

ours was the first for San Diego.

Sculptures on the outside of town along the "GR 65" -- 

St. James is on the left.

                         

Dad swapped stories with a Danish trekker. Thus far, we've met walkers from many different countries, including Scotland, Slovenia, New Zealand, and an American, Johnny from Sacramento, a basketball fan (guess what Dad talked about with him). Of course, the majority of pilgrims are French. They've been very helpful and friendly, despite our lack of speaking the language, and have gone out of their way to assist us with directions.