We decided to stay an extra night in Saint Jean as we were concerned about the weather and didn’t want to cross the Pyrenees Mountains during possible foggy and rainy conditions. Staying there turned out for the best as it rained on and off most of the day and it gave us some more time to explore the town.

Sunday morning started out with a pleasant surprise and a very memorable day for me. I usually try to start my day with some quite time and meditation, and prayer, before I start my day. I knew it would be difficult to find that on the Camino, especially in a hostel, which would probably be our only option for lodging. But I figured there would be lots of old churches in the hundreds of villages we would pass through. So, Sunday morning I decided go to the very old and historical church a half block from our hostel. We had gone in there the day before and thought it was just open as a historical site. 

The streets were almost empty early in the morning as I walked to the church. I didn’t hear anything from the outside but when I opened the door I found the church full of people. Wow, what a surprise! The back of the church was filled with backpacks and trekking poles piled against the walls.

At the same time I had opened the door it seemed everyone started singing a hymn on cue like it was meant for me. I was raised Catholic but never heard the entire congregation sing, along with a beautiful choir. I even expected angels to come down from the ceiling. I of course sat down and sat through one of the most moving masses I have seen. It turned out to be the Sunday morning service for the blessing of all pilgrims walking the Camino de Santiago, Catholic, other religions, and those of no specific faith.

After the service I went outside and sat on the steps on the side of the church that faces the river. It was still early and no one was walking around and all I could hear was the sound of the river and the chirping of the birds. It was almost surreal, but gave me my place with the quite that I was looking for.

Breakfast at the hostel and much of France is French bread and jam. Not what I am use to. There were two wonderful bakeries right next door to our hostel where we went for pastries and coffee. It was a nonstop stream of locals, especially women, in their nicest fashionable dress. It must be a Sunday tradition here.

We spent the day wandering around town and picking up some of our supplies. Many of the businesses in this part of France close by five and are closed on Sunday, similar to the United States prior to the 1960s.

That night my daughter, Monica, and neice Jeniffer, went to a nice restaurant on the river as I went to the same one we had gone to the night before. When I returned to our room that night Jennifer was there by herself with a sheepish look on her face. Where is Monica? Well, apparently when they walked into the restaurant the local rugby team of young men were there celebrating. And when Monica walked in many of them started, as Jeniffer put it, started cat calling to her. As they were about to leave one of the players came over and said they wanted to buy them drinks. And that’s what a father really wants to hear, his twenty-three year old daughter having drinks with a rugby team, and French men at that!

So Jennifer walked back the two blocks and told my young daughter that her dad thought she needed a good nights sleep before starting the Camino. Well, at least one young guy, Jacque, Pierre, Frans, or whatever is name is, was gentleman enough to walk her home. Those frechmen, don’t trust them as far as I can throw them! So, tomorrow we will start the Camino with a little excitement and a little nervousness. I’ll try to update the blog as I go along if there is wifi as I do not have cell service. 

Church 
Saint Jean 

Saint Jean 

Best wishes to all, 

Ted