Still a little baffled...Travel advice

[Bill Chandler]

Gina,

You can catch an Air France bus from Charles DeGaulle to the
Montparnasse station.  I stayed at a small hotel with my wife for a
few days before she came home and I went on to the Camino.  I am sure
you could find a hotel in the area if you are going to stay for a
short time to decompress from the plane flight.  I would imagine you
could book a hotel at the air port or at the train station if you
have not already done so through an agent here or internet.  I got my
train ticket a day or so in advance simply because I had the time.
You can get tickets at any of the stations in Paris.  The trip it
self is ordinary.  Lasts about 6 or 7 hours.  In Biaritz I changed
trains for the extra hour or so to St Jean.  In both '97 and 2000 I
just walked from the station and got a hotel room at the Hotel
Central.  It was the last indulgence before the walk.  There is a
refugio in St. Jean.  In '97 I got my first 'passport' stamp from
Madame Debril.  In 2000 I went to the refugio and got my first stamp
there.  The first days walk is arduous up into and over the
Mountains.  In 2000 it took about 8 hours.  In '97 it was much more.
It is a great sight to see the border crossing.

That is it for now.  Buen Camino.

bill



>Hi Bill ---
>
>We will be in and out at Paris as well.  Do you have any other
>details/advice?
>
>(prices, tips, times?)
>
>Thanks (nervous and excited!),
>
>Gina
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Road to Santiago Pilgrimage [mailto:GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU]On
>Behalf Of Bill Chandler
>Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2002 1:06 PM
>To: GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU
>Subject: Re: Still a little baffled...Travel advice
>
>
>Juel,
>
>I did that flight path in 2000.  Flew to Paris and then took the
>train from Montparnasse (sp?) station.  I went to Biarrittz and went
>on to St Jean Pied de Port.  Also by train.  It was the better part
>of the day for the trip.  On the way back I went to the Iberia office
>in Santiago and got a reduced fare ticket and flew back to Paris.
>Very clean and easy.
>
>Buen Camino
>
>bill chandler


--
William L. Chandler, Ed.D.
Art Education
UW-Whitewater
Phone (262) 472-5438