[Gocamino] Logistics Help

[Grant Spangler]

Really no need to go Philly, NYC  or points North to get to Madrid. American 
Airlines is partnered with Iberia; you will find tons of Iberia/AA flights 
originating in Miami and landing in Madrid. I would try to avoid London and 
Paris if at all possible.

I am a West Coaster and have a nine hour time difference to the Continent, 
you in the East have but six. I generally hang around in Madrid for a few 
days, then get the train out of Atocha station to Pamplona. If you want to 
get to Saint Jean Pied de Port, take the train to Hendaya (Spanish spelling) 
on RENFE, then go from Henade (French spelling) to Bayonne on SNCF. From 
Bayonne there is a choo-choo to Saint Jean.

If you take the train to Pamplona, you are close to Saint Jean, but there is 
no inexpensive public transportation between the two. There is a bus from 
Pamplona to Roncesvalles, but nothing all the way to Saint Jean. You could 
take the bus to Roncesvalles, then employ a taxi to get to Saint Jean, but 
that will probably run as much as a taxi from Pamplona to Saint Jean. The 
large commercial taxi services are all based in Pamplona. There are some 
‘private’ taxis which may be amenable to lower rates; they are probably 
going to be based in Zubiri or Burguete.

Two options: One – start in Roncesvalles, Two – get the train to Saint Jean 
Pied de Port.

Here is option two:

RENFE from Madrid to Hendaya, four trains daily: 
http://horarios.renfe.es/hir/index.jsp?page=hjhir130.jsp&O=MADRI&D=11602

SNCF from Hendaye (note French spelling!) to Bayonne, then Bayonne to Saint 
Jean Pied de Port.
http://www.ter-sncf.com/aquitaine/index.asp

Type in HENDAYE and ST-JEAN-PIED-DE-PORT, and put the time and date.

Viola.

Bon Chemin,

Grant

Grant Spangler
GASpangler at hotmail.com
http://groups.msn.com/ElCaminoSantiago
http://community.webshots.com/user/ElCaminoSantiago