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<P>dear pieter,</P>
<P>is it possiblt to travel from madrid to SJPdP by train?</P>
<P>i will be arriving sept. 6th.</P>
<P>thank you,</P>
<P>suzanne<BR><BR></P></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>>From: pieter pannevis <P.PANNEVISaCHELLO.NL>
<DIV></DIV>>Reply-To: Road to Santiago Pilgrimage <GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU>
<DIV></DIV>>To: GOCAMINOapete.uri.edu
<DIV></DIV>>Subject: Pamplona to St jean
<DIV></DIV>>Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2001 19:40:42 +0200
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>This information comes from the files of another group:
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Do you have your ticket ready or you can change it? If it wasn't enough, I
<DIV></DIV>>will come to you with a third suggestion, more direct and faster than yours.
<DIV></DIV>>You will be flying a long way already.
<DIV></DIV>>Take a plane to Madrid, then a connection to Pamplona. It is the closer
<DIV></DIV>>airport to Saint Jean Pied de Port. From Pamplona, you have 3 alternatives:
<DIV></DIV>>+ take a cab straight to Saint Jean. It's a 70km, 1:30h ride. You can call
<DIV></DIV>>when you reach Madrid to negotiate the price and be sure it'll be possible
<DIV></DIV>>to do it. Here are some phone numbers:
<DIV></DIV>>Mr. Pedro Telechea
<DIV></DIV>> . (948) 76 00 07
<DIV></DIV>> . 929 87 81 81 (cellular)
<DIV></DIV>>Don't pay more than:
<DIV></DIV>> Pamplona - Roncesvalles US$ 35,00
<DIV></DIV>> Pamplona - Saint Jean US$ 56,00
<DIV></DIV>> Roncesvalles - Saint Jean US$ 25,00
<DIV></DIV>>There are other phone numbers you can call if Mr. Pedro is busy, from cities
<DIV></DIV>>nearby:
<DIV></DIV>> 948 79 02 18 (from Valcarlos)
<DIV></DIV>> 948 76 40 53 (from Garaioa)
<DIV></DIV>> 948 76 40 58 (from Garralda)
<DIV></DIV>>Always ask for the price before, and don't be ashamed to bargain. If you
<DIV></DIV>>don't reach any of the people before, you still can get there and talk to
<DIV></DIV>>one of the many cab drivers. There should be no problem.
<DIV></DIV>>+ Take the bus, either from Madrid or from Pamplona, to Roncesvalles, and
<DIV></DIV>>from there to Saint Jean the only alternative is to take a taxi.
<DIV></DIV>>+ Take the train, either from Madrid or from Pamplona, to saint Jean. The
<DIV></DIV>>route is described on Katia's mail.
<DIV></DIV>>From the airport to the city of Pamplona, there is no other alternative than
<DIV></DIV>>a cab.
<DIV></DIV>>Of course getting a cab directly to Saint Jean or Roncesvalles is more
<DIV></DIV>>costly, but also more comfortable. You can spot the pilgrims on the airport
<DIV></DIV>>by their clothes and backpacks, and then offer to share the cab. They take
<DIV></DIV>>up to 4 people.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>> 1st. Fly to Madrid followed by a very
<DIV></DIV>>efficient European Train to Pamplona. In Pamplona you will find a bus that
<DIV></DIV>>leaves hourly to Roncesvalles. Once you are in Roncesvalles, hire a cab to
<DIV></DIV>>take you to St. Jean Pier de port.
<DIV></DIV>>This is not a bad route, but if you are taking the train, I would go by
<DIV></DIV>>train all the way to Saint Jean. It is a lovely sightseeing.
<DIV></DIV>> OR
<DIV></DIV>>2nd. Fly to Paris, catch the train to Bayonne and, once in Bayonne, take a
<DIV></DIV>>local train to St. Jean pied de port. The train from Bayonne to St. pied de
<DIV></DIV>>port leaves every half hour, but end their service at 10:00 PM.
<DIV></DIV>>It might be difficult to find a room or bed if you arrive late in the
<DIV></DIV>>evening, so it at all possible try to arrive during the day. This will also
<DIV></DIV>>provide ample time to absorb the local Ambiance, obtain your Pilgrim's
<DIV></DIV>>passport and locate the beginning of the Camino.
<DIV></DIV>>This seems more expensive to me, but you won't have to change from one
<DIV></DIV>>composition to the other as often. It is a longer trip, though. If I arrived
<DIV></DIV>>in Paris, I would get down and stay there for at least 2 days before leaving
<DIV></DIV>>to Saint Jean. Paris is lovely and is worth the visit!! Their International
<DIV></DIV>>Hostel, "Le Petit Prince", is a very good one.
<DIV></DIV>>Getting to Saint Jean earlier is surely nicer. You should look for the
<DIV></DIV>>French Association of the Camino; they will stamp your credential, provide
<DIV></DIV>>you with one if you don't have it already, and tell you about the best
<DIV></DIV>>places to stay. They are in the Rue de la Citadele, next to where the late
<DIV></DIV>>Mme. Debrill used to receive the pilgrims. Now there's another lady that
<DIV></DIV>>continues with her work, but I don't know if she tells about the cheaper
<DIV></DIV>>places. Saint Jean is an expensive city.
<DIV></DIV>>Mind that you will have to buy all your supplies for the next day's hike
<DIV></DIV>>over the Pyrenees the day before, for you won't find a place to do it in the
<DIV></DIV>>morning. I would buy it even before getting to Saint Jean, in Pamplona or in
<DIV></DIV>>Paris.
<DIV></DIV>>The accommodation in St Jean is plenty Just get to the “traitteur” on the
<DIV></DIV>>road to Arneguy and get some food before the crossing and “the morning
<DIV></DIV>>after….”
<DIV></DIV>>Just see:
<DIV></DIV>>www.caminhodesantiago.com
<DIV></DIV>> and click for the lefthandside: hospedagem. There you get a list for all
<DIV></DIV>>the hotels and hostels!
<DIV></DIV>>the monasterio in Roncevalles is open from 16:00h CET.
<DIV></DIV>>Have a good trip and above all a good Camino
<DIV></DIV>>As Always !
<DIV></DIV>>Ultreya from:
<DIV></DIV>>Pieter and Trigo from Holland
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