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<P>1. I'm going to fly to Paris, catch a train to Bayonne and, once in Bayonne, take a local train to St. John Pied de Port to start my trek. Does anyone know what these trains are called or how much it will cost to take them? or even how long it will take? </P></DIV>
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<P>SNCF runs a number of trains between Paris and Bayonne, and most of them are TGVs. Check with <A href="http://www.sncf.fr">http://www.sncf.fr</A> for specific schedules, but the fastest trains require about 4 hours. It is possible to take TGV trains directly from DeGaulle if you do not want to go into central Paris, while in Paris virtually all of the TGVs to SW France leave from Gare Montparnasse. There are at least 3 trains a day, and the trip is about an hour. You can buy your tickets on SNCF in advance on their website and can check fares as well. Be advised that the TGVs have become extremely popular and reservations are required (and may be difficult to get on short notice if you are travelling on a holiday or aweekend). I have posted the schedule for the Bayonne to St. Jean trains at <A href="http://www.communities.msn.com/CaminoSantiago">http://www.communities.msn.com/CaminoSantiago</A> and you can consult it there. </P>
<P>Bayonne is one of my favorite places in France, small, unhurried, and with fantastic food, so it is an excellent place for an overnight stay. There are several good and inexpensive hotels close to the train station. The famed beach resort of Biarritz is just a short bus ride away. Biarritz has an airport, and it may be possible for very little more money than your transAtlantic ticket to fly directly there.</P>
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<DIV></DIV>2. Once in Finnesterre, I'm going to catch a plane in Madrid to head back home. How do I get to Madrid? And how much will that cost?
<P>Pilgrims with a Compostela get special rates on Iberia flights from Santiago. Check the Iberia website for current fares and schedules. <A href="http://www.iberia.com">http://www.iberia.com</A> </P>
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<P>3. How much money should I take? And in what currency? </P>
<P>Based on a pilgrimage I made this past autumn, about 3000 ptas per day are adequate if you plan to stay in albergues and eat the main meal of the day in a restaurant having a menu peregrino. That translates to18 euros per day (about US$15). Euros will be the only currency accepted in both Spain and France after March. However, if you have an ATM card, wait until you get to Europe as exchange rates are generally better there than in the US, and ATMs are as common as they are in the US. </P>
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<DIV>E. O. Pederson</DIV>
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<DIV>Seattle, WA</DIV>
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