Canadian : August 30/21 start from St.Jean Pied de Port =)

[S.Duffenais]

I am starting my Camino from SJPdP on the 30th of August. Anyone else departing the same day?

 

[Ronald H]

We start on the 25th. Good luck

 

[efdoucette]

I am starting my Camino from SJPdP on the 30th of August. Anyone else departing the same day?

You won't be solo for long, there will be other solo travelers looking for friendship. Enjoy every bit of your travels, it will be fine.

 

[S.Duffenais]

I totally don‘t mind being alone. I was just curious who was leaving the same day. =)

 

[lt56ny]

I totally don‘t mind being alone. I was just curious who was leaving the same day. =)

If you are sleeping in St. Jean the night before. I would highly recommend staying in Bellari. It is an albergue right across from the pilgrim office. Great people, great communal meals, wonderful and clean and you will meet plenty of new and veteran and young and old pilgrims. If it is your first camino there will be plenty of people to reassure you. They foster a spirit of instant community.

Accueil - Gîte Beilari

El Camino Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port France

www.beilari.info

 

[BobMcGhee]

I am starting my Camino from SJPdP on the 30th of August. Anyone else departing the same day?

May see you end route as I plan to start on the 1st September.
Buen Camino
Bob

 

[S.Duffenais]

If you are sleeping in St. Jean the night before. I would highly recommend staying in Bellari. It is an albergue right across from the pilgrim office. Great people, great communal meals, wonderful and clean and you will meet plenty of new and veteran and young and old pilgrims. If it is your first camino there will be plenty of people to reassure you. They foster a spirit of instant community.

Accueil - Gîte Beilari

El Camino Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port France

www.beilari.info

Unfortunately, when I made my Reservations two months ago, Belari was not open

 

[S.Duffenais]

May see you end route as I plan to start on the 1st September.
Buen Camino
Bob

You will likely catch up with me or even pass me. I am slow

 

[Traveller44]

Hi. Starting from sjpdp on the 18th of August, also departing from TGWN, in Ottawa

 

[Larry E]

I'm starting in SJPdP September 1; maybe I'll catch up to you on the Meseta. Larry E, Ames, Iowa.

 

[Traveller44]

Larry that is entirely possible . I am thinking of the tortoise and the hare lol

 

[Cleigh]

I am starting on August 17th. Hope to see some of you along the way!

 

[Lynne (USA/Crete Greece)]

Can’t wait! Plan is to start from SJPDP on Sept 4. Maybe see some of you. This is my first Camino, postponed from May 2020. Buen Camino

 

[Lance Chambers]

I am starting my Camino from SJPdP on the 30th of August. Anyone else departing the same day?

Still waiting for our government (Australia) to allow us to leave and head out. We're pretty much still on lock downs every now and again as new people get infected.

Hoping to get back for my 6th or 7th Camino Frances - can't remember how many any more.

Hoping you have an incredible time. Best of luck.

 

[IngridF]

Question to my fellow Canadian pilgrims. What kind of documentation, i.e. vaccination, covid tests, etc are you required to present, in order to be able to travel and gain entry to EU/Spain. Is it similar to what our neighbours to the south have to do.

 

[theclaireperson]

If you are sleeping in St. Jean the night before. I would highly recommend staying in Bellari. It is an albergue right across from the pilgrim office. Great people, great communal meals, wonderful and clean and you will meet plenty of new and veteran and young and old pilgrims. If it is your first camino there will be plenty of people to reassure you. They foster a spirit of instant community.

Accueil - Gîte Beilari

El Camino Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port France

www.beilari.info

Thank you for the recommendation, I see they are open! I understand the reduced bed capacity for Covid but I cannot find out any information about whether they are still having communal meals, I hope so!

 

[lt56ny]

Thank you for the recommendation, I see they are open! I understand the reduced bed capacity for Covid but I cannot find out any information about whether they are still having communal meals, I hope so!

You have cause for concern As I have heard that many places have stopped doing communal meals at the present time. My only suggestion would be to send them an email and hopefully you will get a response. I know that there will be people that speak English at the albergue. Even if they are no longer offering a meal I would still recommend staying there. It is a really warm and welcoming place to be. Buen Camino.

 

[S.Duffenais]

Question to my fellow Canadian pilgrims. What kind of documentation, i.e. vaccination, covid tests, etc are you required to present, in order to be able to travel and gain entry to EU/Spain. Is it similar to what our neighbours to the south have to do.

It is evolving, as it is now I believe it is vaccination record (Manitoba just released the QR immunization record) and a negative PCR test before entry. I am flying into Paris and staying a few days. I hope the requirements change as I dont want to have to scramble around looking for a testing lab in Paris!. I do follow the forums very closely so as new info emerges I shall share.

 

[Cleigh]

It is evolving, as it is now I believe it is vaccination record (Manitoba just released the QR immunization record) and a negative PCR test before entry. I am flying into Paris and staying a few days. I hope the requirements change as I dont want to have to scramble around looking for a testing lab in Paris!. I do follow the forums very closely so as new info emerges I shall share.

That is my understanding as well. We will have PCR tests done in Canada and available to land in Paris. From there we should be OK as it is a local flight to Biarritz and then on to SJPdP. Walking into Spain.

 

[S.Duffenais]

That is my understanding as well. We will have PCR tests done in Canada and available to land in Paris. From there we should be OK as it is a local flight to Biarritz and then on to SJPdP. Walking into Spain.

Are you walking this year Cleigh?

 

[Cleigh]

Are you walking this year Cleigh?

Yes! Leave Victoria August 15th. Start CF on August 18th....at least that is the hope. Things seem to be heading in a good direction.

 

[S.Duffenais]

Yes! Leave Victoria August 15th. Start CF on August 18th....at least that is the hope. Things seem to be heading in a good direction.

That is so amazing!! I wish you a Buen Camino !

 

[Cleigh]

France has declared Canada a "green light" country. Good news for us worrying about PCR and Antigen test timing etc. No longer necessary.

 

[S.Duffenais]

France has declared Canada a "green light" country. Good news for us worrying about PCR and Antigen test timing etc. No longer necessary.

That is magnificent news!!!

 

[Traveller44]

Yes it is , I will cancel my scheduled pcr test and keep my fingers crossed that I will not have to rebook

 

[natefaith]

Buen Camino to all!

 

[dreymorris]

I decided to fly out of Victoria on August 28th so will start from SJPDP on the 30th. Buen Camino everyone!

 

[Traveller44]

To you as well. Safe travels

 

[MaryGerarda]

I am starting my Camino from SJPdP on the 30th of August. Anyone else departing the same day?

Good for you! And you know, even if you don't come across someone here who's starting on the same day, you will meet many in SJPdP. We stayed in a hostel there the night before we started, and the host invited all guests to come together before the evening meal to introduce ourselves. This meant that we already got to know that amount of people and we kept bumping into each other along the way. No doubt you'll find someone to walk with, if that's what you'd like, too. Buen Camino!

 

[S.Duffenais]

I decided to fly out of Victoria on August 28th so will start from SJPDP on the 30th. Buen Camino everyone!

Our paths will likely cross then.

 

[S.Duffenais]

Good for you! And you know, even if you don't come across someone here who's starting on the same day, you will meet many in SJPdP. We stayed in a hostel there the night before we started, and the host invited all guests to come together before the evening meal to introduce ourselves. This meant that we already got to know that amount of people and we kept bumping into each other along the way. No doubt you'll find someone to walk with, if that's what you'd like, too. Buen Camino!

I am looking forward to meeting people. It has been a very lonely 17 months. I live in the bush and is quite lonely at the best of times. My social skills are lacking I would say. I am sure it will take no time at all before I am comfortable. I am social butterfly at heart.

 

[Liddybee]

Starting the day before on August 29 so will likely see you enroute. Buen Camino!

 

[BombayBill]

I am looking forward to meeting people. It has been a very lonely 17 months. I live in the bush and is quite lonely at the best of times. My social skills are lacking I would say. I am sure it will take no time at all before I am comfortable. I am social butterfly at heart.

Courage! (Said with a French accent).

 

[David61]

My social skills are lacking I would say.

You are not alone. Tu n'es pas seul

 

[Albertagirl]

To anyone from Canada who is flying into Europe to walk a pilgrim route in Spain: I expect the rules to change, probably several times, between now and the end of August. I am flying into Spain in early September. As I am changing planes at London Heathrow, I shall have to know the rules for that airport. I cannot assume that I shall remain in an international transit zone in the airport, and British Airways has very nastily responded to my inquiries by simply refusing to answer. Similar problems arise flying home to Calgary. And then there is the probable requirement of the Canadian government that I shall have to get a PCR test, not only very expensive, but extremely challenging to take the test not more than 72 hours before the boarding time of the flight that will take me to Canada. All of these regulations may change before my, and your, flights from and back to Canada. But they may not. Try to stay on top of them. And of course, our first chore is to sign in to the app that will permit entrance to Spain and follow the requirements to do so, including getting fully vaccinated and carrying proof with you. Fortunately for me, once my flight to Spain lands I don't have any further international travel challenges until I am in Santiago preparing to return to Calgary. Those of you who are starting the Frances from St Jean pied de Port will also need to follow the current arrangement for crossing from France to Spain. Make sure that you know what they are and have started the process before you leave Canada. And "Buen camino" to all.

 

[Liddybee]

To anyone from Canada who is flying into Europe to walk a pilgrim route in Spain: I expect the rules to change, probably several times, between now and the end of August. I am flying into Spain in early September. As I am changing planes at London Heathrow, I shall have to know the rules for that airport. I cannot assume that I shall remain in an international transit zone in the airport, and British Airways has very nastily responded to my inquiries by simply refusing to answer. Similar problems arise flying home to Calgary. And then there is the probable requirement of the Canadian government that I shall have to get a PCR test, not only very expensive, but extremely challenging to take the test not more than 72 hours before the boarding time of the flight that will take me to Canada. All of these regulations may change before my, and your, flights from and back to Canada. But they may not. Try to stay on top of them. And of course, our first chore is to sign in to the app that will permit entrance to Spain and follow the requirements to do so, including getting fully vaccinated and carrying proof with you. Fortunately for me, once my flight to Spain lands I don't have any further international travel challenges until I am in Santiago preparing to return to Calgary. Those of you who are starting the Frances from St Jean pied de Port will also need to follow the current arrangement for crossing from France to Spain. Make sure that you know what they are and have started the process before you leave Canada. And "Buen camino" to all.

Well said fellow Albertagirl! We thought long and hard about our risks and rewards and decided to pay our money and take our chances as they say. There’s certainly added stress for travel these days And for the foreseeable future.

 

[S.Duffenais]

All these forums, YouTube vids and websites are very informative. All has been considered and planned for. If need be, I shall adapt. Not stressing much about it, what will be will be. Thanks for the info.

 

[MaryGerarda]

That's the right attitude! All shall be well. You'll have a ball!