OLERON - PAMPLONA MAY 2011

[cowS]

OK SO WERE BOOKED UP.

FLYING TO TOULOUSE FROM BRISTOL, (UK) IN THE FIRST WEEK IN MAY, PLANNING ON WALKING TO PAMPLONA, MY QUESTIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

CAN WE GET A PILGRIMS PASSPORT BEFORE WE LEAVE?DO WE NEED ONE AS WERE NOT WALKING ALL THE WAY TO SANTIAGO, NOT SURE IF ITS REQUIRED FOR REFUGIOS

HOW WOULD PEOPLE RECOMMEND WE GET TO OLERON SAINTE MARIE FROM TOULOUSE? (WE DONT HAVE TIME TO WALK THIS SECTION AS WELL)

ONCE WE SET OFF ON OUR CAMINO DO WE NEED TO BOOK ACCOMODATION BEFORE WE LEAVE OR JUST ARRIVE AND SEE WHAT IS AVAILABLE EACH EVENING. WILL THERE BE PLACES OPEN DURING MAY?

HOW FREQUENT ARE SHOPS ALONG THE ROUTE, WHAT DID PEOPLE DO FOR FOOD, EAT OUT? TAKE A SMALL STOVE? BUY FOOD AND COOK IN REFUGIOS? WHAT ABOUT WATER, DID PEOPLE BUY BOTTLED OR FILL UP FROM TAPS - HOW COMMON ARE THESE?

THANKS FOR PEOPLE A FEW REPLIES ABOUT GUIDES / MAPS THAT I HAVE POSTED PREVIOUSLY - ANY FURTHER ADVICE ON GOOD SOURCES OF INFORMATION? HOW WELL IS THE ROUTE SIGNPOSTED?

IS THERE INTERNET ACCESS ALONG THE ROUTE? WHAT ABOUT MOBILE PHONE RECEPTION?

FROM PAMPLONA WERE HOPING TO GET PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO BARCELONA AND FLY HOME FROM HERE - ANY ADVICE ON THE BEST METHOD.

SORRY FOR ALL THE QUESTIONS BUT WERE TRYING TO MAKE THE MOST OF OUR TRIP AND WANT TO BE AS PREPARED AS POSSIBLE.

MANY THANKS AND GOOD LUCK IN ALL YOUR OWN ADVENTURES

CHRIS AND ALI

 

[sillydoll]

FLYING TO TOULOUSE FROM BRISTOL, (UK) IN THE FIRST WEEK IN MAY, PLANNING ON WALKING TO PAMPLONA, MY QUESTIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

CAN WE GET A PILGRIMS PASSPORT BEFORE WE LEAVE? DO WE NEED ONE AS WERE NOT WALKING ALL THE WAY TO SANTIAGO, NOT SURE IF ITS REQUIRED FOR REFUGIOS

You will need a credencial (pilgrim passport) if you want to stay in the pilgrim hostels, whether or not you walk all the way to Santiago. You could join the CSJ and get one of their passports or you could get on in Oloron St Marie.

HOW WOULD PEOPLE RECOMMEND WE GET TO OLERON SAINTE MARIE FROM TOULOUSE? (WE DONT HAVE TIME TO WALK THIS SECTION AS WELL)

You can get a train from Toulouse (they go trough Pau) - http://www.voyages-sncf.com

ONCE WE SET OFF ON OUR CAMINO DO WE NEED TO BOOK ACCOMODATION BEFORE WE LEAVE OR JUST ARRIVE AND SEE WHAT IS AVAILABLE EACH EVENING. WILL THERE BE PLACES OPEN DURING MAY?

If you want to stay in the pilgrim accommodation it is best to book those that can booked ahead of time.
In Oloron you can stay at the Relais du Bastet albergue. http://www.relaisdubastet.fr
In Sarance at the monastery.
Borce has pilgrim accommodation – a little chapel (St.James) with gite d'etape for 6 persons and one little bar/food store. The chapel/gite is the first building on the left side when entering the village” If that is full, there is the Gite Communal in town that has dormitory accommodation for about €10
Once you are in Spain you can check this website for accommodation, most which can't be booked ahead. http://www.jacajacobea.com:80/listado_albergues.php

HOW FREQUENT ARE SHOPS ALONG THE ROUTE, WHAT DID PEOPLE DO FOR FOOD, EAT OUT? TAKE A SMALL STOVE? BUY FOOD AND COOK IN REFUGIOS? WHAT ABOUT WATER, DID PEOPLE BUY BOTTLED OR FILL UP FROM TAPS - HOW COMMON ARE THESE?

We didn't have any problems buying food, cooking in the refuges or eating pilgrim menus when available.

THANKS FOR PEOPLE A FEW REPLIES ABOUT GUIDES / MAPS THAT I HAVE POSTED PREVIOUSLY - ANY FURTHER ADVICE ON GOOD SOURCES OF INFORMATION? HOW WELL IS THE ROUTE SIGNPOSTED?

The signs are pretty good. In France you will have a combination of the Chemin St Jacques signs and the yellow arrows and in Spain just the yellow arrows.

IS THERE INTERNET ACCESS ALONG THE ROUTE? WHAT ABOUT MOBILE PHONE RECEPTION?

We ddn't take a phone but there was internet at most of the stops including the small albergues at Santa Celia and artieda.

FROM PAMPLONA WERE HOPING TO GET PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO BARCELONA AND FLY HOME FROM HERE - ANY ADVICE ON THE BEST METHOD.

The Bus line for Pamplona to Barcelona is Vibasa: http://www.vibasa. es
There are three trains daily - one a night train which could save you a night in a hotel

SORRY FOR ALL THE QUESTIONS BUT WERE TRYING TO MAKE THE MOST OF OUR TRIP AND WANT TO BE AS PREPARED AS POSSIBLE.

De nada