Day 1: St.-Jean-Pied-de-Port - Roncesvalles

In the morning we were woken by a French old woman at 6:59. We had breakfast waiting for us: homemade hot chocolate, sliced bread, butter and jelly. At the table we met the pilgrim who we shared the albergue with that night: his name is Bernhard, he's an Albanian living in Germany. He has left his home two and a half months ago and has been walking towards Santiago since then. If that wasn't already honorable, he's doing it without any money, cellphone or watch. But he isn't doing it alone; he walks alongside God and Jesus Christ (his words), trusting that They'll provide all his needs. I must say, sharing breakfast with this man was a very humbling experience. There we were, wearing all this high tech equipment, talking to a guy who wore jeans and a collared shirt, walking the Camino believing on the good faith of others, sharing the same destination.


We parted when we started walking, as he walked fairly slower than us. But we met now and then on the way to Roncesvalles, since we frequently stopped to eat something, take photos or just enjoy the view.

Oh God, the view.. It rained all the way almost until Roscenvalles, but we still enjoyed the green fields, the snowy white hilltops and the energy that we could feel all around us.


But then it happened. On the final ascent to our destination it began to snow. As we went up, the ground became covered, then it started to accumulate. It was something we had never experienced before, both walking on snow and seeing so much of it falling from the sky. Soon all the trees were covered in it, the most beautiful view I've ever seen. We ate some, we draw on it, we felt like little children do on Christmas morning. I could never have imagined a better way to start our journey.



We arrived at Roncesvalles at 14:20 and had to wait until 15:30 for someone to open the Pilgrim's Office that supposedly opened at 16:00. With wet clothes on and losing heat fast, that waiting was turning into hypothermia! But then a hot shower came for our rescue and we were safe and warm again! By night time the priest offered all the pilgrims (we and Bernhard plus 4 Spaniards) a tour through the insides of Roncesvalles. We saw the museum and the church from inside and out. It was a great tour! I could keep on talking about it, but I said enough already. Awesome day.. and an experience we won't ever forget.