DAY FOURTYONE
OSTABAT-ASME – SAINT-JEAN-PIED-DE-PORT
But if it sings it’s a good sign
A sign you can sign your name
Then very gently you’ll detach
A feather from the bird
And write your name in a corner of the painting.
Jaques Prévert
In order to meet Emeline, I got up at 4:30 am. Emeline wanted to continue her way
to Santiago today and I agreed to meet her around noon. It was totally dark when I
left the refuge, with the half moon shining through the fog. My headlamp helped me
to see the markers on the way.
Early sunrise
It was a gorgeous hike. Sheep peacefully grazed in the meadows and the sound of
ringing cowbells filled the air. The organization “Amis du Chemin de Compostelle”
planted fruit trees with old varieties along the way and even as they were not ripe yet,
I appreciated their effort.
Pommier Reine de Reinettes
The path lead through atmospheric villages and all would have been perfect, would
I have not forgotten my bread for breakfast. For four hours, I had nothing to eat.
Also, I did not drink the usual coffee in the morning. The day became extremely hot
with 104 degree Fahrenheit and hardly any shade. When I arrived in the village of
Saint-Jean-le-Vieux, I was totally exhausted.
Village Saint-Jean-le Vieux (Donazaharre)
The breakfast in a bar was extremely rewarding and I rested for a long time. Before
I left town, I visited the nearby church. There, on a gravestone in the cemetery, laid
the most beautiful bird I have ever seen. The bird was dead. It was a barn owl, hardly
grown out of its childhood with still a veil of white feathers around the bigger, golden
brown ones. The sight of beauty and dread, undivided, totally shook me up. Who
killed this beautiful being? Who put it on this gravestone? Everything was a total
mystery to me. It affected me so much that, two days later, I had a dream of a dead
bird becoming alive again and flying off into the big sky.
Through the medieval gate of St. James, I entered St. Jean-Pied-de-Port at noon.
Emeline was already expecting me in front of one of the street cafes. It was so great
to see her. For hours, we spoke about our experiences along the way. She was sad
to leave the solitude and missed already the French greeting of the pilgrims, “Bon
Courage.” Now, the greeting would become “Buen Camino” with hundreds of
pilgrims walking the way to Santiago each day.
Emeline and I
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is a bursting town full of pilgrims of all ages and
nationalities. Many of them start their way to Santiago de Compostela from there
and had their first day of hiking over the Pyreneans to Roncesvalles in front of them
– a very strenuous hike.
Rue de la Citadelle
Another view of Rue de la Citadelle
I stayed in the refuge “L’Esprit du Chemin”, the refuge Huberta and Arnold once
owned, the couple I had met in the beginning of my pilgrimage in Le Chemin.
The new Basque owner took great care of the pilgrims. We each introduced each
other at the dinner table. There were fourteen pilgrims on this day at his refuge, less
than usual. Two pilgrims from Belgium started their pilgrimage in their hometown
in Belgium and had already hiked for more than three months. Four pilgrims came
from Spain, two from America, one from Switzerland, two from Ireland. There was
also one Canadian and one French guy. We all shared our stories. For most of them,
it was the start or the continuation of the pilgrimage
Hospitaliér Jaxelus saying words of introduction
Shoes left in the refuge used as flowerpots
View from the terrace of the refuge to the Citadelle
At the end of the day, I went to the church of Notre Dame and was lighting a candle
as a thank you to the Way I was able to walk. Even with some difficulties along the
way, the feeling of joy and deep thankfulness for life was always with me. With that,
I want to express my gratitude for those who walked with me and I hope that you
could feel the Spirit of the Way, which is a Spirit of Joy. Thank you!
– Text and photos contributed by Garyo –
– This is the last of this pilgrimage series –
– Thank you Garyo and all walking with! –