In Peu de France

I thought perhaps I should post a few words to indicate that I am alive and well in France. I haven't taken the time to get to an Internet cafe (French hours are rather limited I find...) and so this is typed from my trusty iPhone. The posts will be short as long as that is the case!

My daughter Lindsay and I enjoyed a few excellent days in Paris. The weather was good and the people-watching was stellar. Unfortunately, some gypsy boys stole Lindsay's iPhone right off of our cafe table as we were feeling smug about our skill at navigating the city and finding a multitude of beautiful parks and interesting districts.




Yesterday we wandered around the wonderful seaside city of Biarritz on the southwest coast of france. Everyone was dressed so well, and the beach and old town were amazing. I felt rather self conscious in my hiking attire in this place dripping with millionaires.... A sharp contrast to my upcoming month of self-imposed poverty...

Today we are in a bucolic ancient fishing village called Saint Jean du Luz. It was hot and sunny so the beach was crowded. I can see the Pyrenees mountains looming behind the village... They frighten me!

(The photos attached are mostly taken by lindsay with my iPhone. Someday I will get my big camera to a wifi cafe to upload some more...)

Tomorrow we'll tour Bayonne, and by the evening Lindsay will be heading back to Paris and I will head to Saint Jean Pied de Port from where I will begin my pilgrimage into and across Spain.

I am very anxious to begin my trek. I'm curious to know what it will feel like to walk with the full weight of my backpack up and over a mountain range. The weather is expected to deteriorate by Wednesday, but it seems to change by the hour these days. I look forward to meeting some fellow pilgrims!