In Roncevalles we met a frenchman who split a cab with us to St. Jean, so we did make it all the way to the start of the camino from Barcelona with one day of travel. We went to the place to get our credentials (this is what you present at the refugios/albergues - which are like hostels for pilgrims) - each place stamps and dates your credentials so you have a record of where you stayed. It also provides proof that you are a bona fide pilgrim.

St. Jean is an exceedingly picturesque but touristy place. It is also in France, so guess what? They speak french there (amazing!), have awesome cheese and croissants, and it was more expensive than in Spain. The people who set us up with our credentials were exceedingly warm and welcoming and the town was very charming and novel to me so I enjoyed staying there.

The refugio was full so we stayed at a private one run by a very nice but confusing frenchman named Jean. He offered to speak to us in Spanish or French, but he spoke so quickly and with so much detail that I quickly became confused as did Tim. But we eventually worked it out. The place was old and dark but clean - I was impressed with the stone and the thick wood doors and shutters. It was rather like what I had imaged old Europe might be like. Here we met Michael and Jocelyn - they were originally from New Zealand but they were living in Australia.