and finally the movies!

Part one: Le Puy en Velay to Lascabanes

Part two: Montcuq to St Jean Pied de Port

And yet more Paris

As well as doing all the usual cultural things, today we ate Berthillion ice cream, Laduree macarons and watched the world go by from the cafe opposite St Surplice's ( the church featured in the Da Vinci code) and children sailing boats in the lake at the Jardins du Luxemburg. Beate is now on her way back to Germany..
very sad
We worked out that we have now been together in 7 countries..I wonder where we will meet !next time?

More Paris

Beate is the perfect tour guide for Paris..she had so many good ideas ..and we didn't queue once.

Paris

Lovely day..up early and simply walked until I had had enough..visted Notre Dame and walked along the Seine...didn't bother with anything that involved queuing. Eventually caught Metro back to hostel then headed off to the Gare de L'est to meet the train of my German friend Beate who I met on my first camino 10 years ago. We haven't seen each other for seven years but it doesn't feel like it. We walked up to Sacre Cour and then found some pizza for dinner..with lots of catching up.

And now in Paris

All train connections went smoothly..even the Metro.I am armed with maps and ready to start exploring tomorrow!

and I have finished

At St Jean Pied de Port now.. very odd feeling as everyone else that I have been walking with for the last weeks is going on tomorrow to climb over the Pyranees while I do battle with French trains again and then try to meet my German friend from my first camino; Beate in Paris. I am staying at L'Esprit du Chemin which so far I am very impressed by... full of all kind of thoughtful touches... even a peppermint on my pillow and some shelter for my clothes in the shower! I am tired and sore and generally happy to not be walking tomorrow.. people tell me that your body settles down after a couple of months of walking but I am not sure if I will ever find this out..It has been a wonderful experience but I am ready to come home.

At Gaineko Etxea

Diary week. 5 July 4
Had tried unsuccessfully to make a booking at Arroue but should have done it before the weekend. I did the maths and decided to carry on to Arroue despite the fact it was a smallish gite and quite a few people I talked to already had reservations or were planning on stopping there. I walked for a short while with young Pierre-Benoit who told me he never makes bookings on the theory that no one would want him to have no where to sleep..apparently this has worked for him so far..he is a young engineering student who is carrying his violin as he plans to carry on to Ireland and play in pubs. He looked a bit like Ton with his long legs and curly blonde hair. Then I walked with Swiss Marco who was also reservationless. We arrived to find a list on the door announcing that there were 3 beds "disponsible" and that some one would be around at 5.30 or so to collect the money. We were a little worried that the last 3 beds might be assigned to some one else over the phone but as I couldn't get any phone reception and Marco's phone card didn't seem to work in the phone box, we have simply added our names to the list and moved in.
Later...that seemed to work..they seem to have cupboards and a fridge full of food for pelerins to buy and it is also possible to order baguettes and pain au chocolate to be delivered fresh in the early morning.

Tuesday 5 July. Arroue to Ostabat..a funny days walking as it was very hard to tell from MMDD just how far it was as there were so many variants and the don't mark distances on the variantes. What I thought would be about 25 k seemed much less..not a bad thing as the last hour or so was pretty hot. We are now well into Basque country..every placename has a Basque variant..usually full of Xs. It has also gotten hillier over the last day or so. 
I was told a few days ago that there might be difficulties with bookings in Ostabat as several trails all merged here but that doesn't seem to be the case..in fact Regula and I are so far alone in a 9 bed dortoir.