Our Walk Along the Via Podiensis (GR 65)

Since finishing our walk along the Via Podiensis and heading home we have been reflecting on the many different experiences and adventures we had along the way.   One of the most common questions we have been asked upon our return is whether it was 'as good as' the Camino Frances, which we walked last October, and whether we "liked it" as much.   Surprisingly, it is rather difficult to provide a simple and succinct answer to that question.   In short, the Via Podiensis was stunningly beautiful and very different than the Camino Frances , and we enjoyed it enormously.   As to how it compared to the Camino Frances ... here are some of our initial thoughts and impressions, largely unorganized and in no particular order .... The Trail The main trail from Le Puy en Velay to Roncesvalles is 774 km, which is similar in length to the Camino Frances. However, we found the terrain to be far more challenging, especially during the first two weeks.   The tra...

This morning the first alarm went off in the dormitory at 4:30 am. Its owner couldn't locate it, so it kept going at full volume until everyone was thoroughly awake. Since there was no point pretending, everyone decided to get up. We were once again reminded that it always takes a while for people to get into a routine of un-packing and re-packing their knapsacks that doesn't involve 4-5 attempts and utter chaos. We headed down to a somewhat meagre seeming breakfast in the hotel, and then reluctantly bid our new companions farewell and 'Buen Camino!' We had to be out of the dorms by 8, but our bus back to St Jean Pied de Port didn't arrive until 11, so we sat out front and watched the stream of eager and determined looking pilgrims heading off down the trail to Zubiri and beyond. As a final gift for us from St James, it began to pour and it was only about 10 degrees out. This made it very slightly easier not to simply get up and keep walking towards S...

The alarms in the dormitory in Orisson began going off at around 5 am, even though breakfast wasn't being offered until 7. Quite a few people had decided that they needed to get an early start and didn't have time for breakfast. Although we can still remember what it was like to feel as though there was a rush to get there, this attitude was never present on the French part of the way. Our decision to head out before breakfast to avoid some of the worst heat was treated as scandalous, and I think some of our fellow hikers on the Le Puy way were worried for our survival. We stayed for breakfast, and to collect our picnic lunch, and when we finally headed out around 7:30 we were treated to a truly spectacular sunrise! As we climbed it felt like no matter where we looked there was incredible beauty. We remembered some of the contours of the path from the fall, but the views were entirely new and stunning. We also finally saw the Madonna statue that is featured in so ma...