Day 1

As I closed the door of my flat and I started walking up my road I was hit with the realization that I had started my adventure ... less than one minute later I realised I'd forgotten my phone charger.
                                                         
Take two ... I was privately chauffeured to Stansted courtesy of a very empty easyjet Coach. Then on arriving at the airport I allowed myself one more indulgence and doused myself with duty free fragrance hoping it might last untill Santiago. I'd only had three hours sleep the night before so I shut my eyes soon after take off and then woke up in Biarritz. As this is the main airport serving the Camino Frances I kept my eye open for fellow Pilgrims and within minutes I started finding them and had my first taste of the comraderie which is such a big draw for all those who join the Camino. A three hour wait for the train to St Jean gave me some some time for inner preparation which according to my guide book is just as important as the outer. On arriving in St Jean I latched on to a fellow pilgrim, the rather aptly named Monsieur Hello. He kindly showed me where to get my Pilgrim passport, took me to the first Aubergue (Hostel) and then found us somewhere to eat. After being warmed by this kindness I returned to the hostel for a very different experience. A German man was going bananas at a Hungarian father and daughter because his bag had been moved (to the bunk under mine!). They started grabbing each other at one point but in the end the German chap decided to end his Camino and stay in a Hotel. This was very sad, he had told us earlier that he was doing the Camino because his late wife had done it. So ended my first day. A mixed bag!