I wrote about half of this four days ago, and am just now getting around to finishing and publishing. So these posts are going to be delayed and maybe not quite in real time, but I still hope to write as much as I can! Because what happened instead was the Camino. Can we even call it a Camino? It feels really great to be here, almost like I never left which is maybe what starts to happen when you travel to the same places a lot?
I can only do this in one small corner of Paris but to be able to do it at all? It felt pretty special. There were some initial bumps, the small bits of culture shock that still happen. How do I set up a SIM card? Why is my phone ringing? How do I answer in French? Why does my pack feel so heavy? But after settling in a bit, strolling though Paris and eating ice cream in the shade along the Seine, and getting good and solid sleep, I felt more ready to tackle this French adventure.
We took a train, then another train, then a bus and finally arrived in Le Puy en Velay. I figured out what to do with my extra luggage, I confirmed a shuttle reservation for Hilary.
We walked through the town, up the winding, cobblestones streets, and into the cathedral where we bought our credentials. The cathedral is amazing, it sits at nearly the top of the town and you have to walk up dozens and dozens of stairs in order to enter through the arched portal. You almost feel on top of the world.
This meant we were up well past a pilgrim bedtime, not getting into bed until nearly midnight. But despite the lack of sleep, today was a solid first day. At times hilarious.
