The Basque Country

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French Basque Country | Roncesvalles | Pyrenees | St-Jean-Pied-de-Port | Biarritz

French Basque Country

From Muret we took train to Bayonne and after a small pause another one to St-Jean-Pied-de-Port. We booked a hostel for our return voyage and left the some of our bags there.

Bayonne
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

St-Jean-Pied-de-Port
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

We did not stay for long in St-Jean but continued to Roncesvalles in Navarra. We were prepared to take a taxi to cross the border but fortunately it was easy to hitch-hike. First we got a ride to Valcarlos village already on the Spanish side of the border and from there another to Roncesvalles.

Valcarlos, Navarra
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Roncesvalles

For most of the pilgrims heading to Santiago de Compostela Roncesvalles is the first village in Spain. We met there my sister Nina and Hyena dog who had returned from Tenerife to the continent.

Roncesvalles
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Pilgrim refuge where we stayed overnight
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Next morning we left for one etape of Camino de Santiago but to the opposite direction: from Roncesvalles to St-Jean-Pied-de-Port. Nina and Hyena walked with us part of the trail.

Camino de Santiago
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

A chapel at Puerta de Ibañeta near Roncesvalles
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Having pause in front of the chapel: Nina, Hyena and Mari
Photo by: NL | All rights reserved ©

Pyrenees

After leaving the chapel we had to climb up to the Pyrenees. For most of the walk the weather was rather foggy but occasionally we were able to see some beautiful sceneries.

Foggy forest
Photo by: MT | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Camino
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Pyrenees
Photo by: MT | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Hyena and Nina
Photo by: NL | All rights reserved ©

All together: standing in the back are me and Mari, on one's hunkers a Spanish hiker and Nina, and Hyena lying on the ground
Photo by: Anon. | All rights reserved ©

Again some foggy forest
Photo by: MT | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

The French border was crossed. Nina and Hyena continued with us till the road leading to St-Jean-Pied-de-Port.

Horses
Photo by: MT | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Nina and Mari
Photo by: NL | All rights reserved ©

More photos from the Pyrenees on the Spanish and French sides of the border.

St-Jean-Pied-de-Port

When we finally reached St-Jean-Pied-de-Port we were totally wet. We were quite exhausted, too, although we didn't walk the whole way: we accepted to take a car ride for last few kilometres as it was offered to us.

River Nive and houses by it
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Bridge over the river
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Narrow street in the old part of the town
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

St-Jean-Pied-de-Port as seen from the castle
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Biarritz

From St-Jean-Pied-de-Port we took a train down to Bayonne and continued by local bus to Biarritz. Because of rain our stay on the beach was quite short.

Biarritz
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Buildings by the sea
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

A rainy street
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

We took a night train from Biarritz to Paris and then continued our return journey to Finland via Germany, Poland and the Baltic countries.

Mari in Paris with a bottle of rum
Photo by: NL | All rights reserved ©

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Photographers

NL = Niko Lipsanen
MT = Mari T.
Anon. = Unknown pilgrim in the Pyrenees