St Jean-P-de-P is a popular place for many people to start their Camino: and so it is for me. I thought that the ‘pied’ in the name had an association with the footfall of pilgrims. Not so. With a history dating back to 716, ‘pied’ reflects the town’s location near several of the more accessible passes in the Pyrenees. The town had been a military fortress, Roman route, commercial crossroads and pilgrim route. Mountains surround the town with steep vineyard terraces on the lower slopes. Though cider making, starting around 1080, predates winemaking by four centuries. It pleases me to know it was considered essential: a tradition I’d like to continue.
Photo of the day: looking through an arrow slot in the town’s fortifications and taking in views of ramparts, local buildings and the hazy Pyrenees in the background. There are many other scenic amd symbolic photos I could have chosen, including a brass directional sign for the Camino, but this represents more of the town’s history.
Moment of the day: the gift of a large, shiny and chestnut-coloured seed in the shape of a heart. The story is too long to tell here. This will be a talisman for my trip.