St. Jean Pied De Port

Driving east and down from Roncesvalles we were looking desperately for a lay-by where we could a) run our generator and thus our air conditioner and b) stay for the night. It was incredibly hot, even in the mountains. We never found said place, although there were a couple prospects. At length, we landed in the beautiful little Medieval town of St. Jean Pied de Port, which I would characterize as a mini-Carcasonne. The aire there is in the city's athletics complex and can accommodate 200 RV's. Probably only 50 were there. We arrived, set-up camp, and then, stripping to our lightest clothing, walked into town, seeking shade all the way. It's a pretty, wall-girt town, Camino de Santiago to the hilt, but pleasing nonetheless. We had a crepes and wine and cider snack before returning to the camper and dinner there. It turned out that we stayed two nights at St. Jean Pied de Port, using it as a base for some more hiking in the Pyrenees.

Part of the aire at St. Jean Pied de Port

Vicki notes that we have stayed near futbol stadia, horse racetracks, acquatic
complexes, ski jumps, etc., but this was our first fronton (still in Basque country)

We were also very near the high school futbol field; but wait, those are American 
football goalposts and even an American football blocking sled...wait, no, a
second time...rugby!!!

Nonetheless, here is a view of wall-girt St. Jean Pied de Port; meaning "St. John
at the foot of the pass" (Roncevaux Pass); yeah, I thought it was about micturition
too

A pilgrims' hostel

Medieval signage and logo

Price list

Main street view

Ditto

Cheery Medieval thought: "after death, virtue lives on"

Carving at the door to local church 

Yes, it is a sort of mini-Carcassonne

But it had this wonderful produits du terroir (which we freely translated as
"terrorist shoppe") shoppe where I finally broke down and bought a can of foie 
gras

River

Seems like nearly every French tourist town now has a tourist train