After our little sojourn by car around the villages nearby on Tuesday, we had dinner in the old town in a somewhat downmarket restaurant featuring a "Pilgrims' menu" which should have warned us that the fare would be mediocre. However, the venue was picturesque and the other diners, some with very sore feet, were more interesting than the food.
At 9pm we'd agreed to attend a concert in the old church featuring a 60 strong (men and women) capella Basque choir which was performing on that night only. Kevin went, under sufferance of course, but managed to sit through the one and a half hour performance on the hard church pews. The choir was excellent although we couldn't understand a word of anything. I thoroughly enjoyed it and the acoustics in the church were outstanding.
Kevin tried to take some pics of the performance but when the camera started beeping, the people near us gave us some black looks so he had to desist and get a pic off the internet.
St Jean Pied de Port is a pretty little place but although there are lots of visitors here, English is not widely heard. Most of the pilgrims seem to be French which is a bit surprising. The locals don’t speak English, even in the shops and restaurants, so it’s a constant battle to make yourself understood. I unfortunately have now read all the novels I brought with me plus two I exchanged in Figeac, so am bereft of something to read. I enquired at the Information Centre and found that there are no English language novels on sale in town. I’ll have to resort to fighting Kevin for time on this iPad which has various free books installed.
Mary
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