Breakfast at the convent began at 6 am. Coffee, locally sourced yogurt, and fresh bread and jam were available self serve. The early start allows pilgrims to attend 7 am mass where pilgrims receive a blessing before starting their journeys. There is only one entrance to the cathedral, around the back, but when mass has ended, a steel grate in the floor opens revealing a long set of stairs descending down into old town and on to the Chemin route. Tomorrow, April 1, is the official start to the Chemin season so we will definitely be partaking in the blessing and the sendoff.
Mark D and I needed to purchase walking poles so we walked to Decathlon, a big box sporting goods store. Walking poles can increase your speed, decrease the pressures on your knees, keep you upright in precarious situations, aid in climbing, and assist in descending. In the past I’ve had a pair of collapsible walking poles confiscated by airport security, so now I just purchase an inexpensive set at the beginning of my walk and donate them at the end. Mark K defied the odds and brought a set of walking poles from home. He made it through two security checkpoints without an issue. We’ll see if he gets them home at the end.
We spent the rest of the day exploring the town. The three of us had hot drinks at a cafe and then a fine lunch of vegetarian curry and burgers at a very busy restaurant. We climbed the many stairs to see the sculpture of Mary and then retired to our convent rooms to do laundry and nap. We finished the day with our first communal supper of the Chemin. These meals with other pilgrims allow us to bond and get to know the other pilgrims we will cross paths with for the next month.