Starting point! First glimpses of Le Puy, where yes the lentils come from, are quite dramatic in lovely hilly green countryside - a busy buzzy town with craggy outcrops and monuments. Check in at the Hotel Bristol *** which obviously serves as a popular starting point for pilgrims. There is a carpark at the hotel, with a very narrow entrance, but the proprietor, not unreasonably, encourages us to use the underground municipal facility for the rest of the week, at the special 'randonneurs' rate while we are walking.
After lunch we climb up to the Cathedral from where it will all begin. Big slope up to the dramatic front door which opens onto a staircase which carries on climbing up into the nave.Kitted ourselves out with the vital 'Creanciales' - these are 'Passports' issued by the Bishop which we will have stamped at each overnight stop throughout our trip as evidence of our achievement. We have also obtained a scallop shell to be carried all the way tied to Clare's backpack - "or whoever else makes it!". The scallop is the symbol of St James
and of the pilgrims and is much in evidence.When sorting out the kitty found that Madame at the Cheval Blanc had made a mistake on our bill and had not charged us for our meal. She was most appreciative when I rang her and said we would sort it out on our return. A suitably 'holy' thing to do?
