We made it over the Pyrenees today on our first day of this long journey of 800 kilometers in distance!

We walked a total of 16.8 miles, or 27 kilometers. Or more precisely, it was not walking, rather, it was constant strenuous climbing and brutal descending the whole way.

We set out from the beginning point of St Jean Pied de Port, a beautiful French town in the foothill of Pyrenees, at 200 meters (650 feet) above sea level. Immediately, we started a straight steep climb for the first 21 kilometers or 13 miles until reaching the top of Pyrenees, which is over 1400 meters high above sea (4600 feet).  At which as if without any transition, the route was followed by a sharp descend of 7 kilometers or 4.3 miles to Roncesvalles.

We were on the road for more than 9 hours. We made a brief stop at Orisson, a town at about 8 kilometer from St Jean. We bought sandwiches and got our passport stamped at the crowded place full of weary pilgrims. Almost all the pilgrims took a break here, some of them actually chose to stay here for the night to ease into the long journey ahead.

There was rain and fog from time to time, we put on and take off our raincoats a few times to accommodate the changeable weather.  The hiking was hard. My feet were sore, my shoulder was strained, and my whole body was really exhausted.

But the unbeatable film-like scenery surrounding me was stunning and made it all worth it.  The magnificent mountains made me feel tiny and humble. I often felt I was melting away with the serenity and peace. My heart was filled overwhelmingly with joy from the wonder and beauty of the nature, even at the hardest times.