Getting to Chartres looks easy forsomeone who travels a lot but I have not and do not speak French. What more can you tell me about the process of getting from the airport to the COACH where we will be staying?

I would not be too concerned about the connection to Chartres. It may be a bit of an adventure, but if you know that on the front end, you can prepare mentally for it and if things don't go as smoothly as you would like you can say, "Well, that's what I expected, but I'm getting there!"

All the directions you need are at http://jillgeoffrion.com/Chartresgettingto.html with a link to Robert Ferrés website with detailed directions about getting from the airport to the Gare Montparnasse where trains leave for Chartres (pretty much every hour or so).

Some people prefer to take a taxi to Gare Montparnasse. I think it costs about 50 euros which they consider worth it so that they don't have to wait for the bus and figure out buying tickets (which isn't hard). I find that when I travel if I am willing to ask for help, someone always helps me, but asking is the key. Many people in France know English and if you approach them with a gracious sense of humor, they readily help.

You can also take the RER into Paris, and then change to a metro that will take you to Montparnasse. It is helpful if you have about 9 euros of change (or a credit card with a French chip in it--you American credit card won't work) to buy the ticket when you arrive. Otherwise, you will stand for a long time in a line to get the ticket you will need. You will not need an additional metro ticket, the ticket you buy is good for both the RER and the metro.

Traveling light helps no matter what. The less luggage you have to deal with, the easier everything goes.

I usually walk from the train station in Chartres to wherever I'm staying, but others I've traveled with like to take a taxi and that works well too. It's about 6 or 7 euros from the train station to the COACH retreat center at 13, rue du Docteur de Fourmestraux, 28000 Chartres.

I'm thinking of going to France before our group pilgrimage startes. Do you have suggestions about spending more time in Chartres? Is there a guide that you can recommend who speaks English (besides Malcolm Miller who does the cathedral tours)?

Going early is a fabulous idea. It allows you to get over jet-lag and to prepare yourself for the group pilgrimage expereince.

Chartres is a small town, safe for the most part, and very managable. There is a great creperie, a wonderful café, and a FANTASTIC bakery/restaurant all within one block of the cathedral as well. The grocery store is about 5 blocks from the cathedral. In other words, it's easy to navigate. The cathedral is open from 8h30 until 19h30, so there is lots of time when you can be there, if you want.

Monsieur Hervé Thireau, a retired international lawyer, who lives in Chartres, enjoys serving as a guide for visitors to the cathedral, city, and the surrounding area. He speaks English and has studied the cathedral extensively. He can help envisioning an itinerary, and with all logistical arrangements for visiting, eating, and/or accomodations. You can contact him at herve.thireau@orange.fr.

There is an American woman named Michelle Campbell(American) who lives in Paris and takes people out to
Chartres for the day. She is very knowledgable about the labyrinth and about Chartres too. She has lived in France
for years and has traveled to sacred sites extensively. Michelle Campbell's contact information is:
michellesnail@yahoo.com or: labyrinthexperience@yahoo.com
Telephone from US: 0 11 33 1 53 82 01 30. Telephone in France: 01 53 82 01 30.

The labyrinth is open between 10:00-5:00 every Friday (unless there is a funeral or some other unexpected event in the cathedral) from the beginning of Lent until the end of October (All Saints).

The staff at the tourist office in Chartres (http://jillgeoffrion.com/chartrestouristoffice.html)is very helpful. Many of the people who work there can answer your questions in English. Hint: They like it when you start with, "Parlez vous Anglais?"

I'm thinking of spending some time in France and would like to keep my contemplative focus. Do you have any suggestions of places to consider?

There is more information on French pilgrimages http://jillgeoffrion.com/frenchpilgrimages.html. There is information on ideas for pilgrims in Paris at http://jillgeoffrion.com/parispilgrimage.html.

One Pilgrim found "The Pilgrim's France" (ordered on Amazon) very helpful.

The Community of Jerusalem conducts French-speaking retreats at Mont. St. Michele. Try googling them for more information.

There are several portions of the Camino to Santiago de Compostela in different parts of France. It is called the Chemin de St. Jacques in French. Some people enjoy walking from Paris to Chartres (as thousands of students do in a group pilgrimage each May). Lisa Moriarty is currently researching guiding pilgrims from Paris to Chartres.There is a portion of the Camino that runs through Chartres. If you wanted to get out and walk on it a bit it is easy to do. It follows the river out of town.

Another Camino idea is to walk between Chartres and Vezelay (where a relic of Marie Magdalene is displayed in the crypt). A Chartrain, Jean Loup Cuisiniez (jln.cuisiniez@wanadoo.fr), has researched and mapped this route extensively. He runs a bed and breakfast (http://maisonjln.monsite.wanadoo.fr)at 80 rue Muret, about a 5-7 minute walk from the cathedral. On the chapel wall next to the guest room there is a shell for each pilgrim to Compestela who has stayed there. There is a special rate for pilgrims on the Chemin St. Jacques.

For more information on the Chemin St. Jacques in France see http://jillgeoffrion.com/Cheminstjacques.html.

What time does the pilgrimage officially start and end in Chartres?

Check-in at the Center Oecuménique et Artistique de Chartres (13, rue du Docteur de Fourmestraux)starts mid-afternoon on Sunday, October 3, 2010. An opening reception in the same building around 4:00 pm. Our opening session starts at 5:00. We will be eating dinner together the first night around 7:45.

Our closing session runs from 8:30-10:30 a.m. on the following Sunday, October 10. We have planned an extended time for people to reflect on the meaning of the week as well as time to say good-byes and ritual closure for the pilgrimage. Because of the communal nature of the experience, we request that pilgrims make every effort to attend the entire morning session.

Could you please tell me how similar/different A Pilgrim's Journal: Chartres Cathedral is compared to Praying the Chartres Labyrinth: A Pilgrim's Guide and Praying the Labyrinth? I am a bibliophile and always eager to know another book... however, I am trying to be prudent in terms of how many I bring along. Thanks for whatever advice you can offer!

A Pilgrim's Journal was designed out of my work for our pilgrimage in a pure journal format whereas the  Praying the Chartres Labyrinth is more of an introduction to the theme of pilgrimage as well as an invitation to explore.Praying the Labyrinth(my first book) focuses on the labyrinth itself, whereas the other two bring the larger cathedral context into focus. A Pilgrim's Journall uses an 8x11 inch format and is designed for deeper exploration in terms of space provided.

After a pilgrimage in Chartres, I will spend the next days on a pilgramage to LePuy, Lyon and Arles. Do you have some tips to share about what would make sense in terms of using the days I have to experience those places? I have been checking train and flight schedules on line. I would also like to go to Lourdes but it seems like that would be too much... Can you lend some guidance?

I am glad that you will be able to spend the extra days in places of deep meaning for you. Unfortunately I haven't been to any of the sites you mentioned (although they are all on my wish list). One general thought is that "less is more"- if you can plan your itinerary so that you can be in the places that mean the most for the longest, that would be ideal. To be able to pray deeply seems to be more meaningful long-term than to visit and pray in many places--at least for me.

Have you considered renting a car? We have found that we can sometimes get good prices and this allows more freedom. A US driver's license and a credit card is all you need. There is a Hertz office in Chartres within walking distance of where you are staying. The roundabouts in France can be a bit unnerving, but I find that if I don't mind going around the circle a second time I am much less anxious. It can be a bit tricky following traffic signs in the country, but it sounds like you will be on major roads which are generally well marked.

One more question... do you have a sense about whether I need to reserve lodging ahead of time? I would like to allow myself to linger and move on as the spirit moves me which is tough with train and hotel reservations. Any thoughts on this?

I think reservations all depends on your level of comfort. Will you have a laptop with you? There are several wi-fi spots in Chartres (not that I am recommending this during apilgrimage) where you could check on things if you needed to at the last minute. We usually make reservations on the Friday before we go on Saturday...and we've always found good places to stay wherever our travels have taken us in France...

If you are a go with the flow type person, that is the most conducive to being open to where the Spirit is leading, but if you aren't then I would let the Spirt guide ahead of time!

Be sure to ask about specials when you check into car rentals. Once again we usually wait until right before we go as they often have weekend specials...but things are always changing, so I can't say they definitely will---and of course you will want to be sure to have a car should you decide on the rental route!

What french language resources have your found helpful for reading french texts?

Ultralingua is a computer program I use literally every day to check on french words that I am not sure I understand: www.ultralingua.com. It cost about $22 in 2008. You can download it directly onto your computer.

To translate from french to english or english to french I use: http://translate.google.com/translate_t?langpair=en|fr I find it incredibly helpful, but I find the translation can be a bit "wooden."

I don't know where to get travel insurance. What do you suggest?
We don't have any specific recommendations. We suggest asking your travel agent or googling travel insurance.

Since our travels take us all over the globe, we have evacuation insurance (which helps with medical, legal, personal and special services for members who are 100 or more miles from home) through the Travelers Emergency Network. You can contact them at 800-275-4836 or www.ask4ten.com.

Weather in Chartres in October

What is the weather like in October in Chartres?

The weather in Chartres in October is what I would call "pretty nice." Actually, the first week is generally lovely! There is that wonderful fall warmth in the air and it seems that most days are sunny. There are still flowers in bloom and leaves on the trees. It can rain, but it doesn't rain that often (generally--every year is different of course). It's not that different than Minnesota, only milder and a bit warmer. In 2009 our pilgrimage was from October 18-25. You can see what people were wearing if you look at http://jillgeoffrion.com/Photo%20Galleries/ChartresPilgrimRetr09/index.html.

The cathedral is always a bit cold, so I would recommend layers. I tend to be cold, so I always bring my gloves just in case I want to stay and pray for a very long time!

Questions about the COACH Retreat Center

Does the monastery housing have heat? Is heat needed? Are the rooms comfortable for sleeping?

COACH (Centre Oecumenique) does have heat, but I don't think it is needed in October. There are ample blankets for the beds. The rooms are monastic in nature--simple and clean. The beds are what you would expect in a retreat center. Some of the rooms have bathrooms, others share a bathroom down the hall. Room assignments are decided according to when people pay the complete registration fee.

Do we eat most meals in the monastery? What kind of food is served?

A very simple continental breakfast is served at the monastery. It consists of bread, jam, coffee, tea and juice. We are hoping that there will also be yogurt and some cereal this year. We will also be providing a group dinner the first and last nights as well as one picnic lunch mid-week. Other meals are on your own. Chartres has a variety of wonderful restaurants in every price range. If you would like to read about some of my favorites, see http://jillgeoffrion.com/Chartresnourish.html.