Day 9 Najera to Santo Domingo

09/06/23 • 20 min

What did we learn since the last episode? Bring an eye cover and earplugs to help you sleep at night! After another less than restful night we carried on from Najera to Santo Domingo de la Calzada. One of the great things we found about walking the Camino is that even after a bad nights sleep or when you're feeling tired or a little bit off you soon shrug all that off once you start walking and live in the moment, enjoying the journey.

Today we answer the age old question, why did the chicken live in the church? We sample all of the delicious baked treats Santo Domingo has to offer and revel in the luxury of staying in our first Parador.

We also answer our first listener question in this episode, do you need to have cash when walking the Camino or can you pay with cards?

And a shout out to Lucinda who took our advice and walked the last 100km of the Portuguese Camino!

Useful Links from this episode are below, if your podcast app does not let you access them directly head on over to https://isthistheway.net .

Parador de Santo Domingo de la Calzada (booking.com)
Where we stayed in Santo Domingo. It's a Parador! The epitome of luxury on the Camino. Lovely old building on a central square in town. Airconditioned rooms, nice bathrooms and good service. Has some nice seating on the square just outside the main doors for a pleasant afternoon with a drink.

We also answer our first listener question in this episode, do you need to have cash when walking the Camino or can you pay with cards?

And a shout out to Lucinda who took our advice and walked the last 100km of the Portuguese Camino!

Useful Links from this episode are below, if your podcast app does not let you access them directly head on over to https://isthistheway.net .

Parador de Santo Domingo de la Calzada (booking.com)
Where we stayed in Santo Domingo. It's a Parador! The epitome of luxury on the Camino. Lovely old building on a central square in town. Airconditioned rooms, nice bathrooms and good service. Has some nice seating on the square just outside the main doors for a pleasant afternoon with a drink.

Previous Episode

Day 8 Logrono to Najera

Continuing through the La Rioja region today we walked from Logrono to Najera. As we're still in a wine production region the wine was still delicious, plentiful and affordable.

The heat continued today, already baking hot when we woke up in the morning. Setting out the guidebook says that you walk through wetlands, which seemed weird when all we had seen was wheat and vineyards on the way in but about 5km out of town we came up over a rise and there was a giant lake!

Today we also encountered animals who were more annoyed by the coffee shop being closed than I was, discuss the best kind of candy to carry through hot weather for desperate times and brutalize the pronunciation of Najera (sorry!!).

Useful Links from this episode are below, if your podcast app does not let you access them directly head on over to https://isthistheway.net .

Hostal Hispano (booking.com)
Where we stayed in Najera. This hotel is located across the river from the old town, but it's only a few minutes walk across the bridge to be sitting in the square or at a restaurant. Good value compared to those located in the old town. Friendly staff and clean rooms. Ask for something on the 2nd floor or above as a few rooms (like ours) on the first floor have street lights right outside the window that make it hard to sleep. Otherwise it was a great little place!

Next Episode

Day 10 Santo Domingo to Bellorado

One of the quieter days on the Camino today, especially after the drama of the chickens in the church the day before. The path to Bellorado meanders through wheat fields and seas of sunflowers but also spends quite a bit of time running along side busy roads.

There is an excellent morning coffee stop at Granon which we have put a link to below along with a link to where we stayed, it's actually just outside Bellorado but has a lovely outdoor seating area in the shade and...a pool!!

Today we revisit our decision to not take a rest day until day 12 and whether that was as smart as we thought and we answer another listener question, possibly one of the most important questions that we have been asked by many people now. What's the bathroom situation on the Camino?

It's definitely more a case of be prepared!

Useful Links from this episode are below, if your podcast app does not let you access them directly head on over to https://isthistheway.net .

Hotel A Santiago (booking.com)
Where we stayed in Bellorado. This place is actually just outside of Bellorado on the road into town so you finish the day about 1km or so short of the main town but I'd absolutely recommend it! Lovely shady seating outside under the trees, tasty food from the cafe and even a pool to cool down. Rooms we simple and clean, no airconditioning but our room did have a fan and was comfortable.
Barbackana Grañón (google maps)
Great coffee stop on the edge of Granon, had a really nice coffee and sat under the trees in the shade, absolutely recommend this one.