Dina en Nájera

Mesón "El Buen Yantar", Nájera (La Rioja)

2010-11-17T13:22:00.006+01:00

Head Chef: Dina Ugarte

Three times voted "Best Restaurant on the Camino in La Rioja" (2008, 2009, 2010)

Jack's most recent visit to "Mesón El Buen Yantar" was on 22 November 2010. In fact, the head chef / owner Dina Ugarte is a member of the Support Team which helps to update the Camino Handbook. Her restaurant/grillroom is the best on the camino in La Rioja. While most restaurants charge €10 or (much) more for a menu these days, "El Buen Yantar" charges only €8,50 to pilgrims for a three-course meal, including wine and bread. Needless to say that many pilgrims crowd this restaurant daily, accompanied by the hospitaleros of the (good) Albergue Municipal de Peregrinos. The restaurant is situated in the old town centre on the western side of the river. Just cross the main bridge, and then take the second street on the left. At the end of it you will find "El Buen Yantar" (in Calle Mártires).

The menu is pretty extensive: various soups and salads, Cuban rice, Riojan potatoes, squid, asparragus with alioli, and a good range of charcoal-grilled meats and fish. Desserts include profiteroles (picture below), flan with cream, fruits, yoghurt, ice-cream and rice pud. The many changes continuously, according to the seasons. The restaurant is open daily for lunch (from 1 pm) and for dinner (from 7 pm).

Do not miss this restaurant when you pass Nájera (30 kms west from Logroño) on your way to Santiago! (Pictured: waitress Ana, and sous-chef Tatania with fiancé Germán reading the Handbook). MORE PICTURES HERE: www.11870.com/jackdegroot

Pilgrims enjoy an early dinner at "El Buen Yantar".

More Updates on the Camino

2010-04-28T13:02:00.000+02:00

The Basque Route runs from Irún, to Hernani, to Tolosa, Vitoria, Miranda de Ebros to Burgos.

The problems which I experienced lately (in April 2010) were:

1) The route is very badly indicated.

2) The locals are usually not aware of the fact that this route exists

3) Outside the summer season most hotels / albergues are closed

4) Very few albergues aline this route

5) Hotels and restaurants in Basque Land are expensive

6) Possibly no other pilgrim than yourself will be encountered

So: do walk this route in summer and do ask advice whenever you can from locals. You might even skip the first part: Irún - Hernani, because it's all carretera. In stead start in San Sebastián, and take a bus to Hernani (picture below).

Camino de Santiago Handbook Updates

2010-04-28T12:34:00.004+02:00

Welcome to my new website. This site will inform pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela on how to make a joyful pilgrimage to the tumb of the Holy Apostle. Updates will be provided, so that your guide, the Camino de Santiago de Compostela ULTIMATE Handbook, remains correct 100% all the time.

Other sites to visit are: jackdegroot.com and also thecdsh.com/ (THE Camino De Santiago Handbook.com)

Jack's ultimate visit to the Camino de Santiago occurred very recently. He visited the Basque Route and French Road in April 2010. The picture features the famous, three-star restaurant of Juan Marí Arzak in San Sebastián. Needless to say that they are booked out months ahead. But, the building can be reached by taking bus 27 in the direction of the coastline, cross the river, and get off at the Miracruz busstop. The restaurant occupies the entire ground floor of an appartment building.