No hot dinners in Viana on Mondays

nidarosa · Apr 11, 2023

Just randomly remembered when I came to Viana last - I prefer to stay there and have a short walk into glorious Logroño to really make the most of the tapas district - there were many, many disappointed and hungry pilgrims drifting around the streets looking for an open restaurant. There were none! Well, there was one - the hotel still served hot meals in the evening, but for hotel guests only - they asked non-residents to leave even after they had sat down. I think it is because they have just enough seating for the guests. We were told the other food places were all taking the Monday night off after working all weekend, which means there are no pilgrim dinners, not even much in the way of tapas in the bars that were open.
So I thought I would warn pilgrims planning on stopping in Viana for the night that they should have their main meal at lunch, in Viana or before, and make do with snacks from the shop in the evening, or buy some food to take away while bar/café/restaurants are still serving. Just a heads-up for the new season.

Oh and if I am misremembering or something has changed, please correct me and/or add info!

mspath · Apr 11, 2023

nidarosa,
Once you get settled in Viana today you might enjoy this Viana Postcard Album a series of 10 postcard views
c. 1908/1915 posted to the forum by fellow member Renshaw a few years ago.

(Tap on any small pic to see it enlarged.)

You might have seen some of these sites coming into town or will tomorrow as you leave for Logrono.

Happy browsing.

Bradypus · Apr 11, 2023

Mondays are often a problem - especially out of the main season or on less-travelled routes. A lot of businesses take it as a day off and bars/restaurants may only offer a limited service.

nidarosa · Apr 11, 2023

OK, so that's a good rule of thumb anyway then - beware the Monday closures. Or simply make sure you have a substantial Monday lunch and prepare to make do for dinner. The CF is so well served with so many options for accommodation and food that Viana struck me as unusual in that all the restaurants took the same day off. Forewarned is forearmed!

roving_rufus · Apr 11, 2023

It's also a good reminder to pay attention to any official holidays or big festivals like Easter as often they can effect businesses being open or what hours they are- such as the Monday after a busy holiday weekend. And to make sure to pick up supplies in advance just in case.

Kathar1na · Apr 11, 2023

Especially Easter Monday which was yesterday: Hablamos de que este Lunes de Pascua es festivo en Cataluña, Islas Baleares, Comunidad Valenciana, Navarra, País Vasco y La Rioja, por lo que las empresas y algunos comercios permanecerán cerrados o verán alterados sus horarios de apertura y cierre.

Viana is in Navarra.

Becky 59 · Apr 11, 2023

When I served as a hospitalera last September, there were dinners available on Mondays.

WalkinRon · Apr 11, 2023

For those walking in October...

Last year I had no idea until the actual day and I was wondering why the bars and cafes in the first little town I walked into were all closed... October 12th is the National Day of Spain. Dia de la Hispanidad. After I checked into my hotel, I was quite impressed by the ceremonies being televised from Madrid!

lettinggo · Apr 11, 2023

Buy food in supermarket?

nidarosa · Apr 11, 2023

Becky 59 said:
When I served as a hospitalera last September, there were dinners available on Mondays.

In Viana? In the evening? Do you remember where?

Rebekah Scott · Apr 14, 2023

it's up to every pilgrim to be prepared for whatever comes his/her way. When there's no restaurant open, there's sure to be a supermarket someplace. Always carry a tin of food in your pack, just in case.
No one's responsible for feeding you but you, pilgrim.

nidarosa · Apr 14, 2023

This is true, but some weren't on that occasion and some probably won't be again this year, so it might be good to give them a reminder that you should always carry some form of snack. It's so easy to get used to relying on the usually plentiful options on the Camino Francés especially. A visit to the local supermercado or a pot-luck - pack-luck? - dinner with other pilgrims is a good alternative.