The Camino on Sundays

[crad80]

Hi Everyone,

Is the Camino stores, markets and restaurants open on Sundays? Do I need to stock up on food, water, snacks, etc... the day before? I was just wondering because it is Spain and I do not know how the Spainards like to spend their Sundays. Thanks in advance for any help or assistance.

 

[WolverineDG]

You may have a problem in smaller towns. What I tried to do was get to a grocery store somewhere before siesta on Saturdays to stock up on sandwich fixings, drinks, & snacks. IIRC, in the larger villages & towns, there was usually at least one place open on Sunday (a bar or store). Another thing you have to look out for is restaurants closing for "Semana descansal" (weekly rest). Some close on Mondays, others on Tuesdays.

BTW, one of my favorite lunches on the road was a tuna sandwich. Get some bread & a can of tuna (atun or bonita, depending on where you are) in olive oil (aceite de oliva) or vegetable oil. That way, the olive or vegetable oil can serve as the dressing on your sandwich. When you're ready to eat, just slice the bread, open the can, spread the tuna & oil, eat. If you have one, down that with a Kas Naranja or Limon. Mmmmmm

Kelly

 

[nathanael]

on Sunday openings, it's a reality in small villages it is difficult to find a place open for buying items to eat although the Spanish do love to eat out on Sunday as a family. Therefore it's best to ask around for a restaurant that could be open. Nevertheless to save yourself from inconvenient always be safe and have something on hand. I have shared what I had for those caught unknowingly the customs even if it was a glass of vino tinto and would never let anyone of my Camino travelers to go hungry or thirsty...that is what the way of St. James is all about sharing and giving.
n.

 

[KiwiNomad06]

It wasn't as hard to find food on Sundays in Spain as it was in France. In quite a few places, families seemed to 'eat out' after Sunday Mass, so the restaurant would be open. And if there was a lot of pilgrim traffic, there tended to be a little grocery store somewhere selling food items, whereas such a shop would be closed elsewhere in Spain on Sundays.

One thing that kept happening to me though was that I kept arriving in 'important' places on Sundays, so I never got to see inside some quite major buildings, as they were 'closed'. Ahhh welll..... another time!!!
Margaret

 

[renegadepilgrim]

I usually stocked up on bread, meat and cheese on Saturdays in the off chance I would be stranded without food on a Sunday. I managed to be in some rather large cities on Sundays so I managed okay. I do recall leaving Burgos or Leon on a Sunday and being in a town that had one bar open and that was it. No market or anything open. Most of us peregrinos hung out in the bar for the afternoon and the owner came around and gave us miraculous medals on a string to wear. I still have mine! I drank cafe con leches and snacked on pastries while writing in my journal. I also had some Spanish peregrinos try to teach me a game. There were lots of locals hanging out too. They were amazed that I enjoyed watching motorcycle racing on the TV! It was a very memorable day for me.