About Jaminmama

The Camino experience has inspired and enticed me for many years. The thought of hiking, exploring, and meeting people from all over the world finally took form in 2009. My husband Vern and I made plans and set off for Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France, the popular start of The Camino Frances. We met Lisa, from Germany and have stayed in touch by visiting each other's homes and occasional video calls. This year, 2022, we will once again walk: this time the Camino del Norte and the Camino Primitivo.

San Miguelde de Meruelo To Santander

Posted on May 6, 2022 by Jaminmama

Day 13

23 Miles, 37.0 K

Written On May 6, 2022

Lisa And Rhonda Enjoying The Scenic Route! Photo By Rhonda

“Beauty Everywhere If You Open Your Eyes.”Photo and Inspiration by Rhonda”.

Message And Photo by Lisa On The Coastal Route. “We can’t Hurry, It’s Too Marvelous!”

Today’s mileage is shown as 23 miles, 37 kilometers. That is the distance shown on the map Apps. What is not shown is the distance deducted for taking the Ferry to Santander. Taking the Ferry is suggested in the Camino del Norte Pilgrim Guides. It took a half hour to get to Santander.

We arrived in Santander a few hours ahead of Lisa and Rhonda and proceeded to look for our reserved rooms….and looked for our rooms……and looked for our rooms. Lisa and Rhonda arrived by Ferry and we were still looking for our rooms. Vern, Lisa and I transported our backpacks through the Post Office Service. We thought if we found our room, we would find our bags. The adventure led us to a Private Hostal which did not have our bags, then to the Correos, (Post office), which did have our bags. Next: find our rooms. The Private Apartment we were looking for was on a main boulevard in Santander and did not have an address number listed on the reservation. Many locals we asked tried to help us find it,

Finally at 8 pm the owners of the Apartment texted me the full address! Great! We can now have dinner .

Laredo To San Miguelde de Meruelo

Posted on May 6, 2022 by Jaminmama

Day 12

13 Miles, 20.9 K

Written on May 6, 2022

Nancy Passing Out Blog Cards to Santoña Locals. Photo by Lisa.

Mariano Gómez-Cambronero, A Best Friend, And Vern

Casona De La Parra, San Maméi De Meruelo, Owned By Mariano and his Daughter, Paula

Today while walking we decided to stop for lunch in Santoña after getting off the ferry. Shortly after eating I started to feel lightheaded and sick to my stomach. I walked until we found a place to call for help. We decided to call the next place where we have a reservation: Casona De La Parra. Paula answered the phone and said she would try to find a Taxi to pick us up. No Taxis were available. She called to let us know that her father, Mariano, would pick us up in fifteen minutes! Great!!!

We had reserved a two bedroom apartment at Casona De La Parra. After settling in we decided to go to the town close by and buy groceries. Once again Mariano helped us out. He was going to town and was glad to take us.

When we returned Rhonda started slicing veggies, fruit and bread. We put the food together and had a great meal. Thanks Rhonda for preparation and clean up!

Castro Urdiales To Laredo

Posted on May 3, 2022 by Jaminmama

Day 11

16 Miles, 25.7 K

Written on May 4, 2022

There are times on the Camino, just like in life, when you are taking a lot of steps but haven’t moved very much. We were trying to avoid the mountain but ended up going around in a large circle. We tried to find anyone to ask about getting to Laredo. It seemed that the only option at that moment was to once again jump on a bus.

We settled in to our rooms. After showers and clothes washing Lisa and I decided to get a cab into Laredo. We found a Vegan Friendly Restaurant and had a meal. We then walked to a grocery store. We went to the Taxi Cab area not far from the bus station and waited for a cab. After quite a while I decided to call the phone number on the phone box that said Taxi. The phone started ringing!!! Obviously no one is going to receive this call! After some time I started waving at a police car going by. We told them we couldn’t find a taxi. They told us don’t move, stay there. Oh good! They will find us a taxi! A few minutes later we saw a taxi drive by, and then another. We went back to the restaurant where we ate. They told us to go wait in the taxi zone. After asking a gas station attendant and a Hotel Manager I decided to call our Hostal. It took awhile but eventually a taxi came. Some parts of this day were a combination of a Star Trek Episode and the Twilight Zone.

Santurce To Castro Urdiales

Posted on May 3, 2022 by Jaminmama

Day 10

12 Miles, 19.3 K

Written on May 4, 2022

Rhonda At The Happy Cow Mural (One of the many photos taken here)

Today was a long walk with few resources.. As we walked closer and closer to Castro Urdiales it seemed that we were not making much progress. We finally came to a small village. Nancy and Vern were considering a travel option when we saw a man in his front yard. At that moment his wife came home. They spoke together about any options we may have. They had looked at the bus schedule on their phones. When we asked them when the bus would arrive. They said NOW, BY THE CHURCH! The church was uphill and seemed like a half of a city block. We got there just in time. Vern was paying for the four of us. I was still struggling to find my mask so I could get on the bus! A short time later we were at Castro Urdiales, a bigger city than I expected.

CORRECTION: on the Bilbao To Santurce, Day 9 posting I had a photo of a large stuffed animal perched in a tree and called it an Ewok. It is not an Ewok but a Gremlin from the Gremlins Movie. Thank you Angel! She knows I need help editing and appreciate another set of eyes on the blog content.

Bilbao To Santurce

Posted on May 1, 2022 by Jaminmama

Day 9

9.9 Miles, 15.9 k

Written May 1, 2022

Vern and I walked together along the River for many miles, (the variant route). Lisa and Rhonda chose the mountain walk, (The Camino Route.)

Anyone familiar with the Star Wars movies will recognize an Ewok. We did not expect to see a large stuffed animal replica of one in a tree! We had been walking along a busy road for a long time and was happy to see the animal!

Thank you to the Local who took our photo leaving Bilbao!

The Bizkaia Bridge was the first ferry bridge built in the world with a metal structure. It is located at the mouth of the Ibaizabal river, at the point where the navigable estuary of Bilbao used to get to the sea until the 19th century. It was inaugurated on 28 July,1893 and its design was the work of Alberto Palacio and Elissague.

Above the hanging ferry is a pedestrian bridge.

On Either Side Of The Vehicles Are Enclosed Areas for Passengers.

We must have looked like we needed help buying our ferry ticket. We wanted to walk on top of the bridge but the tickets were sold out for 3 hours. We then tried to figure out how to buy a ferry ticket and he ⬆️ helped us….I forgot to ask your name.

We met up with Lisa and Rhonda in Santurce a few hours later to share the events of the day and have dinner. Buen Camino!

Bilbao Culture Day

Posted on April 30, 2022 by Jaminmama

Day 8

Written on April 30, 2022

Motor, Autos, Art and Architecture is the theme of the museum.

We had a wonderful day of visiting a Cathedral, a bakery, walking around Bilbao and exploring the Guggenheim Museum. Tomorrow we walk.

Garai, Biskaia To Bilbao

Posted on April 30, 2022 by Jaminmama

Day 7

Travel Day

Written on April 30, 2022

Garai may have been a distance from the Camino but it was a good place for us. We had a relaxing time there.

During our trip back to the Camino I sat next to a gentleman who wanted to speak English with me. his name is Pedro Gorogarri. Pedro played Jai Alai for many years and traveled the world, including locations in the United States and Mexico.

Elaborate Way To Hold Up A Patio in Bilbao! Photo by Rhonda

Thanks to Vern we are in an excellent area of Bilbao. We opened the front door and walked a few feet to a Vegan Friendly Bar and Restaurant……a few more feet and we had dinner in an all Vegan Restaurant. WAIT FOR IT:

Nancy Traveling To Heaven Via A Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie.

Etxebarria To Garai, Bizkaia

Posted on April 28, 2022 by Jaminmama

Day 6

Rest Day In Garai

Written on April 28, 2022

A few days ago we made a reservation for rooms we thought were on the Camino del Norte. When we started looking at the exact mileage from Etxebarria we realized we would be 30k from the Camino and far into the mountains. At that point our choice was to cancel and lose the cost of the room or take transportation and enjoy a day off in the mountains. We made the right choice for us.

We continue onward tomorrow!

Agroturismo Erlete Goika To Etxebarria

Posted on April 28, 2022 by Jaminmama

Day 5

9.4 miles, 15.1 k

Written on April 27, 2022

A Place To Reflect On Love And Blessings

As we walked from our Hostal this morning it was lightly raining. We walked up many hills and a mountain today. Deba is a city that had many resources and we stopped in at a bar/cafe with something for all of us.

Walking further up another mountain we were hungry and stopped at Restaurante Azkenetxe, Alto Del Calvario 1, 20830 Mutriku, Gipuzkoa.

An Italian Restaurant on a Spanish mountain! We could not wait to order and start having our lunch. The Chef and Manager were kind and professional. The food was beyond what we could have wished for!

When we were done eating we checked our mileage and distance to the next Hostal…..too many miles/kilometers! We asked the manager to call a cab. He came back to tell us – no cabs. As we were putting together a plan he opened the trunk of his car and motioned for us to put our backpacks in! We then got in his car. He wanted to look at the address where we were going and put it in Google Maps. We were on our way. The music was Italian and all I knew was that I was overwhelmed with gratitude.❤️

Zauratz To Agroturismo Erlete Goika

Posted on April 26, 2022 by Jaminmama

Day 4

13 miles, 20.9 Written on April 26, 2022

Lisa, Rhonda and Vern walking toward the Atlantic Ocean Leaving Zauratz

Today felt like the day we officially became Pilgrims. We walked the most distance so far and tried to stay to limited times for break. The sun was shining and it was important to move through the more open spaces into shade. It was a beautiful walking day with many views of the ocean. We are in our way! Buen Camino.

Camino Del Norte

Exploring The Northern Camino Route In Spain

Author Archives: Jaminmama