Safety - traveling alone on Portuguese Camino

[LynneR]

Hello,
I have traveled alone on the Frances and always felt safe and comfortable. Can anyone give me input about safety in Portugal? Does the camino have the same safe feeling? Are there any areas of concern? It seems as though there are some stretches with few cafes, hostels, etc, so I don't want to find myself in a vulnerable position.
Thanks so much.
Lynne

 

[Delphinoula]

Hi walked it by myself last year not one moment afraid or worried. Almost no other pilgrims. More the last 100 km. So no worries. In Santiago a lady was of the opinion that she got stalked by a Spaniard. I asked her why she did not let him pass so she can see what he is doing. She said she was too afraid. In the end that fellow pilgrim went to his stop meat a friend and was not seen again. In my experience fear is a bad advisor. I am a ultra careful person, but no shadow of fear the whole way.

 

[Via2010]

There had been some incidents on the portugese section this route, but nevertheless I can only remember one situation in which I felt a bit uncomfortable when walking in August 2017. It was before Fontoura, where the camino leaves the road. I had heard of some incident there before, where an exhibitionist had exposed himself to a female pilgrim. So I was really frightend when I saw a white van parked along the camino (they seem to be the most favourite vehicle of these guys as they are very common and when you are shocked, you will not look after the registration number). I prepared myself to the worst thing, but I only found a guy who went to shit in the woods. He was far more shocked by me coming along the camino then I was by seeing his naked reverse!
Besides that I always felt safe and this was my first solo camino.

BC
Alexandra

 

[Tassie Kaz]

Hello,
I have traveled alone on the Frances and always felt safe and comfortable. Can anyone give me input about safety in Portugal? Does the camino have the same safe feeling? Are there any areas of concern? It seems as though there are some stretches with few cafes, hostels, etc, so I don't want to find myself in a vulnerable position.
Thanks so much.
Lynne

This post is repeating my answer to Lynne's thread under 'Beginning in Lisbon - need some tips'
As a solo female, I had no issues with personal safety in Portugal. The Lisbon to Porto leg does include a few isolated stretches & some days you have to put in extra kms due to lack of accommodation, but by looking ahead, you'll know when those days are & can plan accordingly.
The only 'incident' I experienced was with a drug dealer in Coimbra. I had been warned in advance of their MO (they approach from behind & whisper over your shoulder) so when it actually happened, it was dealt with simply & easily. At 170cm I'm not a tower but I am taller than most Portuguese & could 'loom large' if necessary but a loud 'GO AWAY' (in English) was enough to send him scampering! There are loads of tourists in Coimbra & I was in a very public place. I did not feel threatened at all, I was more annoyed he'd interrupted my stroll! I'm not mentioning this incident to alarm you, more forewarned is forearmed. I want to stress, I did not feel targeted as a solo female, I was merely another tourist he hoped to make a buck from. Coimbra is an amazing city (oh..that view when you come around the corner & see it in front of you for the 1st time...) & I spent quite some time just happily wandering around...I loved it.
The Caminho Portugues still remains one of my favourite walks. If time is not an issue, go the whole distance Lynne & don't be concerned. I am so glad I did...personally I would feel I'd missed out if I hadn't done the Lisbon-Porto leg. It is almost a Caminho of two halves but one is not superior to the other, they are just different. You could judge it on scenery alone but that would be unfair...its about much more than that. Step out with confidence..you'll be fine & you're in for a wonderful experience. Bom Caminho

 

[Tassie Kaz]

There had been some incidents on the portugese section this route, but nevertheless I can only remember one situation in which I felt a bit uncomfortable when walking in August 2017. It was before Fontoura, where the camino leaves the road. I had heard of some incident there before, where an exhibitionist had exposed himself to a female pilgrim. So I was really frightend when I saw a white van parked along the camino (they seem to be the most favourite vehicle of these guys as they are very common and when you are shocked, you will not look after the registration number). I prepared myself to the worst thing, but I only found a guy who went to shit in the woods. He was far more shocked by me coming along the camino then I was by seeing his naked reverse!
Besides that I always felt safe and this was my first solo camino.

BC
Alexandra

I had heard of this type of incident (flashing...not the 'call of nature'!) too.
I have a rule never to approach a parked vehicle...always keep the road width between you & the vehicle. If you are called over to the car/van, do not approach..instead stay where you are & speak to the person from that position. By maintaining distance, you can't be dragged into the vehicle & you have a head start if you need to run.
Its a small action but safety first! Hopefully none of us will find ourselves in such a position.

 

[Penny Kingma]

I walked the Camino Frances from May 28 - July 4 2016 alone. Leaving at 5am to beat the heat some days . I felt safe 98% of the time. Of course there are times your mind starts to work on you. I know you asked about the Portuguese Camino. It’s just I found that sometimes reading everything can set off alarms. I was worried of wild dogs....and found sleepy dogs that would just lift an eye as you passed. I was worried of flashers....not a one....well unless you count the pilgrims stripping down in Albergues for all to see. I guess what I’m trying to say is that no two Caminos are the same. You have need to be aware....but not frightened. If you walk with your Fear you’ll walk in a bubble. Unable to experience all around you. On days you feel nervous try to find fellow pilgrims to walk with.
Buen Camino

 

[Delphinoula]

I second that . That what I meant with fear is a bad advisor , because you flight or fight instinct takes over and you react instead of acting and use the resources you have like your common sense or ask yourself is this happening in my head or is there a real threat.
So take a minute to access the situation when you walk.
Plus in the start for me my thoughts were going round and round, but after a while there was only the way. And the joy seeing everyday something new.
I walked last year almost all the time in rain and that was more a challenge to wade through the gunk.
And as I am sure you experienced that as well on your Camino I saw more of the male anatomy in the morning that I have ever wished for and we are not know as prudes. A nacked body is just what it is.
In Galicia the State Hostels have sometimes separated bedrooms and Portugal hostels are very affordable.
Two retired French policemen who I meet in Santiago-they had come from Bordeaux - talked about the distance and the challenges. They said it’s not your legs that are walking. And to finish I told my kids when we were mountain climbing you climb with your head then with your body. Bon Camino

 

[Katycamino]

Hello,
I have traveled alone on the Frances and always felt safe and comfortable. Can anyone give me input about safety in Portugal? Does the camino have the same safe feeling? Are there any areas of concern? It seems as though there are some stretches with few cafes, hostels, etc, so I don't want to find myself in a vulnerable position.
Thanks so much.
Lynne

Hello

I walked Porto to Santiago last year in two halves. The first in May met quite a few pilgrims and we walked together some of the time. No problems at all. I had to abandon it in Tui with food poisoning but decided to finish it off in November. Far fewer pilgrims of course but at no point did I feel threatened or concerned. One stage a white van came into the Camino..... alert..... but it was just the local police making sure everything was ok.
I have to say I thought this camino was wonderful and would have no hesitation to walk it again. Now, when’s the next flight to Porto......?

Best wishes for your camino

 

[John Sikora]

The CP is very safe. The only cautions relate to:

1. Dogs - for some reason they seem more protective than those on the CF
2. Cobblestones - They all stick up and try to penetrate your shoes and mind. Turning an ankle is possible.
3. Drivers - It's probably just me, but the Portuguese seem to be nice people who let their bad side come out when driving at high speed down narrow roads
4. Ginjinha - if you don't know you'll find out (particularly coupled with #2).
5. Believing that you are walking in the wrong direction when someone who passes you is following the blue arrows.

Much of the CP is through towns (far more than the early stages of the CF), so you're never really far from people so I wouldn't worry.

 

[lt56ny]

As the father of two wonderful women I am always pained when we have to read about the fears of women who just want to experience and feel their own life camino and have to constantly think and worry for their personal safety. I have walked on 5 different Camino. I would say that they are very safe and in speaking to women I have gotten the impression that they have felt very safe too.
I walked from Lisbon to Santiago 1 1/2 years ago. I felt safe but I am a man. As I prepared for my Portuguese Camino I read more than once about flashers on the Camino. They may be physically harmless but than again who knows and they sure are NOT harmless in any other manner, shape or form.
When I started my walk there had been a vicious attack near Lisbon of a young Pilgrim woman. I read and heard that her body healed from her attack but I am sure she still has a lifetime of healing.

I met a guy on the way who was obsessed with this woman and was continually asking people how he could reach out to her. He wanted to "protect" her and walk with her. (It seemed she was going to try to resume her walk but I am not sure about this).

There was a wonderful young German doctor that I met. (I was walking with one of oldest and best friends who tragically lost his daughter a few years before and we met a great Irishman who we befriended. Between us we had 6 daughters). She had mentioned that she had befriended the woman who was attacked and this guy tried to latch himself on to her. Begging for the attacked women's Facebook page, asking to forward messages on to her and generally freaking this young woman out.

We were seeing the doctor along the way and she sort of latched on to us. One evening she told us the extent of this man's intrusive behavior and confided her fears to us. She told us that she wanted us to know because we were "real dads" who she could hear us talking about our girls on more than a few occasions and crying with my friend over his loss. Jenny was the best!!!!

She told us she wanted to get away from this man. We told her we would take care of it. The next morning she woke at 5 and snuck out of the Albergue. She was planning to walk 36K that day, and the following day about the same distance. We told her we would keep the guy in the Albergue and have breakfast with him and get a late start. He immediately asked where the doctor was. We told him she was going to meet us about 16k down the road and that's where we were going to stay that night. Well suffice to say she got away from this ass and unfortunately we never got to see her again. But we were happy she was safe and she was able to enjoy her Camino.

My advice to you no matter what your age as a woman. If you feel unsafe at any time, go to an open area and wait for a group or even one person to walk with. Also look back in the forum in the Portuguese section. There are lots of references to safety and take note of the areas of concern. Take precautions like carrying mace and when you are in the areas that have been known to be a problem take appropriate measures to protect yourself. Like finding 3 old dads like us who protect any women like they were our own girls. There are plenty of us on the Camino.

 

[Via2010]

Hi,

safety issues for women on the Camino Portugues are a bit different! There have been some inidents reported during the last 2 years which will clearly evidence this (attacks after Sacavém and after Santarém, various flashers).

But in spite of this I can not say that I felt unsafe at any time. Only uncomfortable once, the episode with the white van mentioned above. I dare even say, that I feel safer walking alone on the camino than I feel walking alone on the Lieserpfad or other popular hiking places at home.

I took some precautions, i. e. I did not dress in a manner which made it possible to identify me as a women from a long distance . I did not take anything of visible value with me. I did not drink bigger amounts of alcohol (only one or two glasses of wine with my dinner). I avoided situations which could have become uncomfortable, i. e. having a shower or taking a nap when I am the only person in the albergue so far. And - when passing cars parked along the camino - I stuck to the other side of the road, as mentioned above.

BC
Alexandra

 

[Delphinoula]

One word on maze. It’s like any weapon you need to know how to use it, because most of the time you sting yourself and incapacitate yourself. If it makes you feel safer take hair spray, will do the job and it’s not a problem in air ports. In some countries it’s considered a weapon and not aloud. A fellow pilgrim had to give hers up at the airport. So wasted money.

 

[Yolan]

Hallo,
Ik ben de vrouw die op 12-4-2016 overvallen is in Sacavém. Ik was op mijn eerste dag, jarig en vertrokken vanuit Lissabon. Dit zou mijn tweede camino worden. De eerste liep ik in april 2015, de CF. Ik was zo blij dat ik weer op pad was. Ik werd gevolgd, maar dat bleek later. Ik ben van het pad afgeleid, maar dat had ik toen niet door, het was 14.00 s middags, klaarlichte dag dus. Ik liep alleen en dat werd me toen noodlottig. Ik heb vreselijke dingen meegemaakt en ben uiteindelijk ontkleed en vastgebonden achter gelaten. Ik ben gevonden en naar het ziekenhuis gebracht. Het gaat nu redelijk met me. De afgelopen jaren waren vreselijk, de hulp slecht, maar de wil om verder te gaan is groot. De wil om weer te gaan lopen nog groter, want dat is mijn passie. Ik heb zoveel liefdevolle mensen ontmoet in 2015. Ik ga komende april weer op pad. Nee... voor mij nooit meer vanuit lissabon, maar weer de Cf vanuit Saint Jean. Ik ben niet meer dezelfde. Ik hoop weer wat meer zelfvertrouwen te krijgen. Op stillere stukken zorg ik er wel voor dat ik niet alleen loop. Maar ik wil niemand bang maken. Ik wens iedereen een bon camino. Dit was in het kort mijn verhaal.

 

[Walking Lover]

Hello,
I have traveled alone on the Frances and always felt safe and comfortable. Can anyone give me input about safety in Portugal? Does the camino have the same safe feeling? Are there any areas of concern? It seems as though there are some stretches with few cafes, hostels, etc, so I don't want to find myself in a vulnerable position.
Thanks so much.
Lynne

Walked in July of '17; few pilgrims on any given day; twice women reported, who were walking alone, that a man exposed himself to them. I never felt as safe as I do on the Frances just because there are so few others.

 

[Cora Oudijk]

Hallo,
Ik ben de vrouw die op 12-4-2016 overvallen is in Sacavém. Ik was op mijn eerste dag, jarig en vertrokken vanuit Lissabon. Dit zou mijn tweede camino worden. De eerste liep ik in april 2015, de CF. Ik was zo blij dat ik weer op pad was. Ik werd gevolgd, maar dat bleek later. Ik ben van het pad afgeleid, maar dat had ik toen niet door, het was 14.00 s middags, klaarlichte dag dus. Ik liep alleen en dat werd me toen noodlottig. Ik heb vreselijke dingen meegemaakt en ben uiteindelijk ontkleed en vastgebonden achter gelaten. Ik ben gevonden en naar het ziekenhuis gebracht. Het gaat nu redelijk met me. De afgelopen jaren waren vreselijk, de hulp slecht, maar de wil om verder te gaan is groot. De wil om weer te gaan lopen nog groter, want dat is mijn passie. Ik heb zoveel liefdevolle mensen ontmoet in 2015. Ik ga komende april weer op pad. Nee... voor mij nooit meer vanuit lissabon, maar weer de Cf vanuit Saint Jean. Ik ben niet meer dezelfde. Ik hoop weer wat meer zelfvertrouwen te krijgen. Op stillere stukken zorg ik er wel voor dat ik niet alleen loop. Maar ik wil niemand bang maken. Ik wens iedereen een bon camino. Dit was in het kort mijn verhaal.

Feel very sorry to hear this happened to you. Maybe you can post it in English, most people here won't understand Dutch. I wish you a Buen Camino, and I hope it will
help you to heal your confidence

 

[Sha-Ron]

Hallo,
Ik ben de vrouw die op 12-4-2016 overvallen is in Sacavém. Ik was op mijn eerste dag, jarig en vertrokken vanuit Lissabon. Dit zou mijn tweede camino worden. De eerste liep ik in april 2015, de CF. Ik was zo blij dat ik weer op pad was. Ik werd gevolgd, maar dat bleek later. Ik ben van het pad afgeleid, maar dat had ik toen niet door, het was 14.00 s middags, klaarlichte dag dus. Ik liep alleen en dat werd me toen noodlottig. Ik heb vreselijke dingen meegemaakt en ben uiteindelijk ontkleed en vastgebonden achter gelaten. Ik ben gevonden en naar het ziekenhuis gebracht. Het gaat nu redelijk met me. De afgelopen jaren waren vreselijk, de hulp slecht, maar de wil om verder te gaan is groot. De wil om weer te gaan lopen nog groter, want dat is mijn passie. Ik heb zoveel liefdevolle mensen ontmoet in 2015. Ik ga komende april weer op pad. Nee... voor mij nooit meer vanuit lissabon, maar weer de Cf vanuit Saint Jean. Ik ben niet meer dezelfde. Ik hoop weer wat meer zelfvertrouwen te krijgen. Op stillere stukken zorg ik er wel voor dat ik niet alleen loop. Maar ik wil niemand bang maken. Ik wens iedereen een bon camino. Dit was in het kort mijn verhaal.

Yolan ek is jammer wat met jou gebeur het. Dit was 'n baie slegte ondervinding. Jy het seker groot geskrik. Die pad tussen Lisabon en Porto is stil en ek glo dit kan gevaarlik wees vir 'n vrou alleen. Ek is bly jy voel al beter. Ek hoop jy kan in April weer die CF stap en dat jy weer selfvertroue sal kry. Mag die Here jou seën en Sy hand oor jou hou. Mag jy altyd veilig wees. Buen camino.

 

[Yolan]

Hallo,

I am the woman who was attacked and robbed and robbed of everything during my first day on the Lisbon camino. I was just as happy as the 1st time in 2015 when I ran the Camino CF.A great experience. I followed but it turned out later. There was a yellow arrow that drew me away from the road. And when I walked on that wrong path, in broad daylight I was jumped from a tree and it was disastrous for me. I got undressed and tied behind. I had a terrible time. it was not Portuguese! But walking is my passion and my goal was to go again. But never for me from Lisbon. I'm going to walk the CF again in April. I do not want to scare anyone and I have never been afraid myself. But this has my life was changed. I loved to walk alone, but I will now look up quietly on people. I wish everyone a bon camino. This is in short my story. And I read that there was someone who thought I knew me. I would like to know who that was.

 

[Yolan]

Yolan ek is jammer wat met jou gebeur het. Dit was 'n baie slegte ondervinding. Jy het seker groot geskrik. Die pad tussen Lisabon en Porto is stil en ek glo dit kan gevaarlik wees vir 'n vrou alleen. Ek is bly jy voel al beter. Ek hoop jy kan in April weer die CF stap en dat jy weer selfvertroue sal kry. Mag die Here jou seën en Sy hand oor jou hou. Mag jy altyd veilig wees. Buen camino.

 

[Yolan]

Thank you so mutch for your comment...

 

[4 Eyes]

The CP is very safe. The only cautions relate to:

1. Dogs - for some reason they seem more protective than those on the CF
2. Cobblestones - They all stick up and try to penetrate your shoes and mind. Turning an ankle is possible.
3. Drivers - It's probably just me, but the Portuguese seem to be nice people who let their bad side come out when driving at high speed down narrow roads
4. Ginjinha - if you don't know you'll find out (particularly coupled with #2).
5. Believing that you are walking in the wrong direction when someone who passes you is following the blue arrows.

Much of the CP is through towns (far more than the early stages of the CF), so you're never really far from people so I wouldn't worry.

I completely agree.
On dogs I came upon a stealth dog in one of the villages. It did not bark but apparently was hiding behind a low wall. I passed the spot and suddenly heard a rustle from behind me. I quickly turned and saw the dog on a mad dash aiming for my ankle. I swing my trekking pole and it turned running back as fast as it could hopping over the low wall. I knew there was a pilgrim shortly behind me. I stood there and waited. When the next pilgrim came the dog did the same and I used my pole to drive it back. I chased after it some to hopefully scare it off for good. Lesson learned: carry trekking poles in your hands not on your pack, and don't wear headphones when you walk.
On Drivers I think it's more the narrow roads with no shoulders. Solution: make yourself visible. I saw many locals on their daily walks wearing safety vests. I never saw this on any other camino. I was forewarned so I made myself a safety bib out of utility safety neon orange fabric, a square of about 10" X 10" which I pinned with safety pins to each side my pack chest straps. Did not want to wear a vest because it would be too warm. Tested it for visibility and it was highly visible from 200 feet. Worked very well, All cars gave me wide berth. My fellow pilgrims on the CP expressed bib envy.

 

[Penny Kingma]

Hallo,

I am the woman who was attacked and robbed and robbed of everything during my first day on the Lisbon camino. I was just as happy as the 1st time in 2015 when I ran the Camino CF.A great experience. I followed but it turned out later. There was a yellow arrow that drew me away from the road. And when I walked on that wrong path, in broad daylight I was jumped from a tree and it was disastrous for me. I got undressed and tied behind. I had a terrible time. it was not Portuguese! But walking is my passion and my goal was to go again. But never for me from Lisbon. I'm going to walk the CF again in April. I do not want to scare anyone and I have never been afraid myself. But this has my life was changed. I loved to walk alone, but I will now look up quietly on people. I wish everyone a bon camino. This is in short my story. And I read that there was someone who thought I knew me. I would like to know who that was.

I’m so sorry this happened to you. It must’ve been terrifying. I’m very impressed and relieved that you didn’t let that experience and individual steal your spirit.
Stay Strong ....Buen Camino

 

[Delphinoula]

In my opinion safety is all about attitude. I am aware of my surroundings. We all judge in a split second the persons we deal with. Trust yourself.

I observe my fellow pilgrims. I stay non committal. Is somebody overly friendly, what do they want? Not my business. Do I want this attention, if not I am clear and precise.

I stay calm and friendly. I have both the spiritual and physical strength to take care of myself.

If I see danger I act not react. I am not shy to ask for help. If I am honest I will not hurt somebody’s feeling.

A nonstop talker had adhered to myself on the walk. First I thought somebody needs to let of steam. Then after a couple of hours I thought ok this persons likes the sound of his voice. I always listen to what people are saying or not, but then I said to him: Forgive me but I need to mediate some more lets part ways.

Maybe it’s an age thing too, I don’t know.

If you have not done it jet. Learn how to handle yourself. That’s as much a preparation for your walk or Evan more important like proper shoes, planning routes.
All you have and all you need is you.

Not more not less.

 

[David Tallan]

Terrible things can happen on the Camino. We heard from Yolan what happened to her on the Camino Portugues. An unfortunate pilgrim on the Camino Frances did not survive her encounter. These terrible things can happen to women who do all the right things, who have the right attitude, who do nothing to provoke. They happen because of a failure in the men, not because of a failure in the women.

That said, terrible things can happen anywhere. You can stay home, fearing to be alone on the Camino and be attacked in your home town. All in all, I think the Camino is safer than most places.

 

[Dr Ana]

Hallo,

I am the woman who was attacked and robbed and robbed of everything during my first day on the Lisbon camino. I was just as happy as the 1st time in 2015 when I ran the Camino CF.A great experience. I followed but it turned out later. There was a yellow arrow that drew me away from the road. And when I walked on that wrong path, in broad daylight I was jumped from a tree and it was disastrous for me. I got undressed and tied behind. I had a terrible time. it was not Portuguese! But walking is my passion and my goal was to go again. But never for me from Lisbon. I'm going to walk the CF again in April. I do not want to scare anyone and I have never been afraid myself. But this has my life was changed. I loved to walk alone, but I will now look up quietly on people. I wish everyone a bon camino. This is in short my story. And I read that there was someone who thought I knew me. I would like to know who that was.

Thats woman power, bravo!

 

[Yolan]

Yes, i think we have more power than we realize .
I am so glad that i can go again and i am also glad with the positive posts.
And i have met many verry kind Spanisch and Portugees people. They helpt me a lot when it happened.

 

[Dr Ana]

Biggest victory of victim of violence is to go against own phobias

 

[lucycamino]

Terrible things can happen on the Camino. We heard from Yolan what happened to her on the Camino Portugues. An unfortunate pilgrim on the Camino Frances did not survive her encounter. These terrible things can happen to women who do all the right things, who have the right attitude, who do nothing to provoke. They happen because of a failure in the men, not because of a failure in the women.

That said, terrible things can happen anywhere. You can stay home, fearing to be alone on the Camino and be attacked in your home town. All in all, I think the Camino is safer than most places.

Yes I agree that you can do everything right and still have problems. I am a 34 year old woman walking solo and I have to say, I have never felt less safe (and I often walk around London late at night!). I have been followed (and had to run away from) men twice and another man masturbated himself in front of me and then chased me.

I needed to do this walk solo, and still am continuing, but not along isolated roads and paths. Main roads / busy paths only for me now. I have never experienced anything like this in any of my travels, it’s like the guarantee of travellers on the Camino has lured out creeps.

 

[David Tallan]

Yes I agree that you can do everything right and still have problems. I am a 34 year old woman walking solo and I have to say, I have never felt less safe (and I often walk around London late at night!). I have been followed (and had to run away from) men twice and another man masturbated himself in front of me and then chased me.

I needed to do this walk solo, and still am continuing, but not along isolated roads and paths. Main roads / busy paths only for me now. I have never experienced anything like this in any of my travels, it’s like the guarantee of travellers on the Camino has lured out creeps.

I am so sorry to hear that. Things seem to have changed substantially in this regard or your experience is really unusual. Most reports, pre-Covid, by women walking solo on the Camino were very different. I hope things change for you and/or that things return on the Camino to the way they were before where women overall felt safer.

 

[Former member 100027]

Hallo,
Ik ben de vrouw die op 12-4-2016 overvallen is in Sacavém. Ik was op mijn eerste dag, jarig en vertrokken vanuit Lissabon. Dit zou mijn tweede camino worden. De eerste liep ik in april 2015, de CF. Ik was zo blij dat ik weer op pad was. Ik werd gevolgd, maar dat bleek later. Ik ben van het pad afgeleid, maar dat had ik toen niet door, het was 14.00 s middags, klaarlichte dag dus. Ik liep alleen en dat werd me toen noodlottig. Ik heb vreselijke dingen meegemaakt en ben uiteindelijk ontkleed en vastgebonden achter gelaten. Ik ben gevonden en naar het ziekenhuis gebracht. Het gaat nu redelijk met me. De afgelopen jaren waren vreselijk, de hulp slecht, maar de wil om verder te gaan is groot. De wil om weer te gaan lopen nog groter, want dat is mijn passie. Ik heb zoveel liefdevolle mensen ontmoet in 2015. Ik ga komende april weer op pad. Nee... voor mij nooit meer vanuit lissabon, maar weer de Cf vanuit Saint Jean. Ik ben niet meer dezelfde. Ik hoop weer wat meer zelfvertrouwen te krijgen. Op stillere stukken zorg ik er wel voor dat ik niet alleen loop. Maar ik wil niemand bang maken. Ik wens iedereen een bon camino. Dit was in het kort mijn verhaal.

Ik ben erg jammer voor wat gebeurt hebben. Ik wens je sterkte en moed met je Camino in April (sorry voor mijn arme Nederlands - dat is niet mijn eerste taal).

 

[Lindsay53]

Yes I agree that you can do everything right and still have problems. I am a 34 year old woman walking solo and I have to say, I have never felt less safe (and I often walk around London late at night!). I have been followed (and had to run away from) men twice and another man masturbated himself in front of me and then chased me.

I needed to do this walk solo, and still am continuing, but not along isolated roads and paths. Main roads / busy paths only for me now. I have never experienced anything like this in any of my travels, it’s like the guarantee of travellers on the Camino has lured out creeps.

That is terrible lucycamino. It's great that you are continuing rather than letting these bad experiences overwhelm you. May the rest of your journey be the experience you are seeking.

 

[Ali@59]

I was walking out of Pontevedra and twice noticed a very disheveled looking man watching me I never thought much at the time then as I headed further on through some streets and into an area near a water fountain I saw the same man standing there I looked around but no one was in sight everything was quiet and I felt rather scared so I turned and walked back the way I came thinking I could get back to the outskirts of the town and by good luck a German pilgrim appeared so I walked with him for a good 5 kilometers, when I arrived at the next albergue a polish couple later told me they saw a man with the same description standing at a church in Pontevedra with his trousers at his ankles.
I'm not sure what he might have been intending but I did feel threatened for a while after. I always keep a little penknife in my pocket just in case, next time I'll take a little deodorant spray