CClan
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- June 2013
I hate to report this but feel we should share with others who were so helpful to us as we prepared for our walk...
We were robbed in Portomarin. We arrived June 20,2013. We stayed at one of the places in the "network" called "Ferramenteiro" as they had been nice so far, was one of the first you arrive to and had laundry which we needed that day. When I went to bed after dinner, I had my money in a small roll up bag inside my sleeping bag. I think they may have unzipped the bottom of my bag?? Which I did not even notice I had two zippers in my new super light bag as this was not a feature I had in previous bags. Whatever the case, it brought tears and shaking from me till I realized three others also got robbed that night. An "Inside job" my husband thinks as there were "security camera's" everywhere. As we visited with other victims that day most came to the same conclusion. The front desk lady however was mortified and demanded we stay to report it (knowing it would not help us but maybe others).
I must say...WEAR your money !!! Of course you would never leave in your exposed backpack but I read every blog and thought by keeping it in my sleeper I would be fine...but after hiking 28 km's I must have slept right through the intruder. He/she took only the euro's, left my US Dollars (ha, not worth a dang anyway) and coins and rolled and clipped the bag right back like it had not been touched.
So also, check your money EVERY morning before you take off hiking only to find out miles from an ATM!
I used my Debit to only get small amounts of money after that. But I must say...the Trip was soooo great that looking back now it was a small dark spot to a lovely Camino. The Canadians and Americans and Irish we met were so encouraging that day and by the next day (and a stay in a private room NOT in a big town ) our confidence in humanity was back up.
I also learned many pilgrims are starting the trip around this area and other Camino trails start to merge into this area so thieves assume fresh blood with full pockets.
Nevertheless....
We were robbed in Portomarin. We arrived June 20,2013. We stayed at one of the places in the "network" called "Ferramenteiro" as they had been nice so far, was one of the first you arrive to and had laundry which we needed that day. When I went to bed after dinner, I had my money in a small roll up bag inside my sleeping bag. I think they may have unzipped the bottom of my bag?? Which I did not even notice I had two zippers in my new super light bag as this was not a feature I had in previous bags. Whatever the case, it brought tears and shaking from me till I realized three others also got robbed that night. An "Inside job" my husband thinks as there were "security camera's" everywhere. As we visited with other victims that day most came to the same conclusion. The front desk lady however was mortified and demanded we stay to report it (knowing it would not help us but maybe others).
I must say...WEAR your money !!! Of course you would never leave in your exposed backpack but I read every blog and thought by keeping it in my sleeper I would be fine...but after hiking 28 km's I must have slept right through the intruder. He/she took only the euro's, left my US Dollars (ha, not worth a dang anyway) and coins and rolled and clipped the bag right back like it had not been touched.
So also, check your money EVERY morning before you take off hiking only to find out miles from an ATM!
I used my Debit to only get small amounts of money after that. But I must say...the Trip was soooo great that looking back now it was a small dark spot to a lovely Camino. The Canadians and Americans and Irish we met were so encouraging that day and by the next day (and a stay in a private room NOT in a big town ) our confidence in humanity was back up.
I also learned many pilgrims are starting the trip around this area and other Camino trails start to merge into this area so thieves assume fresh blood with full pockets.
Nevertheless....