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Next time you meet the person who told you that give them a friendly slap You can explain that some jokes aren't funnyQuestion, I have been told that the Policia are not friendly to Pilgrims and Pilgrims should avoid any contact. Is this so or just someone's individual experience
Thank you
What a bizarre and misleading thing to say! Did you get any other tidbits of advice from this person?I have been told that the Policia are not friendly to Pilgrims
Just the usual but this question is something I hadn't heard before and I couldn't find any past posts. Thanks for respondingWhat a bizarre and misleading thing to say! Did you get any other tidbits of advice from this person?
Question, I have been told that the Policia are not friendly to Pilgrims and Pilgrims should avoid any contact. Is this so or just someone's individual experience
Thank you
Just the usual but this question is something I hadn't heard before and I couldn't find any past posts. Thanks for responding
Question, I have been told that the Policia are not friendly to Pilgrims and Pilgrims should avoid any contact. Is this so or just someone's individual experience
Thank you
Thank you for the link, that was very informative.I include a link to an article that purports to explain the separate sections of policing in Spain. The article is popular, rather than official.There is a positive relationship on the part of the different branches of the police throughout Spain towards pilgrims, from my observation of posts on this forum, and also in Portugal.
In addition, the C20th history in certain parts of the peninsula might surface not so positive feedback from citizens who suffered somewhat from the way one of the branches (National? I am not sure) operated. That is anecdotal, not scientific information, so I will not elaborate.
Police in Spain: Guardia Civil, Policia Local & National Police...
There are basically 3 divisions of the police force in Spain; Guardia Civil; Local Police and National Police.www.spainmadesimple.com
I actually thought about that same movie scene, when he told me. He had done the Camino 2 years ago and didn't say why he had that opinion but, said it as some warning. This is why I appreciate you and others for answering, my question.LOL. Who told you that?
Maybe they watched 'The Way' and formed that opinion when Tom gets arrested for being Drunk and Disorderly
Cool the local police stations have stamps?The Spanish and Portuguese police have only one mission regarding pilgrims: assure them that they're present in case of any necessity and ready to help pilgrims in any way they can.
Both times I met Spanish policemen on CF, I had a great conversation with them and even a nice stamp .
I'm not sure about police stations, but I reckon that they might.Cool the local police stations have stamps?
If this is your friend's personal experience, perhaps they might explain to you what they were doing that led to this experience. It just seems so out of context with my personal experience in both Spain and Portugal, where police have always been polite, respectful and helpful.Question, I have been told that the Policia are not friendly to Pilgrims and Pilgrims should avoid any contact. Is this so or just someone's individual experience
Thank you
Last year special mobile units of the Guardia Civil were set up to patrol the Camino Frances during the busiest periods. Each unit was issued with a specially designed Camino sello which they could give to pilgrims they met.Cool the local police stations have stamps?
my exact thoughts … the advice “ to avoid them”, is odd advice. This person who told you this should answer the question I suspect for best info….What a bizarre and misleading thing to say! Did you get any other tidbits of advice from this person?
There is a great app called ALERTCOPS in Spain which allows you to call for assistance if needed.Question, I have been told that the Policia are not friendly to Pilgrims and Pilgrims should avoid any contact. Is this so or just someone's individual experience
Thank you
Absolutely the opposite. I was actually stopped crossing a road by an officer who asked if I was walking alone. He gave me a card with a number to call if I felt unsafe, was lost, or injured. Very nice.Question, I have been told that the Policia are not friendly to Pilgrims and Pilgrims should avoid any contact. Is this so or just someone's individual experience
Thank you
As you can see the advice given by this person could not be further from the truth. Yes there may be individual instances of a problem. Ask yourself, maybe the problem is with this person and not the police. I always tell people who ask about safety on this forum or who I have helped face to face to download the AlertCops app so you can call the police and speak to an English speaking person in an emergency. I download it before I go on my caminos and activate it as soon as I get to Spain. If you have fallen and been injured, or lost or assaulted the last thing you want to do is avoid contact with the police in Spain. I have asked them a few times for directions or even for suggestions of a bar or place to eat and they have been absolutely great to me.Question, I have been told that the Policia are not friendly to Pilgrims and Pilgrims should avoid any contact. Is this so or just someone's individual experience
Thank you
Have you walked a Camino before? Just asking because I see you are a new member. On our 3 caminos we have only had positive, protective experiences from police. Just outside of Najera in the pre-dawn morning we were heading out and there were a couple of young still drunk Spaniards coming from their nighttime revelry, smashing bottles and screaming out anti pilgrim sentiment. We were about to enter the small street where they were walking. Just then a cop car rounded the corner and said hooligans put their hands in their pockets and whistled their way down the cobblestones. Felt like knights Templar protection in that moment for us. I suppose if you are engaging in nefarious behaviors you might find out otherwise? Just a guess.Question, I have been told that the Policia are not friendly to Pilgrims and Pilgrims should avoid any contact. Is this so or just someone's individual experience
Thank you
My only personal encounter with the police this fall, was out on a remote stretch of the camino on the Meseta. Police SUV slowly creeping along, we moved to the side of the road.Question, I have been told that the Policia are not friendly to Pilgrims and Pilgrims should avoid any contact. Is this so or just someone's individual experience
Thank you
Never even thought to ask them for a stamp! But I suppose some of them work regularly along the paths, it would make sense that some of them might have their own stamp.The Spanish and Portuguese police have only one mission regarding pilgrims: assure them that they're present in case of any necessity and ready to help pilgrims in any way they can.
Both times I met Spanish policemen on CF, I had a great conversation with them and even a nice stamp .
Everywhere, especially anywhere official has a stamp in Spain - banks, police stations, town halls...Cool the local police stations have stamps?
Never an negative encounter with police safeguarding our movementsQuestion, I have been told that the Policia are not friendly to Pilgrims and Pilgrims should avoid any contact. Is this so or just someone's individual experience
Thank you
and post officesEverywhere, especially anywhere official has a stamp in Spain - banks, police stations, town halls...
I can only assume you mean the horses? Hope you did not stroke the noses of the officers....ha, ha!My only encounter and they seemed very calm when I stroked their noses.
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Same. But I am judged as 'innocuous,' being a certain gender and race. Not everyone has this experience.I have never had anything other than positive contacts with the local police. I know innocent people, however, who have had less that great experiences with the police (not in Spain).
And how we are perceived as a group by LEOs.Maybe it has a lot to do with our country of origin and upbringing?
Important to remember. Thank you.We only know our own experience - which may be similar for others in the same demographic group. But others?
¿Quién sabe?
Besides I never heard so from others and I never experienced anything that would support that statement – there will always be individual experience where people were treated in an inappropriate way or felt treated in an inappropriate way, no matter how positive the general situation might be.Question, I have been told that the Policia are not friendly to Pilgrims and Pilgrims should avoid any contact. Is this so or just someone's individual experience
Thank you
There is one stop on the Camino Vasco where you pick up the key to the Muni albergue at the Police station.Cool the local police stations have stamps?
Sadly, sometimes it is not just your country of origin or upbringing, but where you fit in the social hierarchy in that country. In Spain, I wonder if Romani pilgrims would have the same experience with the police as we do. Sometimes we are unaware of our privilege, which we certainly have as pilgrims with tourist euros.Maybe it has a lot to do with our country of origin and upbringing?
In all the counties in which I have lived, the Police were always most helpful and were people to go to when you needed help. Surely most of Europe would fit that category?
That is probably not the case in quite a few places sadly........
And a few times on the Mozarabe. So welcoming - according to the albergue registers they hadn't seen any pilgrims for while.There is one stop on the Camino Vasco where you pick up the key to the Muni albergue at the Police station.
I lived there during thr Franco Time and yes the GC was someone to be avoided.In the late 1960's / early 1970's as an hairy youth of indeterminate means rambling the roads of Spain I took every possible precaution to avoid any interaction with the GC. Best described as running and hiding at the first glimpse of that green uniform. On the one or two occasions when we did interact it was clear that a rifle-butt or a boot were the most readily available translators of Spanish to English.
Things changed after 1975.
I had an enjoyable conversation with an area comandante a few years ago in that truckstop in Villafranca Montes de Oca. He was really enthusiastic about the Camino, Peregrinos and the mounted patrols he had organized through the Montes. I told him about the "running and hiding" of my youth. "Muy sabio" was the response
I say never listen to what others say, go and find out for yourself. Sometimes people just say anything based on their own perception of an experience. That would never be yours. Buen Camino!Question, I have been told that the Policia are not friendly to Pilgrims and Pilgrims should avoid any contact. Is this so or just someone's individual experience
Thank you
How ironic! Do you expect us to heed this advice? Or ignore it?I say never listen to what others say, go and find out for yourself. Sometimes people just say anything based on their own perception of an experience. That would never be yours. Buen Camino!
Instead of wondering or speculating, why not ask some Romani pilgrims about their experiences with the police?Sadly, sometimes it is not just your country of origin or upbringing, but where you fit in the social hierarchy in that country. In Spain, I wonder if Romani pilgrims would have the same experience with the police as we do. Sometimes we are unaware of our privilege, which we certainly have as pilgrims with tourist euros.
In the early 90s, I was in Madrid to visit a student who had lived with us while taking an immersion English course at our local college.In the late 1960's / early 1970's as an hairy youth of indeterminate means rambling the roads of Spain I took every possible precaution to avoid any interaction with the GC. Best described as running and hiding at the first glimpse of that green uniform. On the one or two occasions when we did interact it was clear that a rifle-butt or a boot were the most readily available translators of Spanish to English.
Things changed after 1975.
I had an enjoyable conversation with an area comandante a few years ago in that truckstop in Villafranca Montes de Oca. He was really enthusiastic about the Camino, Peregrinos and the mounted patrols he had organized through the Montes. I told him about the "running and hiding" of my youth. "Muy sabio" was the response
I'm not sure if I've met any Romani pilgrims. Certainly, any Romani pilgrims here on the forum can feel free to chime in.Instead of wondering or speculating, why not ask some Romani pilgrims about their experiences with the police?
Are you basing your question on that scene from The Way where the pilgrim from Holland says the police don't like the Romani?
This is still true today in many countries in Europe. I don't know about Spain, though, I haven't heard anything about Romani since I arrived here.I'm not sure if I've met any Romani pilgrims. Certainly, any Romani pilgrims here on the forum can feel free to chime in.
I'm basing my speculation on the very real racism against Romani that I witnessed in Spain when I was living there (albeit some 30 years ago). I acknowledge the possibility that such racism has disappeared from Spanish society, although what I've seen in other countries leads me to believe its complete erasure is unlikely.
Yes. There is still racism in Spain against Romani, but less than 30 years ago (with those of Spanish origin).I'm not sure if I've met any Romani pilgrims. Certainly, any Romani pilgrims here on the forum can feel free to chime in.
I'm basing my speculation on the very real racism against Romani that I witnessed in Spain when I was living there (albeit some 30 years ago). I acknowledge the possibility that such racism has disappeared from Spanish society, although what I've seen in other countries leads me to believe its complete erasure is unlikely.
Yes unfortunately so. Kind of like the saying, can't have nothing nice. Someone always tries to turn the thread into something it's not.Time to shut this thread down!
Absolutely not true.Question, I have been told that the Policia are not friendly to Pilgrims and Pilgrims should avoid any contact. Is this so or just someone's individual experience
Thank you
The Police in Spain is very protective to pilgrims. Pilgrims are an important source of income in Spain. Thankfully. More than once have I been approached by them to only check out that I was well and had a good time.Question, I have been told that the Policia are not friendly to Pilgrims and Pilgrims should avoid any contact. Is this so or just someone's individual experience
Thank you
I think that’s the the purported aim of the LAPD.Absolutely not true.
They are there to protect and to serve.
The police do an excellent job.
I am never sure why we need to shut down any thread that even seems to suggest that the world and those within in aren’t all perfect. We seem to live in a bubble on here. Maybe it’s just me!!!Time to shut this thread down!
The reason is that the forum is intended to be a place where pilgrims help each other on topics related to the Camino de Santiago. The strong opinions on various world problems can get very emotional and divisive, in a way that detracts from the key forum mission, and can become very difficult to moderate.I
I am never sure why we need to shut down any thread that even seems to suggest that the world and those within in aren’t all perfect. We seem to live in a bubble on here. Maybe it’s just me!!!
Sure, thank you for responding and appreciate the moderation issue. Just an observation versus other forums, on other hobbies, that all.The reason is that the forum is intended to be a place where pilgrims help each other on topics related to the Camino de Santiago. The strong opinions on various world problems can get very emotional and divisive, in a way that detracts from the key forum mission, and can become very difficult to moderate.
Call me idealistic, but I would like to think it is because we are people, not just some valuable income source.The Police in Spain is very protective to pilgrims. Pilgrims are an important source of income in Spain. Thankfully.
And so do emergency rooms.Cool the local police stations have stamps?
Certainly from a UK standpoint, if a British Citizen gets attacked in a main ‘holiday hot spot’ such Cape Town, The Caribbean, Cape Town, or South East Asia, it is front page news, with an angle that may deter tourists, and the local officials act very quickly!Call me idealistic, but I would like to think it is because we are people, not just some valuable income
Maybe maybe not.I think for the most part of you are law abiding and street wise you will have little issue with police in most countries.
Thank you. Yes fully agree! I was going to caveat my post with pretty much what you said but I didn’t, and probably should have!! I am always conscious that my demographic means I have a certain amount of privilege! I come from quite a poor background and remember the amounts of ‘police stops’ in my youth when we were in the ‘wrong’ area such as a posh neighbourhood or such like!Maybe maybe not.
I was pulled off a train by Italian police at the Swiss border, because I look 'different.' Predjudicial treatment exists everywhere, and it's impossible to see unless you are the target.
So we all have a good impression of the GC, but as pilgrims by and large they want to make sure we are safe.
Same, usually. Travelling to where one is different gives a whole new perspective.I am always conscious that my demographic means I have a certain amount of privilege!
Yes. It can't help but do that. No doubt about it. And until we step outside the places where our demographic looks respectable we won't know.Maybe that impacts our thoughts and experiences
Thank you. Good insight and food for thought for many of us I am sure!Same, usually. Travelling to where one is different gives a whole new perspective.
Yes. It can't help but do that. No doubt about it. And until we step outside the places where our demographic looks respectable we won't know.
It's actually amusing. In parts of Asia I'm treated with the greatest respect. But not always in the West.
In Europe or NA the opposite sometimes applies, as when I was yanked off the train by Italian police, for no good cause except that I am 'different.' I'm white, late middle-aged/young elderly, and generally do not get to see how protective my perceived harmlessness is. But that experience was a real eye-opener. Now I can much bettet imagine what it must be to be innocent but a frequrnt target of police attention - because of race, gender, age, or whatever.
I say never listen to what others say, go and find out for yourself. Sometimes people just say anything based on their own perception of an experience. That would never be yours. Buen Camino!
Yes very well said! I always reflect on who is saying what, and think about why they might be saying it, and why they are saying it now, whether it is individuals or mass media….Never listening to what others say can potentially be a risky approach. The individual who started this thread received a comment from someone they know and have taken that thought to the forum for additional inputs. They now have many inputs and can make their own decision on the validity of the information.
A forum, like this one, is here for the purpose of providing feedback on on the Camino and related issues.