I totally agree, the warnings and remarks on this blog shouldn't be viewed as spreading fear as the awareness of the vulnerability of lone pilgrim especially lone female pilgrim is necessary to save and protect! On the other hand I would like to bring to your attention that fear is not at all negative, according to Gavin de Becker's book "The gift of fear", fear is the primal instinct that could save our life. So please don't hesitate to inform others and be informed and trust your instinct of fear when it is in your face. Here are a few link on the subject,
I have walked 5 different routes of the camino during the period between May 2013-August 2014. I walked most of the time alone, I preferred the solitude and meditative aspect while walking and I was lucky I came out of it safe and sound. Except I had the same experience on the Primitivo with the old man who came out to greet me and asI extend my hand for a handshake he grab my hands and pull me in to kiss my cheek.
It is possible (not being there I can't say for sure) that you have encountered a difference in local customs of greetings. A kiss on the cheek is not out of line--if you are dealing with someone from a hispanic culture. In South Texas and Mexico you can get an "abrazo" from all kinds of people, and the old custom in many social groups is to talk at such a close distance that you're practically hugging. (It's no wonder that they say that Americans are standoffish and shout all the time--we stand farther away, and what they call normal conversational tones we call whispering.) And if you have friendly conversation with a French person, you may get the two-cheek-kisses. It's a very brisk greeting.
It's a good idea to try and get a handle on what is considered normal social behavior for a place. We noticed that in Spain there were times when people stared quite freely--but it falls into "no harm, no foul." We also noticed that when we looked lost in Burgos, people assumed that we were looking for the Camino route and pointed out the (very obvious) arrows in the pavement. In Lisbon all we had to do sometimes was to stand still looking at a map in the subway and someone would walk up and ask if we needed help finding something. (Very friendly people, the Portuguese.)
It is also true that if someone creeps you out, you should take that as information to consider, not merely "the vapors" as the reason you are creeped-out is probably body language. Which is itself a mix of the inborn postures and the local cultures.
I walked with my buddy--though the first time, on the Frances, he was ahead most of the time--so I had someone who was aware of me. (And he swears that I was never out of sight, so maybe when I lost sight of him it was because I was looking at my footing instead of my hubby!) And it's always wise to be aware of your surroundings--there are such things as sinkholes, stray dogs, the occasional bandit, and the cross traffic that is driving almost fast enough to take flight.
And I conclude by repeating what I say a lot: On the Camino, you are watched over, and not only by the Spanish police. We were bailed out so, so many times and it was only much later that we realized that we'd been steered to the better place to be and to walk, as we had not even realized we were approaching onto trouble and we were steered clear of it. Thank you, Santiago!
Blessings
Karen