inspiredjen
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Frances (4-2013)
Reverse Camino Frances (5-2016)
Attempted Camino (8-2019)
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May I congratulate you on your approach.I asked him if he really thought i just went to the store just for him. He didn't reply. Don't think he got it. He did not touch my stuff again, but the whole day he kept looking at me funny. He really did not like me anymore hahaha.
This sort of freeloading i can't stand.
LesBrass, what a horrible thing to happen, especially as you've been waiting so long for the rain to stop so you could resume your training. Good on you for reporting the incident. I hope you feel better about things tomorrow. Fortunately you have your husband for support and your home to feel safe in. When things like this happen while you're on the Camino it takes an effort of will to put it behind you and move on, physically and mentally. Fortunately it's still very rare. Like that horrible man, the Camino flashers know their territory - secluded enough to hide themselves but always close to the road for a quick getaway. Sad men who get off on others' fear, I've found they can be seen off with a meaningfully-wielded baton (another reason why walking poles are great). Don't let that horrible man put you off your training!I had an unpleasant incident today whilst walking along the Vezeley Route
I would agree with Laurie's observations-- I've never felt safer than on a trail in the backwoods of Spain, but large middle-aged bearded men live on a different pane of vulnerability. I have spoken with younger women pilgrims who have had to deal with excessive projected attachment from male pilgrims. One told me that an advantage of albergue life was that the numbers provided her with a strong sense of security. Flashers should always be reported immediately-- I had a Civic Guard tell me that, while Spanish law meant that they could not easily be charged, they were often able to identify them, strongly encourage them to get professional help, and follow up--- she said that they were very anxious to do so as the security of pilgrims was important to them. In France, their behaviour is chargeable, and the French police are assiduous in protecting hikers-- but they need to know.
I was flashed on the Primitivo and in the Morvan between Vezelay and Le Puy - never on the Frances! It can happen anywhere but thankfully it's more of a nuisance than a danger. What maddens me is that for the rest of the day it makes me jump at shadows and feel sadly distrustful of strangersAs a woman who walks alone, I would add that though I've been flashed five times on three Caminos on the Frances, I have never been flashed or had any inappropriate behavior directed towards me on ten other caminos. Not exactly a large "N" for the social scientists, but it does suggest that the bad stuff, such as it is, is concentrated on the Camino Frances.
I want to "like" this so many times!!Nobody has ever flashed at me,jeez am i ugly or what(((...................
I Had never thought of the Camino as a city...but you are quite right....I walked in 2012 and am about to do all over again in August this year.....Had no issues on the first....snoring is part of the camino...and am hoping no issues on my next oneThe city that is the Camino Frances, a long, thin city but still a city, is probably the safest city on Earth. Can you imagine anywhere else on this poor planet where the worst thing that can happen is someone uses too much vigour when remonstrating with a snorer, or appropriates out of hunger food meant for the hunger of another. ( I hope it was out of hunger and not greed)
I am minded also of flashers, petty thieves, sad-sacks and blaggers. They are found in every town and village but are very thin on the ground on the Camino. Sad things, and bad things happen but very few when weighed against that mass of humanity making its way to Santiago. I walk the Caminos with the same, possibly less, caution that I walk the streets of my home town and I will intervene inappropriate behaviour when I see it. There are no Pilgrim Police or rather we are the constables of our peace. My saddest day was the day I confronted a pack rummager and everyone else in the room kept their backs firmly turned as they went about their business. My gladdest seeing a young cyclist give up his bottom bunk to an older walker and make his way to a mattress on the floor.
My saddest day was the day I confronted a pack rummager and everyone else in the room kept their backs firmly turned as they went about their business.
"Blagger". Now there's a term I've never heard before.... Pray tell, what is a Blagger?The city that is the Camino Frances, a long, thin city but still a city, is probably the safest city on Earth. Can you imagine anywhere else on this poor planet where the worst thing that can happen is someone uses too much vigour when remonstrating with a snorer, or appropriates out of hunger food meant for the hunger of another. ( I hope it was out of hunger and not greed)
I am minded also of flashers, petty thieves, sad-sacks and blaggers. They are found in every town and village but are very thin on the ground on the Camino. Sad things, and bad things happen but very few when weighed against that mass of humanity making its way to Santiago. I walk the Caminos with the same, possibly less, caution that I walk the streets of my home town and I will intervene inappropriate behaviour when I see it. There are no Pilgrim Police or rather we are the constables of our peace. My saddest day was the day I confronted a pack rummager and everyone else in the room kept their backs firmly turned as they went about their business. My gladdest seeing a young cyclist give up his bottom bunk to an older walker and make his way to a mattress on the floor.
British Prison slang for a bank robber
.... In the interests of keeping us all safe, I have to dispel a myth.
The biggest longitudinal study of which I'm aware (Firestone, Kingston, Wexler, et al 2006) found over 30% of flashers also engage in contact or violent sexual offences. One study (Freund 1990) found that 15% had committed rape. A significant number of offenders reported flashing only when they perceived it as unsafe to do more.
It is not safe to assume a flasher is harmless. You have a 70 % chance he's a harmless grub but a 30 % chance he's a spider.
If a flasher is threatening a woman he is threatening. Try to take note of details that will identify him (height, age, build, clothing, glasses, hair) but don't hesitate too long. The police advice is to act as if you are being attacked - yell "flasher!", shout, blow a whistle, and run away. Remove yourself from his presence as fast as possible. If he tries to follow scream like a banshee.
Do not confront a flasher because you do not know how he will react. Take a photo if you can do so safely but not at risk to yourself.
And please report it to police. If you do not you are allowing him to threaten others, quite likely children.
Glad to read that it was all resolved so amicably the next day.....smiles.I must admit i lost it with a couple of pilgrims who were rude to me,i gave them such an ear bashing they just stood mouths open,i'll get on with anyone but rude people,oh and next day they approached me on the road and apoligised,as did i for the use of language,we all hugged laughed n moved on.
"Starred Up"Falcon, should we ask how you are familiar with British Prison slang?
Two unpleasant experiences on the Frances a year ago-0ne involved a very rude French hospitalera in St Jean who threatened me with "no breakfast" because I put on my shoes that morning -( I was on my way out to start my walk after breakfast)- of course I told her what she can do with her breakfast & that I can have breakfast anywhere I want to. The other incident was in Ribadiso albergue where an older German who evidently thought I was on his bed (he was wrong) hit me on my back with a bag while I was sleeping & continually harassed me through dinner at the next door restaurant. He threatened to call the police , why I don't know. That was the last straw- I saw red, got up from my seat-yelled at him to go ahead & call the police & we'll see who'd go to jail-that I have met wonderful & amazing pilgrims from all walks of life, from all over the world but he was the exception -called him the devil of the Camino. He backed off then overheard him ask the restaurant manager where the bus station was. Other than these 2 bad experiences, my whole Camino experience was unforgettable!!Hi, peregrinos!
When I walked last year, I met the nicest people from all over the world and never had problems. But I heard of one man getting shoved (due to snoring) while he was asleep - which turned ugly.
There's so much trust and community on the Camino, so it seems like it would be the exception. Yet there must be issues at some point with so many people together from so many places.
Did you ever experience or hear of people being un-pilgrim-like? I'm curious about how this was "policed" and how local authorities handle pilgrim-related violence or illegal behavior.
No one asks for trouble. However I ,too, have had my share of 'unhappy' moments and from time to time felt the cold frisson of true fear. Luckily long ago I was taught by my father self-defence. Twice over the years I have been physically attacked; once when 35 while walking to work through Central Park when I knocked the guy down by swinging my briefcase into his groin and unfortunately more recently on the camino when at 71 I knocked a drunk off me while I was trying to take a siesta on a bottom bunk. Both incidents were duly reported to the relevant police; both those incidents left me shaken and wary but never stopped me continuing.
October 2007 I hiked 24 k against the wind to Sahagún. After a delicious lunch at Casa Barrunta in the village of San Nicolas the 'fun' began. From the highway which parallels the camino a taxi horn honked several times. One Spanish pilgrim rushed across the road. She explained that a young hoodlum wearing camouflage was walking the camino. For my safety she offered a ride. I said thanks but I would continue to walk.
Within 10 minutes footsteps crunched the gravel path. Bingo! It was a young guy wearing pink and grey camouflage! We looked at each other. I say "Hola!"; he grunts and passes. Arriving at the municipal albergue I try to explain the situation to the hospitalera. She gave me a key to lock myself in since the place is huge and I was the sole pilgrim. Time passed. While in the shower I hear heavy footsteps mounting the stairs. Covered in soap suds I dash for my poncho. Two big cops and two slim male cyclists appear! "Senora, we've brought you some protection" said the cops. We all laughed, shook hands and I clad only in the poncho brew tea for the five of us. After tea GREATLY relieved I finished my shower and climb into my bunk to blissfully sleep protected.
That was a tremendous posting and a very refreshing one....I love it when women take the initiative to stand up for themselves and I admire your strength and courage. It is unfortunate that these fear inducing situations exist but at least you were protected by the Guardia in that last account.
Margaret Meredith
Spain in general and the Camino in specific are generally peaceful places. People shoot off their mouths and vent their spleens, but violence is very rare indeed.
Even among drunks, if fisticuffs break out it is almost invariably a foreigner who throws the punch. Speaking strictly from my experience, Spaniards may be loud and surly at times, but they are not violent.
Kanga - I think it has something to do with the civil (or was it uncivil?) war and more probably the rule of law that Franco enforced for much of the period 1945-75. I recall that a policeman pointed his pistol at me (back in 1973) when I tried to cross a major road away from the authorised crossing (I "had" ignored his whistles and other warnings). But yes I will agree my recent experiences is that Spaniards are usually well behaved and polite to each other and especially to pilgrims.I was always amazed at how civil to each other the Spanish politicians were, compared to our "bear pits". The emphasis seemed to be on disagreeing about policies and ideas, without personally vindictive attacks. Tony Kevin speculates in his book that it was because the civil war so scarred everyone. Don't know if it is still the case.
Yes that was my experience in Finnesterre, a very drunk fellow was staying in the same Hostel I was & asked if I wanted to now were to go get fish. I made the comment that I had fish Just that very afternoon. But I was not very excited to pay such a high price again (50e). He immediately took offense & began cursing me, & of course insulting my country, I of course went into fight mode as he was very threatening. Thank goodness my Aussie friend said something that just snapped me right out of the fight. I simply turned & walked away as he followed for 50 m or so continuing to insult. My purpose for my walk was to leave my years of war & violence behind. Let them yell. It is a pilgrimage isn't it.Spain in general and the Camino in specific are generally peaceful places. People shoot off their mouths and vent their spleens, but violence is very rare indeed.
Even among drunks, if fisticuffs break out it is almost invariably a foreigner who throws the punch. Speaking strictly from my experience, Spaniards may be loud and surly at times, but they are not violent.
Nobody has ever flashed at me,jeez am i ugly or what(((...................
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