luckitravel
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- portugese Coastal may 2015
For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
i am very very sorry to hear about this -I would like to post a warning to any solo female traveler considering walking from Porto to Santiago along the coastal Portugese camino route . While walking from Vila do Conde to Esposende on May 6 th 2015 , in a very remote , isolated area , I was subject to an attempted sexual assault by a local , who had been following me by bike . He jumped out from bushes , grabbed me and dragged me into bushes and attempted to rape me . I had picked up a large stick earlier and luckily was able to fight him off . It was a totally unexpected ,violent assault . When I reported the incident in the tourist office in Esposende , the incident was totally dismissed by the agent in the tourist office , even though I asked him to report it , he refused to take a description of the guy or where the incident had occurred , leaving fellow walkers vulnerable to attack by a sexual predator . I have traveled the world and this is the first time I have ever had an experience like this .
I find that very disturbing. With a language barrier and the trauma of an assault, I would expect a tourist bureau to be extremely helpful in calling the authorities. It is quite damning that they were not.When I reported the incident in the tourist office in Esposende , the incident was totally dismissed by the agent in the tourist office
Lucky travel. I just want to acknowledge your courage to speak up about the horrific incident. It feels like all of a sudden these issues are emerging. Have they been happening for a while and gone unreported or is this a new phenomenon. I usually walk alone and have covered about 6000 km of pilgrim trails by now and have rarely felt uneasy. These recent reports have begun to make me a little edgy I must admit. I am shocked at the response of the tourist office. How traumatic that must have been after what happened.I would like to post a warning to any solo female traveler considering walking from Porto to Santiago along the coastal Portugese camino route . While walking from Vila do Conde to Esposende on May 6 th 2015 , in a very remote , isolated area , I was subject to an attempted sexual assault by a local , who had been following me by bike . He jumped out from bushes , grabbed me and dragged me into bushes and attempted to rape me . I had picked up a large stick earlier and luckily was able to fight him off . It was a totally unexpected ,violent assault . When I reported the incident in the tourist office in Esposende , the incident was totally dismissed by the agent in the tourist office , even though I asked him to report it , he refused to take a description of the guy or where the incident had occurred , leaving fellow walkers vulnerable to attack by a sexual predator . I have traveled the world and this is the first time I have ever had an experience like this .
Oh, my... that is awfull!!!I would like to post a warning to any solo female traveler considering walking from Porto to Santiago along the coastal Portugese camino route . While walking from Vila do Conde to Esposende on May 6 th 2015 , in a very remote , isolated area , I was subject to an attempted sexual assault by a local , who had been following me by bike . He jumped out from bushes , grabbed me and dragged me into bushes and attempted to rape me . I had picked up a large stick earlier and luckily was able to fight him off . It was a totally unexpected ,violent assault . When I reported the incident in the tourist office in Esposende , the incident was totally dismissed by the agent in the tourist office , even though I asked him to report it , he refused to take a description of the guy or where the incident had occurred , leaving fellow walkers vulnerable to attack by a sexual predator . I have traveled the world and this is the first time I have ever had an experience like this .
Thank you for the police number , I will phone them . The only reason I posted this was when my sister alerted me to the pilgrim who disappeared .So sorry to hear about this.
From the description, this will have happened in the north of Aguçadora or south of Apúlia.
It is a very nice area to walk on, mostly sand, walking between fields of vegetables. It can feel remote and some paths have high bush/tree hedges.
I am from the Esposende area, this is very worrying. It is horrible that we have sexual predator nearby. I am also appalled at the behavior of the person in the tourist office.
The police in Esposende is the GNR:
Phone: +351 25398911
Their new installations are located here. I hope no one needs this information.
Because the incident was a while ago (6th) and luckitravel is presumably back home (safe and sound I hope) I'm not sure what can be done.
To refer to this post as 'Getting to be like the tummy bug' is, I find, a rather insensitive comment Scott and in poor taste....just saying.Getting to be like the tummy bug.
In a horrible and insensitive way he is right though. Why all these attacks on women in the last months? This is not what I have experienced of the Camino. I am saddened personnally and sorry for the victims.To refer to this post as 'Getting to be like the tummy bug' is, I find, a rather insensitive comment Scott and in poor taste....just saying.
Yes.In a horrible and insensitive way
Bravo, Falcon!Yes.
Harassment has always occurred. It is being reported now. There is nothing surprising about camino advocates keeping the attitude positive, but with the very dark turn that the disappearance of Denise Thiem is, victims are now coming forward to indicate how widespread the assaults on women are. It makes me a bit queasy when men minimize the attacks and are dismissive of the reports. That attitude has always been part of the problem; blame the victim or just tell them to suck it up. That is just too easy to say coming from someone who is in no danger.
I actually interpreted this to mean sexual harassment towards women on the Camino is starting to be as common as getting a tummy bug. A note on the seriousness of the trend.Getting to be like the tummy bug.
Hi Luckitravel, I am sorry this happened to you. My husband and I did the same coastal route starting one day after you and it is true, there are some parts of the Camino that are isolated, especially when you walk through the woods. It is too bad we didn't cross our paths to walk together and be safer.I would like to post a warning to any solo female traveler considering walking from Porto to Santiago along the coastal Portugese camino route . While walking from Vila do Conde to Esposende on May 6 th 2015 , in a very remote , isolated area , I was subject to an attempted sexual assault by a local , who had been following me by bike . He jumped out from bushes , grabbed me and dragged me into bushes and attempted to rape me . I had picked up a large stick earlier and luckily was able to fight him off . It was a totally unexpected ,violent assault . When I reported the incident in the tourist office in Esposende , the incident was totally dismissed by the agent in the tourist office , even though I asked him to report it , he refused to take a description of the guy or where the incident had occurred , leaving fellow walkers vulnerable to attack by a sexual predator . I have traveled the world and this is the first time I have ever had an experience like this .
To refer to this post as 'Getting to be like the tummy bug' is, I find, a rather insensitive comment Scott and in poor taste....just saying.
Harassment has always occurred. It is being reported now. There is nothing surprising about camino advocates keeping the attitude positive, but with the very dark turn that the disappearance of Denise Thiem is, victims are now coming forward to indicate how widespread the assaults on women are. It makes me a bit queasy when men minimize the attacks and are dismissive of the reports. That attitude has always been part of the problem; blame the victim or just tell them to suck it up. That is just too easy to say coming from someone who is in no danger.
5 years on the Camino and I've never witnessed or been part of a conversation that is springing up all over the internet. Just seems all strange to me.
Isn't that just about a zero possibility? Don't you think women perceive it differently?I will say that if such a feckin crime as this was perpetrated towards myself
Just as an aside: there can be quite easily an increase in incidents. Copy-Cat crimes are not a fantasy, they do happen.Maybe the increased number of reports and the fact they are seen to be taken seriously by many pilgrims gives women the confidence to report these incidents without the fear of being disbelieved?
I very much doubt there is a huge increase in incidents - just an increase in reporting them.
By the way this incident happened in PortugalIf you have been a victum why would you not directly report the crime to the authorities? I will say that if such a feckin crime as this was perpetrated towards myself there would be no one in authority that did not hear my outrage. I would not depend on a hostal worker, tourist day worker or am albergue attendant to handle my fury.
Increase in incidents, really? Spain has a sudden rash of perversion?
Ola..... While i understand the perspective you outlined about your outrage being heard by all in authority, i just ask you to consider another experience level: that of victims too traumatized , too frightened, too 'i just want to forget about it' for it to be reported,If you have been a victum why would you not directly report the crime to the authorities? I will say that if such a feckin crime as this was perpetrated towards myself there would be no one in authority that did not hear my outrage. I would not depend on a hostal worker, tourist day worker or am albergue attendant to handle my fury.
Increase in incidents, really? Spain has a sudden rash of perversion?
Isn't that just about a zero possibility? Don't you think women perceive it differently?
Yes I mistyped, thank you go catching that.By the way this incident happened in Portugal
I have reported the assault to the Portugese embassy , Dublin , Ireland . they have been fantastic and have contacted the police in Vila do Conde , Esposende , the mayor of Esposende , and the office turismo de Portugal . Hopefully the perpetrator will be apprehended , creating a safer walking environment .I would like to post a warning to any solo female traveler considering walking from Porto to Santiago along the coastal Portugese camino route . While walking from Vila do Conde to Esposende on May 6 th 2015 , in a very remote , isolated area , I was subject to an attempted sexual assault by a local , who had been following me by bike . He jumped out from bushes , grabbed me and dragged me into bushes and attempted to rape me . I had picked up a large stick earlier and luckily was able to fight him off . It was a totally unexpected ,violent assault . When I reported the incident in the tourist office in Esposende , the incident was totally dismissed by the agent in the tourist office , even though I asked him to report it , he refused to take a description of the guy or where the incident had occurred , leaving fellow walkers vulnerable to attack by a sexual predator . I have traveled the world and this is the first time I have ever had an experience like this .
I have reported the assault to the Portugese embassy , Dublin , Ireland . they have been fantastic and have contacted the police in Vila do Conde , Esposende , the mayor of Esposende , and the office turismo de Portugal . Hopefully the perpetrator will be apprehended , creating a safer walking environment .
Thank you -- I believe it is difficult for men to fully understand the vulnerability women experience as a way of life. The quote about opportunity to be brave is a grand idea, yet reality of "just disappearing" is a true consideration everywhere & everyday. I pray for enlightenment & grace.Yes.
Harassment has always occurred. It is being reported now. There is nothing surprising about camino advocates keeping the attitude positive, but with the very dark turn that the disappearance of Denise Thiem is, victims are now coming forward to indicate how widespread the assaults on women are. It makes me a bit queasy when men minimize the attacks and are dismissive of the reports. That attitude has always been part of the problem; blame the victim or just tell them to suck it up. That is just too easy to say coming from someone who is in no danger.
That is the way to do it! Report, report and report any incident! Well done luckitravelI have reported the assault to the Portugese embassy , Dublin , Ireland . they have been fantastic and have contacted the police in Vila do Conde , Esposende , the mayor of Esposende , and the office turismo de Portugal . Hopefully the perpetrator will be apprehended , creating a safer walking environment .
Thanks so much Kevin for putting some sort of historical perspective to this topic!...My wife and I have been walking various Caminos either alone or together since the year 2000. She has been "flashed" twice, while walking alone, the last incident occurring in 2007, so. I'm afraid, its nothing new. She reported the incidents to the police and one man was caught. We've also been on the Camino and heard from others about unpleasant incidents in the last fifteen years.
Brava Lucki!! And hopefully the "office turismo de Portugal" will replace their insensitive employee with a kinder one!I have reported the assault to the Portugese embassy , Dublin , Ireland . they have been fantastic and have contacted the police in Vila do Conde , Esposende , the mayor of Esposende , and the office turismo de Portugal . Hopefully the perpetrator will be apprehended , creating a safer walking environment .
It happened at the Esposende booth of the tourist info. You can not say the every employee of any random Portuguese tourist info should have done the same.Thanks so much Kevin for putting some sort of historical perspective to this topic!
Brava Lucki!! And hopefully the "office turismo de Portugal" will replace their insensitive employee with a kinder one!
I hope they retrain the person indeed and learn their lessons in common.Albertinho, I'm sorry if my reply sounded negative, I certainly didn't intend it that way. I was referring only to the employee that luckitravel referred to in her OP - and now that I think of it, that person probably would benefit more from a bit of retraining rather than the loss of a job.
I am so sorry to hear your terrifying experienceI would like to post a warning to any solo female traveler considering walking from Porto to Santiago along the coastal Portugese camino route . While walking from Vila do Conde to Esposende on May 6 th 2015 , in a very remote , isolated area , I was subject to an attempted sexual assault by a local , who had been following me by bike . He jumped out from bushes , grabbed me and dragged me into bushes and attempted to rape me . I had picked up a large stick earlier and luckily was able to fight him off . It was a totally unexpected ,violent assault . When I reported the incident in the tourist office in Esposende , the incident was totally dismissed by the agent in the tourist office , even though I asked him to report it , he refused to take a description of the guy or where the incident had occurred , leaving fellow walkers vulnerable to attack by a sexual predator . I have traveled the world and this is the first time I have ever had an experience like this .
@luckitravel hasn't been back to the forum since 2015, so I will close this thread.I posted my experience more than a week ago here. I wonder if you would recognise the man you talk about?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?