Is with a heavy heart that I have to announced that my walk to Santiago de Compostela from Lisbon has been interrupted.
On Tuesday, September 19th I started walking from Se Cathedral in Lisbon, walked for 5 hours making a quick stop for a cappuccino at Parque das Nacoes. My goal was to get to Sacavem, have lunch there and continue to the hostel few hours from there. Those 5 hours of walk were full of joy, I felt very happy and fulfilled doing what I love. It was after I had to take a turn into a path by the Tijo River that destiny changed. This part was well marked showing that it was the route to Santiago (yellow arrow) and to Fatima (Blue Arrow), very isolated area, not much around. River to my left and just bushes and hills to the right. At the beginning I was able to see the highway or road up above to the right on the hill. To make a long story short, after half and hour I crossed path with a jogger, then 40 minutes later on his way back he assaulted me. Without going into much details he jumped me and robbed me. There was a struggle between us. Everything that unfolded after that will be for another post once I am ready to talk about it. Just know that I am fine, thankfully he did not stabbed me, broke any bones nor raped me. Only my face is in bad shape as at one point he kicked me several times with his feet while I was on the floor. But I promise that I am not hurting, I am fine considering the situation. Know that my spirit has not been broken, I am not angry and I truly forgive him. What happened to me could have happened anywhere, in any street of any city around the world but for whatever reason this experience was meant for me. While I was waiting for the police and ambulance I saw and Italian peregrina girl walk by, then thirty minutes later a peregrino guy, so this could have happened to them but I guess it was my time. This is the first time in my life that experience any kind of violence.
This incident is not a reflection on Portugal or its people, nor the Caminos. Bad people are everywhere but know that kind people outnumber those bad once. Throughout this, I have not felt alone once. I was really taken care by everyone that I came in contact these past few days. This include the paramedics, the staff at the Hospital Beatriz Angelo, the different police departments that were involved, from the one at the hospital to the GNR. Also I can not say enough about the staff at the current hotel I am staying at, they were the only hotel that when all was set and done they agree to give me a room with no credit card, just took my word that I would pay them the next day while I figure things out (will post their info once I am gone). The police helped me find this hotel, not the US Embassy who really left me hanging on my own at 9pm at night when I called them from the hospital as I was being released. They only assisted to get me a temporary passport the next day where I had to go in person, but they would not pay for one night hotel, they expected me to call relatives or friends in the States to send me money. Did I say this was at 9pm at night and all beaten up! But details of this will be told in another post as I am very disappointed with their procedure. We all get the sense and been told that if anything happens abroad to a US citizen we will be taken care of. Yes, right...
Also, I do call upon Portuguese authorities and organizations involved with this Camino to reconsider the marking of the Camino from Lisbon. The police was very surprised to know that this is the route peregrinos are encouraged to take. This is not a good area to be at. They even mentioned to me that even if people walk in groups (there was a group of four Hispanic ladies probably in their late 50's that I met after the assault that waited with me for the police) there will be nothing they could do as if a gang tried to robbed them as there is literally nothing around there and no police presence.
Today Via Lucitana contacted me to check on me and offer their help and support. Thanks to
@peregrina2000 who got in touch with them and has been checking up on me. I really appreciated.
Via Lucitana told me they reported yesterday the incident to the Ministry of tourism in hopes that they get more police presence in the area.
So you maybe asking if I will return to the US now, well, no. I will stay in Lisbon for five days to recover and then plan to travel to Fatima next week to pray to the Virgen as I am very thankful that I am alive. After that I will reassess my options.
I will be posting more on this incident and future plans on Facebook and IG @theworldmyvillage
Peace out from Lisbon and this is a reminder to live life to the fullest everyday as tomorrow is never guaranteed
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