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Definitely leave them at home especially if you carry them in the bottom of your packI had both Pepper spray and whistle with me. They never left bottom of my pack. I was solo walker never felt unsafe. I won’t be taking them on my next Camino!
If this is your plan please, I implore you, take a local course (most police offer it in US) on self defense and how best to protect yourself. If you have no experience you may very well find the PS a hinderance that could possibly be used to cause you greater suffering at the hands of a n'er do well than simply being pushed down and robbed. Only carry PS if you are sure you are equipped to use it. Please!Hello all,
I am going on my first camino on Wednesday, starting from Léon. Since I am a solo female traveler, I wish to carry a pepper spray - not out of fear but for "just in case" scenario and ease of mind. However, I am not sure where I can purchase it in Léon... Would anyone know? Unfortunately, I cannot bring it on the plane.
I will also buy a whistle as suggested in other threads!
Thank you,
Ester
Something to consider: 'In case' is always fear - much more subtle than the heart-pounding kind, but still on that spectrum. One thing that most of us get to see on the Camino is how much 'in case' drives us, and how burdening it is.not out of fear but for "just in case" scenario and ease of mind.
I wouldn't consider doing that, but I happily walk the Camino alone.I don't even hike the Appalachian Trail alone.
As it is your first camino, you are in for a treat, @BucketBabe.I'll be looking for it in Pamplona as it's my first camino and I don't even hike the Appalachian Trail alone. As I've written one other place on the forum, I carry it at home. Remember @sitareh19, this is your camino and you have to do what feels right for you. Buen Camino!
I'll be looking for it in Pamplona as it's my first camino and I don't even hike the Appalachian Trail alone. As I've written one other place on the forum, I carry it at home. Remember @sitareh19, this is your camino and you have to do what feels right for you. Buen Camino!
I am going on my first camino on Wednesday, starting from Léon. Since I am a solo female traveler, I wish to carry a pepper spray
Unfortunately, yes.Is that even legal in Spain ?
I think I cannot decide on the pepper spray because I am not a woman... for a man I would say it is totally unnecessary and should not be on the camino.... I also carried a small knife (checked baggage) and I definitely pulled it out twice as a confidence booster when needed and it also served me well in slicing apples...
it is NOT just "your camino." It is OUR camino. You are not walking alone, you are part of a family when you walk here. A family that will care for you, and do its best to keep you safe. Lots of bad things happen in families, but you don't bring pepper spray or mace to Thanksgiving dinner, do you?
Leave weapons at home. They are not needed on the camino, nor are they welcome.
You can have a pepper spray in Spain under conditions. You must be older than 18 years aun the product must be released to use by G. Civil. The main problem, the utilization of it. In you cannot prove that you were being attaket at that moment, and you cause injures to the aggressor he can demand you.Hello all,
I am going on my first camino on Wednesday, starting from Léon. Since I am a solo female traveler, I wish to carry a pepper spray - not out of fear but for "just in case" scenario and ease of mind. However, I am not sure where I can purchase it in Léon... Would anyone know? Unfortunately, I cannot bring it on the plane.
I will also buy a whistle as suggested in other threads!
Thank you,
Ester
Ester , the original poster , just wishes to know where to buy the pepper spray from .....simple question and i don't suppose she is looking to justify her choice . If it make her feel safer/happier as a lone female then that is already a plus . If she never has to use it then it was just a bit of useless kit , and i am sure we have all been guilty of that .
As an aside ......last year on the VdLP i was attacked by a pack of 5 dogs ( they brought me off my bike ) , this year if it happens again they will learn what WD 40 tastes like ( if i am quick enough )
"Risk causing damage to the dogs" ? Are you serious ? That's a good one.I must mention that the same sentiments go for the people who feel they must carry "dog dazers" in case they encounter what they might consider to be dangerous dogs. They risk causing damage to the dogs and far greater danger for future pilgrims than whatever advantage they think they are receiving.
I am very against the people who feel they must carry "dog dazers" or chemical agents in case they encounter what they might consider to be dangerous dogs. They risk causing great injury to the dogs and far greater danger for future pilgrims than whatever advantage they think they are receiving.
Hello all,
I am going on my first camino on Wednesday, starting from Léon. Since I am a solo female traveler, I wish to carry a pepper spray - not out of fear but for "just in case" scenario and ease of mind. However, I am not sure where I can purchase it in Léon... Would anyone know? Unfortunately, I cannot bring it on the plane.
I will also buy a whistle as suggested in other threads!
Thank you,
Ester
What do you intend to do with it?....but I did and will carry a small knife .
What do you intend to do with it?
Honestly this is the most depressing thread.... I will not revisit it again. My horror is beyond words....
Or we may all just learn Maori Haka dance to scare the perpetrators and loose dogs:Good grief! I honestly had no idea that people can feel so strongly about carrying pepperspray and pocket knives and would find a discussion about this topic depressing. I'm not making fun of it but I'm asking myself now, being a carrier of pocket knives and a sympathizer with the pepperspray crowd, whether I'm a fear-ridden woman who should not set foot on the camino let alone enter an albergue or a trusting, generally happy person who is convinced that my fellow peregrinas will do me no harm.
This is THE question. This thread has me stunned. I have traveled a bit and never felt safer anywhere than when I was on the Camino. Maybe equally as safe when in northern Thailand. On my first Camino, I did try to heed the common advice that you often overpack because of your fears, but I still overpacked a bit. But that overpacking was about weather and such, not about carrying defensive weapons. I do not travel to places where I have a high expectation of being unsafe. If you believe you need a defensive weapon to walk the Camino, maybe it is not for you.Question: if you consider the Camino to be a dangerous place - dangerous enough to justify carrying a weapon (mace/pepper spray/knife!!) - why bother walking it in the first place?
If you were replying to my post I must add that I come from Slovenia, not Slovakia.I think we should be aware that our opinions may be shaped by the country or countries we are closely associated with. I noticed that, at least according to Wikipedia, countries such as Austria and Slovakia do not only allow adults to carry pepperspray but that the police in these countries even encourages women and pensioners to use it. Wikipedia, not my opinion.
I think we should be aware that our opinions may be shaped by the country or countries we are closely associated with. I noticed that, at least according to Wikipedia, countries such as Austria and Slovakia do not only allow adults to carry pepperspray but that the police in these countries even encourages women and pensioners to use it. Wikipedia, not my opinion. Also, the quantity allowed to be carried and the percentage of the active ingredient are not the same everywhere.
LOL, I can keep them apart. Slovenia isn't mentioned in the Wikipedia article.If you were replying to my post I must add that I come from Slovenia, not Slovakia. Very often mix-up
If you were replying to my post I must add that I come from Slovenia, not Slovakia.
I thought that was Hungary's job.LOL, I can keep them apart.
I carried what I call a screamer. It gives off a loud shrill noise that can damage your hearing if left sounding too long. I never used it, nor did I ever feel unsafe. Buen Camino.Hello all,
I am going on my first camino on Wednesday, starting from Léon. Since I am a solo female traveler, I wish to carry a pepper spray - not out of fear but for "just in case" scenario and ease of mind. However, I am not sure where I can purchase it in Léon... Would anyone know? Unfortunately, I cannot bring it on the plane.
I will also buy a whistle as suggested in other threads!
Thank you,
Ester
Partly but mostly it's AustriaI thought that was Hungary's job.
That's the country with the kangaroos isn't it?Partly but mostly it's Austria
Yeah, many of them in Alps and even on the ski slopes. Regular sightsThat's the country with the kangaroos isn't it?
You're right!Yeah, many of them in Alps and even on the ski slopes. Regular sights
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