MileHighPair
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Many, many Caminos, mostly past maybe some future.
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) |
---|
Wow, that's a little off putting, I'll be waking that stretch in around two weeks (lone woman) I think maybe I'll take the bus to Guillena if I can't find someone to walk with...it's not such a pretty stage that I will miss it much.We are considering a Via de la Plata camino, so I was looking a recent youtube video. At the 2:30 mark this man tells of a French pilgrim being robbed last week, on the second day out of Seville. Hopefully the authorities will catch the bandit. Here is the link:
I have watched his other videos as well. You are right, this is not a scam. If you watch his second video, it was nice for them to have a "collection" and compensate the poor fellow a bit.I've been a "lurker" on this forum for some time. Thought it would be helpful to confirm the previous posts, so signed up to comment. This is neither a scam (police were informed etc) nor a scare-mongering rehash of a story from a previous year. Of course this does require your taking my word for it, which you are welcome not to do.
I've been a "lurker" on this forum for some time. Thought it would be helpful to confirm the previous posts, so signed up to comment. This is neither a scam (police were informed etc) nor a scare-mongering rehash of a story from a previous year. Of course this does require your taking my word for it, which you are welcome not to do.
If there has been a robbery, then reporting that to the Guardia Civil would be the best thing to have done.If this is for real then let us hope that a proper report was made to the appropriate authorities and that Hospiteleros down-stream have been advised so that they can share this info with passing pilgrims.
A couple of years back reports of robbery on stage 1 were rife, and I was a lone female pilgrim. They caught the offenders, but maybe they're now out of gaWow, that's a little off putting, I'll be waking that stretch in around two weeks (lone woman) I think maybe I'll take the bus to Guillena if I can't find someone to walk with...it's not such a pretty stage that I will miss it much.
Stories of robbery on day 1 out of Sevilla were rife two years ago when I did it - as a lone female. I had asked around at Triana, and no-one was starting the same time as me. I was quite scared - took alarm, spray, stick, and "false" wallet and passport and mobile phone. But the Guardia Civil were patrolling along the long straight stretch after Itálica. A month later the robbers were caught, but maybe they are now out of gaol and starting again. The scariest bit was just after the Guadalquivir when you turn right and pass a travellers' camp with mangy dogs and thin horses and hostile eyes. Just keep your eyes open and your stick handy.Consider busing it to Guillena and start walking there!, I hope this is just an old video...
A couple of years back reports of robbery on stage 1 were rife, and I was a lone female pilgrim. They caught the offenders, but maybe they're now out of ga
Stories of robbery on day 1 out of Sevilla were rife two years ago when I did it - as a lone female. I had asked around at Triana, and no-one was starting the same time as me. I was quite scared - took alarm, spray, stick, and "false" wallet and passport and mobile phone. But the Guardia Civil were patrolling along the long straight stretch after Itálica. A month later the robbers were caught, but maybe they are now out of gaol and starting again. The scariest bit was just after the Guadalquivir when you turn right and pass a travellers' camp with mangy dogs and thin horses and hostile eyes. Just keep your eyes open and your stick handy.
Thanks for the heads up on the travellers site...I hopefully will find someone to walk with that day, I'm generally very confident alone and have walked the Norte & Frances by myself, but having experienced a pretty awful ambush outside of Leon a few years ago (I was with my friend) which pretty much spoilt the next couple of days walking with anxiety and anger, I think on balance it'd be better to lose a days walking than take the risk of being robbed and traumatised for a few days. It seems like this particular section is a bit of a hot spot for trouble.A couple of years back reports of robbery on stage 1 were rife, and I was a lone female pilgrim. They caught the offenders, but maybe they're now out of ga
Stories of robbery on day 1 out of Sevilla were rife two years ago when I did it - as a lone female. I had asked around at Triana, and no-one was starting the same time as me. I was quite scared - took alarm, spray, stick, and "false" wallet and passport and mobile phone. But the Guardia Civil were patrolling along the long straight stretch after Itálica. A month later the robbers were caught, but maybe they are now out of gaol and starting again. The scariest bit was just after the Guadalquivir when you turn right and pass a travellers' camp with mangy dogs and thin horses and hostile eyes. Just keep your eyes open and your stick handy.
Laurie - when the two robbers were caught it was very near that camp, just outside Camas, I think.Just a quick question, sirjohnharington -- I remember passing the camp you mentioned, but my impression is that that is nowhere near the site of the attacks, am I right about that? I thought the attacks were all happening on the off-road stretch after the Camino turns to the left off the highway north of Italica.
This is bad deja vu. I am assuming that the Guardia Civil and other authorities are all well aware of what looks like either a repeat performance or a copycat crime. I will write to the Sevilla Amigos association just to see if there's more information to pass along. Buen camino, Laurie
When I was panicking about robberies on the Forum before setting off someone wrote "You have nothing to fear but fear itself". Just before I left the UK my parish priest blessed me at Mass for the forthcoming pilgrimage and said "May Christ and all his angels keep you safe". So I wish you the same - Buen Camino.Thanks for the heads up on the travellers site...I hopefully will find someone to walk with that day, I'm generally very confident alone and have walked the Norte & Frances by myself, but having experienced a pretty awful ambush outside of Leon a few years ago (I was with my friend) which pretty much spoilt the next couple of days walking with anxiety and anger, I think on balance it'd be better to lose a days walking than take the risk of being robbed and traumatised for a few days. It seems like this particular section is a bit of a hot spot for trouble.
Un abrazo
Totally understand! Thank you for your buen-wishes.@Ed t Thanks for coming back. No disrespect was intended. My day job makes me, perhaps, over-suspicious of "tales from strange lands of which we know little".
Buen, safe, Camino
Thank you, it will be fabulous either wayWhen I was panicking about robberies on the Forum before setting off someone wrote "You have nothing to fear but fear itself". Just before I left the UK my parish priest blessed me at Mass for the forthcoming pilgrimage and said "May Christ and all his angels keep you safe". So I wish you the same - Buen Camino.
Maybe this is a reason to "hire" a big dog to take with you for the first 200 km.!!!No doubting authenticity.Setting off with amigo on 15 th April, with a very BIG friend....if Necessary will beat the ..... Out of him
Like the old knights should used to protect innocent 68 year- olds.
Wow, the idea of a false wallet I found very good. Possible thief/robber won't look in it until at safe place to do so. But if (s)he in any case would do it on the spot of robbery I would put at least 1 overdue/expired credit card and some fake business cards for a good measure in that wallet along with 2-3 5€ notes.A couple of years back reports of robbery on stage 1 were rife, and I was a lone female pilgrim. They caught the offenders, but maybe they're now out of ga
Stories of robbery on day 1 out of Sevilla were rife two years ago when I did it - as a lone female. I had asked around at Triana, and no-one was starting the same time as me. I was quite scared - took alarm, spray, stick, and "false" wallet and passport and mobile phone. But the Guardia Civil were patrolling along the long straight stretch after Itálica. A month later the robbers were caught, but maybe they are now out of gaol and starting again. The scariest bit was just after the Guadalquivir when you turn right and pass a travellers' camp with mangy dogs and thin horses and hostile eyes. Just keep your eyes open and your stick handy.
Buen Camino! We just might.Hi Felix, I see you are starting the VdlP shortly. I can't help on the subject of this thread, but I am flying our this week and starting the camino from Zafra on 11 April. So we may meet up. Patrick
thanks for the update Laurie. It's very reassuring that the civil guardia are looking after the pilgrims on this stage. To any forummember: If anyone is walking an 20 April and wants a walking partner let me know. I'm not staying at Triana but at Petit Palace Canalejas for two days. Arrive late on 18th April. If you want safety in numbers please leave me a message.I just received an email from the President of the Sevilla Amigos Association, and here is an update:
"These events were neither in the same place nor by the same people as last time. It appears to have been after Italica upon leaving Santiponce. It seems that the first pilgrim didn't go to the police, but someone jumped out at him and asked for money threatening with a knife. The next day the same thing happened, but this pilgrim did go to the police. We have spoken with the police in Guillena and they are aware of the incidents and working to keep camino safe. No further incidents have been reported."
Buen camino, Laurie
You could consider using that first day to rest and recover from jet lag. Hook up with some pilgrims that evening and after getting another night's sleep, head out early with others.This is disturbing. I'm here in Sevilla, starting Monday. I'm not at the albergue, and worry about finding others to walk with. With jet lag I'm getting up rather late. Thinking about taking advice to skip the area by bus.
Thank you!Buen camino Felix!
No one is walking this for me, so yes, I judge my own safety levels. I'm also a señora.Senor FelixBC,
You are the judge but try not to be over cautious.
Buen Camino.
Hola! A photo diary, with noted galore: instagram.com/felixbcGood morning Felix! Are there lots of pilgrims? Will you be writing a blog? (I'm 2 months behind you)
And me, next weekAs a matter of principle I'll be walking that section.
Maybe I'm just a stubborn old B but I won't be dictated to by a scum like that.
I walked the VDLP 4 years ago and was approached by 2 men just before crossing the bridge on the vile industrial estate when leaving Seville, they asked me for money, cigarettes and if i had a watch? i told them to F--- Off and i started to walk away very fast heading for Camas...they followed me for a while and then lost interest.
So two men wanted money, cigarettes and your watch? Four years ago would make it 2011. I haven't heard any reports from then, but apparently this has been going on for a long time! Maybe hundreds of years for all we know. Thank God for this forum where we can share our experiences and gain information. I don't want to be a victim (again) and this VDLP is sounding more and more dangerous. Even when walking with another person. I may just opt for a different Camino. This may be too dangerous.
Or a country without robberies.I think that if you are worried about VdlP you could opt for Camino Frances
Try Camino Levante, I have walked it and it is not so drab,dry or boring as the VDLP, might consider it again this year after walking the Frances for the 10th time completeSo two men wanted money, cigarettes and your watch? Four years ago would make it 2011. I haven't heard any reports from then, but apparently this has been going on for a long time! Maybe hundreds of years for all we know. Thank God for this forum where we can share our experiences and gain information. I don't want to be a victim (again) and this VDLP is sounding more and more dangerous. Even when walking with another person. I may just opt for a different Camino. This may be too dangerous.
So two men wanted money, cigarettes and your watch? Four years ago would make it 2011. I haven't heard any reports from then, but apparently this has been going on for a long time! Maybe hundreds of years for all we know. Thank God for this forum where we can share our experiences and gain information. I don't want to be a victim (again) and this VDLP is sounding more and more dangerous. Even when walking with another person. I may just opt for a different Camino. This may be too dangerous.
Ahm, RMK, the VdlP was boring etc., therefore you are thinking of Levante but you didn't finished Levante before because of...???Try Camino Levante, I have walked it and it is not so drab,dry or boring as the VDLP, might consider it again this year after walking the Frances for the 10th time complete
Thank you for pointing this alternative. It looks like an interesting section to walk also. According to @KinkyOne ,Levante can be staged with reasonable distances also. I am diving into this now. I am interested in why you would go back to Levante also if it is too ugly...Try Camino Levante, I have walked it and it is not so drab,dry or boring as the VDLP, might consider it again this year after walking the Frances for the 10th time complete
Sorry for off topic - the longest stretch between acommodations on Levante I found is between Toledo and Rielves = 26,8km.Thank you for pointing this alternative. It looks like an interesting section to walk also. According to @KinkyOne ,Levante can be staged with reasonable distances also. I am diving into this now. I am interested in why you would go back to Levante also if it is too ugly...
I was under the impression that there are long stages 30-40 km on the Levante, until i saw your guide. Thank you so much for compiling that guide btw, you have saved me lot of prep time. I was planning a May vdlp and now reconsidering to start from Valencia and join vdlp, exactly as you planned.Sorry for off topic - the longest stretch between acommodations on Levante I found is between Toledo and Rielves = 26,8km.
Thanks. I have some correction already, but let's move this to Levante section. In my thread if you wish, so we won't hijack this oneI was under the impression that there are long stages 30-40 km on the Levante, until i saw your guide. Thank you so much for compiling that guide btw, you have saved me lot of prep time. I was planning a May vdlp and now reconsidering to start from Valencia and join vdlp, exactly as you planned.
Thanks! The Via de la Plata has been amazing, now 2 weeks in. Some of my fellow pilgrims have been sending the link to my Instagram feed (felixBC) to family back home, so they don't need to take so many pics.Felix, keep taking those photos! You have some fantastic shots there
Follow up: we did! Right on the 11th out of Zafra. Nice.Buen Camino! We just might.
Hi All!We are considering a Via de la Plata camino, so I was looking a recent youtube video. At the 2:30 mark this man tells of a French pilgrim being robbed last week, on the second (edit: First day?! - see comment below) day out of Seville. Hopefully the authorities will catch the bandit. Here is the link:
Hey Steve, we watched every one of your videos and enjoyed them all. We are still considering this walk for 2016, just about the same time of year as your trip this year. Buen Camino!Hi All!
I am the guy in the video (Slow Walking Stevie Wonder). Just yesterday I got back from a fabulous walk on the VdlP and found my face on this forum! I want to say Hi to Ed who was the one who had the idea to collect something to help Phillip. (in the video it sounded like it was partly my idea... it wasn't, it was Ed's...I just wanted to help!)
I wanted to respond to the talk on the theft by saying that I will likely go back to the Vdlp and will take my wife with me. We will walk from Seville to Guillen without fear. The only thing I might do differently is to take the left path and not the right into Guillen (or whatever the first town is
This was too nice a walk to let fear get to you! I 100% would recommend it!
I hope you all have a fabulous time... I did!
Buen Camino
Slow Walking Stevie Wonder
ps... Ed... It was great to walk with you for a while! Wish it was more but you are way too fast for me!
Hello Felix,Spain has 25% unemployment in some demographics, especially the young. Economic troubles can encourage all sorts of petty theft, especially from tourists flush with cash. We're ripe pigeons.
Today was lovely, a walk in the Sierra Moreda, watching those black pigs that eat acorns, in meadows of oak trees.
Sighted only a handful of other pilgrims, 5 so far.
I'm keeping a visual journal of sorts, all photos. instagram.com/felixbc
Buen Camino a todos!
Hi Alan!Hello Felix,
I am planning to walk the Camino VdlP starting April 5 2016. I noticed from reading the thread that you were walking on the same date. Can you give me some insight on your experience? I have walked the Frances route twice, so have some Camino back ground. I would be most interested in how you found the weather, the facilities on route, and any suggestions.
I am a former resident of Victoria BC, now in Grand Forks BC. I figure you are a Victoria BC resident, or an Aussie.
Thanks in advance
Alan Peterson
apeterson@shaw.ca
Recommend you download the mini guideHi Alan!
I am from Victoria, BC.
The via de la plata is described as being longer, lonelier and harder than the camino frances, and that proved to be accurate. It's not more mountainous, certainly, it's pretty flat mostly. But there are reasons so many fewer people do it--it's not ready for prime time. There are several long days of highway walking, or nothing but farmer's fields, or long detours around the AVE construction. Half of the trail was wonderful; I don't recommend the other half. But it's all mixed together.
I met a number of people who were jumping sections by bus. That seemed a cheat of sorts (I prefer to walk every step!), but a week or more of mostly boring walking can make one reconsider.
I don't mean to make it sound awful; it just depends on what you're up for. If you're ok with long stretches of nothing much (20+km), you'll be fine. My brain went a little squirrelly trying to keep occupied, as I was walking by myself. There aren't many people on the trail, and I found many were there to be more alone. It's not at all like the busier stretches of the Camino Frances.
The cities were wonderful, which was important for me. (If I wanted only wilderness, I'd do the west coast trail!) Seville, Caceres, Merida, Salamanca, Zamora, so wonderful. And I love the small towns, too. (Make sure to take enough cash between the towns in Extremadura, or you'll run out, as there are no cash machines.)
The roman roads and via pecuaria (droving paths) are millenia old; their remnants in stone walls and stone markers was a constant presence of history all the way to Astorga.
Weather: mostly cool and a bit cloudy after Seville, once in the mountains. I spent most of my time trying to keep warm, not cool. Only a few rainy days in 6 weeks.
Food and water: always carry enough for the day. You can't count on towns with stores open.
Hostels: just fine, some very basic. Private hostels are around 15E, and quite good. Get Ivar's list of all the hostels! I ended up making reservations most nights once the "wave" of pilgrims leaving Seville after Easter caught up with me. It went from 5 or 6 pilgrims on a given segment to a couple dozen, then more. If there's only one hostel with 8 beds in the town you're aiming for, you'll need a reservation. If a hostel is closed it can make things very difficult (example Embalse de Alcantara hostel was closed).
Language: Not much english at all! I just spoke Spanish with locals, didn't bother asking "hablas Ingles?". Other pilgrims mostly German, French, Dutch. I speak minimal Spanish, but people were very nice and patient.
Spanish Sim card: Get one! So helpful, especially for google maps while walking. I got two months for 25E, easy top ups online. Mobilstar.
I ended up skipping from Zamora up to Astorga to rejoin the Camino Frances, instead of doing the Camino Sanabres through Ourense. I definitely needed more people! The main route has so many more albergue options, which were great. And more people going my speed. (~25km/day, which is slow/short for the VLDP)
As a side note, there were about 90% men on the VLDP, almost no women walking on their own. I found that isolating after a while. But you may not mind that as much as I did.
Guide book: good luck finding a good one. I never did find a decent one in English. The french and german ones are much better. I used one as a phone ap that several people mention (by Melanie ?), but it did that infuriating thing of saying "you'll find yourself on..." and not giving actual instructions. I never did figure out how her maps worked. The trail is not enthusiastically marked. I would have liked quite a few more reassuring extra yellow arrows!
Definitely take some time in Sevilla, if you can, at Easter, or Feria. So awesome.
Enough for now? thanks for the opportunity to spout advice.
Felicity
That document made me a hero on the trail. The woman with the answers in a neatly arranged table.Recommend you download the mini guide
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...plata-2014-accommodation-walking-schedule.88/
That document made me a hero on the trail. The woman with the answers in a neatly arranged table.
I am pleased to learn it was useful. Same thing too happened to me too and everybody wanted to know how to get a copy...
Hi LTfit@jirit and @peregrina2000
Way back when I offered to update the list then got bogged down at work and never did it. I wouldn't mind doing it now. Not sure if I was the one with the problem with the file but as I use Microsoft suggest you sending the file in excel.
I made my own updates last fall when I did Salananca-SdC once again and in July I did A Gudiña - Sdc for the third time.
Let me know or just send the file to me. Cheers
LT
Received!
Hey LT,
Feel free to add on the accommodations for the Granada branch (another totally self-interested request).
Abrazos to you and guapito, Laurie
The title of this thread IS a bit bizarre for the updated walking guides!LTfit may want to start a new thread for the new updated schedule
You are correct. Somewhere somehow the topic of guides came into the thread. We can continue the discussion of guides on the other threadThe title of this thread IS a bit bizarre for the updated walking guides!
You are correct. Somewhere somehow the topic of guides came into the thread. We can continue the discussion of guides on the other thread
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...nd-walking-schedule-update.29641/#post-302862
If nobody objects I will move to lock this thread since the topic is specific to a particular situation that happened months ago
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?