safety on the Portugues!

[sulu]

I hate to have to post this.
On 12th October there were a couple of incidents on the way between Tui and O Porriño.
(12th October is a National Holiday here)
In the first a young German girl (26) was buzzed by a man on a bicycle, walking through the industrial estate before O Poriño, he kept cycling around her and she couldn't get rid of him, he was annoying her but she knew I was close behind her so she walked back a bit and after that we walked together.

The second was worse. Another German girl (30) was walking through a woody area (I'm not sure which one) when I guy came up to her, propositioned her, then walked slightly away, in front of her, and masturbated. When she exited the wood the man was in his car and again suggeted they should have sex. This was not the first time, I think, because she says an elderly man had told her she should not walk alone as it is not safe.
We have notified the hospitaleiros and the police.

I am a strong advocate of women being able to walk alone, as I do myself. I still believe that the Camino is as safe as anywhere and safer than most but things happen.
Sue

 

[Deleted member 3000]

If Spanish and Portuguese authorities will act on complaints, the number of incidents should remain small. It is too bad that there are any incidents at all. Some form of the buddy rule, where pilgrims are within shouting distance of each other, might be helpful, but there is a lot of distance and too few pilgrims for it to work all the time. Naturally, the criminals have surveyed the places where they will have the best chance of not getting caught, so are at an advantage. Keep up the positive attitude. It may be all that you can do.