What A Walk!!

[Gerhard58]

My year pilgrims, what I mentioned below is only in a joking way but I wonder about the following : I have been reading this website for the past 3 months and I would like to ask your indulgence about what am I getting myself into. You read about mad dogs attacking you, people stealing your stuff in the Albergue, people dying on the Piranees ; people stealing your boots at the Alberges, , people stealing your stuff while your out in the town or village or showering , running out of drinking water, not getting a place to sleep for the night !!!! is that as bad as that or am I just a very facetious and scared of what I am facing because I'm starting my walk from St John to Santiago in a weeks time!!!!

 

[MichaelB10398]

Yup, you are whacking yourself out of kilter by gross exaggeration. It is time now to relax, review your packing list to make sure it is as light as possible, and then prepare to be open to what the Camino brings. Release all your expectations - the Camino will not be like that. This is your Camino and everything you will need you will bring or you will find while on Camino.

You will have a great time. Buen Camino,

 

[trecile]

You read about mad dogs attacking you, people stealing your stuff in the Albergue, people dying on the Piranees ; people stealing your boots at the Alberges, , people stealing your stuff while your out in the town or village or showering , running out of drinking water, not getting a place to sleep for the night !!!!

Not one of those things happened to me or anyone that I met along the way. Though I did meet a couple of people who misplaced reading glasses or cell phones.

Obviously, it's not a good idea to leave valuables unattended, so don't do that!

 

[Mark Lee]

Lot's of big fish stories on this forum....
but walking the Camino is no different than traveling anywhere else. You use common sense to prevent mishaps and misappropriation...
I never saw a mad dog, never even remotely saw a lack of potable water available and always found a place to stay for the night
cheers and ultreia

 

[notion900]

@Gerhard58 I see you come from Pretoria, a place where security and avoiding crime is on people's minds a lot, and people have to lead lives where they are disciplined and organised to prevent crimes happening to them.

On the camino it is totally and utterly different. It will probably freak you out a bit to begin with that you'll be staying in a building in some village and someone may have left the front door wide open, and people's stuff is lying about. But this is perfectly normal and it's unusual for anything to be stolen. Simply keep your valuables - passport, phone, money etc on you at all times, and always take them to the shower and toilet. Put them in your sleeping bag with you at night. In a large city, albergues will be more secure and may have a receptionist and lockers, but even the cities are still extremely safe, and you'll see families with small children walking about at 11pm, perfectly relaxed.

You are walking in April, so should have no problems getting a bed, as long as you don't rock up at 9pm. Dogs may bark, but they are usually on a lead or behind a fence. Water is not in short supply, and neither is good beer. People have dropped dead it's true, but they probably had pre existing conditions and at least they died doing what they enjoyed.

So you'll have a challenge of trusting strangers to begin with, but that will soon be overcome. You will have a wonderful time. I make a bet with you that you will look back on this thread in six weeks and smile to yourself.

 

[Deacon Jason]

A friend I met along the Way (who was also from Pretoria, ironically) lost his jacket...because he left it on a park bench. It was the worst tragedy I witnessed in 33 days (he really liked that jacket ...we found a store and got him another one, though).

I found a bed every night, the drinking water was probably better than home and the dogs turned out to all be nice tail-wagging farm dogs who wanted their ears scratched.

So...don't worry!

 

[Gerhard58]

@Gerhard58 I see you come from Pretoria, a place where security and avoiding crime is on people's minds a lot, and people have to lead lives where they are disciplined and organised to prevent crimes happening to them.

On the camino it is totally and utterly different. It will probably freak you out a bit to begin with that you'll be staying in a building in some village and someone may have left the front door wide open, and people's stuff is lying about. But this is perfectly normal and it's unusual for anything to be stolen. Simply keep your valuables - passport, phone, money etc on you at all times, and always take them to the shower and toilet. Put them in your sleeping bag with you at night. In a large city, albergues will be more secure and may have a receptionist and lockers, but even the cities are still extremely safe, and you'll see families with small children walking about at 11pm, perfectly relaxed.

You are walking in April, so should have no problems getting a bed, as long as you don't rock up at 9pm. Dogs may bark, but they are usually on a lead or behind a fence. Water is not in short supply, and neither is good beer. People have dropped dead it's true, but they probably had pre existing conditions and at least they died doing what they enjoyed.

So you'll have a challenge of trusting strangers to begin with, but that will soon be overcome. You will have a wonderful time. I make a bet with you that you will look back on this thread in six weeks and smile to yourself.

Dear Notion I really thank you very much for your kind and wonderful input ! I mentioned that I was just posted this as a joke and I must say that the responses I got were in-line with what I expected. I come from South Africa and if you can survive this country at this moment then you have no problem surviving anywhere else so this was just an aside !! I was not too serious about posting this ! Thank you everyone for your kind contributions I know Europe well having spent more than 25 years of my working career in that continent. Every place has its type alias and one has to be on the alert. Thank you once again and Buen Camino

 

[Gerhard58]

A friend I met along the Way (who was also from Pretoria, ironically) lost his jacket...because he left it on a park bench. It was the worst tragedy I witnessed in 33 days (he really liked that jacket ...we found a store and got him another one, though).

I found a bed every night, the drinking water was probably better than home and the dogs turned out to all be nice tail-wagging farm dogs who wanted their ears scratched.

So...don't worry!

Thanks my friend

 

[Gerhard58]

A friend I met along the Way (who was also from Pretoria, ironically) lost his jacket...because he left it on a park bench. It was the worst tragedy I witnessed in 33 days (he really liked that jacket ...we found a store and got him another one, though).

I found a bed every night, the drinking water was probably better than home and the dogs turned out to all be nice tail-wagging farm dogs who wanted their ears scratched.

So...don't worry!

Thanks my friend

 

[Gerhard58]

Lot's of big fish stories on this forum....
but walking the Camino is no different than traveling anywhere else. You use common sense to prevent mishaps and misappropriation...
I never saw a mad dog, never even remotely saw a lack of potable water available and always found a place to stay for the night
cheers and ultreia

Thanks Mark I always appreciate your on the spot advice. I was just posting that as a lighthearted gesture but with a little bit of concern too!! Thanks!

 

[tillyjones]

I've never read any of those things. Aside from people who write that they've read about these things.

 

[jpflavin1]

My year pilgrims, what I mentioned below is only in a joking way but I wonder about the following : I have been reading this website for the past 3 months and I would like to ask your indulgence about what am I getting myself into. You read about mad dogs attacking you, people stealing your stuff in the Albergue, people dying on the Piranees ; people stealing your boots at the Alberges, , people stealing your stuff while your out in the town or village or showering , running out of drinking water, not getting a place to sleep for the night !!!! is that as bad as that or am I just a very facetious and scared of what I am facing because I'm starting my walk from St John to Santiago in a weeks time!!!!

Yes