Women on The Camino

[Ana Young]

Alice and Carolyn,

I'm a 46-year-old female who walked the Camino by
myself last summer and never even once felt any fear,
nor was there any reason to. First of all, in late
spring and summer the Way is filled with other
pilgrims so you never ever have to walk alone unless
you choose to.

I chose to be alone sometimes, and actually it was a
fulfilling experience because since I was there in
mid-summer when the albergues were full, I wsa
grateful for the privacy for lots of meditation,
self-examination and just looking around at all God's
beauty around me. I repeat: not once did I feel fear
and no one gave me any reason to.

My own relatives said the same thing: "Shouldn't you
be going with a group?" etc. etc. Americans sometimes
think this way - with good reason, when you consider
the dangers of our own forests, etc. But this is rural
Spain and those dangers, for the most part, just don't
exist - or at least, not nearly as much as they do at
home. I've been there several times and quite frankly,
even in the cities violent crime is still relatively
rare.

I had nothing but kindness and all the help I could
possibly ask for while on the road. And that's the
story I have been hearing over and over from other
pilgrims.

So tell your mother you heard from some pilgrims
already who walked alone - Americans even - and we
were just fine. Walking alone is the way to do it!

Saludos ... and Buen Camino!
Ana

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