luggage, food & security

[Robert Spenger]

In September, 2002, two fellow pilgrims told me about losses to theft
in Pamplona. One lady, a victim of a purse snatcher lost her camera and
her reading glasses. Her biggest regrets were the pictures lost with
the camera and the fact that she could not read her maps until she had
the chance to get a new pair of reading glasses. The other case was
more serious. A Scot, who, except for the channel ferry crossing, had
walked all the way from Edinburgh, was sitting on a bench in Pamplona
with his pack alongside the bench. The whole pack was ripped off when
he was momentarily distracted. This was his second long term
pilgrimage. In Palas de Rei there was a theft of cash from one of the
Spanish pilgrims in the refugio itself. The refugio in the park in
Burgos has long had a reputation for having theft problems. There is a
lot of transient  traffic in the park. I regard travel on the camino as
much safer than many places in the U.S.; nevertheless a pilgrim has to
be alert and careful, especially in larger cities. Admittedly, it is
not that easy when you drag in tired after a long day's walking.

regards,

Bob S.

On Mar 28, 2004, at 12:23 PM, Eyskens wrote:

> I do remember one instance in Pamplona when an Australian couple left
> their backpacks by the fountain in a plaza in the old city while they
> went off exploring.  When they returned the backpacks were still there
> but nothing of any value was.
>
> Jim Eyskens
>