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With Tourist Missing, Worry Spreads on Camino de Santiago in Spain With Tourist Missing, Worry Spreads on Camino de Santiago in Spain
(1 day later)
MADRID — Like many thousands of people from around the world, Denise Thiem, an American tourist, was inspired by a 2010 movie called “The Way” when she set out three months ago to walk the Camino de Santiago, an ancient Catholic pilgrimage whose popularity has grown significantly in recent years. MADRID — Like many thousands of people from around the world, Denise Thiem, an American tourist, was inspired by a 2010 movie called “The Way” when she set out three months ago to walk the Camino de Santiago, an ancient Catholic pilgrimage whose popularity has grown significantly in recent years.
On April 5, Easter Sunday, she was supposed to start another leg of the 155-mile trek from the northern Spanish town of Astorga to Santiago de Compostela. She had breakfast with an Italian pilgrim and then went to Mass and watched a religious procession with him, before they parted ways around noon.On April 5, Easter Sunday, she was supposed to start another leg of the 155-mile trek from the northern Spanish town of Astorga to Santiago de Compostela. She had breakfast with an Italian pilgrim and then went to Mass and watched a religious procession with him, before they parted ways around noon.
The previous day, Ms. Thiem had emailed a British pilgrim, whom she met earlier along the Camino, to say she would next walk the few miles west to the village of El Ganso.The previous day, Ms. Thiem had emailed a British pilgrim, whom she met earlier along the Camino, to say she would next walk the few miles west to the village of El Ganso.
That was the last anyone has heard of her. And since then, Spain’s national police have given no further details on the search for the missing woman, whose last known movements were pieced together by one of her friends, Tina Ascher. That was the last anyone heard of her. And since then, Spain’s national police have given no further details on the search for the missing woman, whose last known movements were pieced together by one of her friends, Tina Ascher.
Her disappearance has not only set off a desperate search by her family and friends, but also prompted concerns about the safety of the route, which has become a tourist boon to Spain. Now, some pilgrims are sharing previously unreported accounts of threats and harassment along the Camino on social networking sites.Her disappearance has not only set off a desperate search by her family and friends, but also prompted concerns about the safety of the route, which has become a tourist boon to Spain. Now, some pilgrims are sharing previously unreported accounts of threats and harassment along the Camino on social networking sites.
“It seems kind of scary to see a lot of people now coming out sharing experiences on the Camino that they never told the police,” said Cedric Thiem, her brother.“It seems kind of scary to see a lot of people now coming out sharing experiences on the Camino that they never told the police,” said Cedric Thiem, her brother.
Ms. Thiem, 41, had quit her job last year in Phoenix to travel the world. She started out in Asia and arrived in Spain in March. Born in Hong Kong, she “likes traveling and knows how to travel,” her brother said by phone.Ms. Thiem, 41, had quit her job last year in Phoenix to travel the world. She started out in Asia and arrived in Spain in March. Born in Hong Kong, she “likes traveling and knows how to travel,” her brother said by phone.
In recent years, the Camino has gained fame because of books and movies like “The Way,” which featured Martin Sheen. And after watching the movie, she decided the Camino was “something different and really cool to experience,” her brother said.In recent years, the Camino has gained fame because of books and movies like “The Way,” which featured Martin Sheen. And after watching the movie, she decided the Camino was “something different and really cool to experience,” her brother said.
The surge in the number of pilgrims is also attributable to high unemployment, particularly in Spain, which has given people time and reasons to combine travel and soul-searching.The surge in the number of pilgrims is also attributable to high unemployment, particularly in Spain, which has given people time and reasons to combine travel and soul-searching.
In 1984, just 423 pilgrims were certified as having completed the Camino to the Cathedral of Santiago, which is the final resting place of St. James. Last year alone, a record 237,810 pilgrims were certified.In 1984, just 423 pilgrims were certified as having completed the Camino to the Cathedral of Santiago, which is the final resting place of St. James. Last year alone, a record 237,810 pilgrims were certified.
Victorina Alonso, the departing mayor of Astorga, insisted that Ms. Thiem’s disappearance did not reflect any safety risk for the thousands of pilgrims who pass through the area, and that it was “an isolated case that could have occurred in any other part of Spain or elsewhere.” She said the number of pilgrims was still rising from a year ago.Victorina Alonso, the departing mayor of Astorga, insisted that Ms. Thiem’s disappearance did not reflect any safety risk for the thousands of pilgrims who pass through the area, and that it was “an isolated case that could have occurred in any other part of Spain or elsewhere.” She said the number of pilgrims was still rising from a year ago.
The Camino has become “very, very important economically for us,” the mayor said. “Pilgrims eat and stay here, but they also are our best ambassadors, talking about our town around the world or then coming back later on another holiday.”The Camino has become “very, very important economically for us,” the mayor said. “Pilgrims eat and stay here, but they also are our best ambassadors, talking about our town around the world or then coming back later on another holiday.”
An official from Spain’s national police, who asked not to be named in relation to a continuing investigation, said the police had not made any link between Ms. Thiem’s disappearance and other possible incidents around Astorga.An official from Spain’s national police, who asked not to be named in relation to a continuing investigation, said the police had not made any link between Ms. Thiem’s disappearance and other possible incidents around Astorga.
However, Diego Yoon, the president of an association of Korean pilgrims, said some Koreans had recently canceled their Camino travel plans for this summer because of safety concerns. He added: “We have some of our pilgrims who are now talking about a bad experience on the Camino, especially women who have been sexually harassed.” However, Diego Yoon, the president of an association of Korean pilgrims, said some Koreans had recently canceled their Camino travel plans for this summer because of safety concerns. He added, “We have some of our pilgrims who are now talking about a bad experience on the Camino, especially women who have been sexually harassed.”
Ms. Thiem took a taxi at least once on one of the legs of her journey, because she was struggling with blisters. “As a joke, she even started to name the blisters on her feet,” said Christine Blankenburg-Didner, a German pilgrim whose own walk overlapped with Ms. Thiem’s trek on three occasions along the Camino, including on the morning of April 5.Ms. Thiem took a taxi at least once on one of the legs of her journey, because she was struggling with blisters. “As a joke, she even started to name the blisters on her feet,” said Christine Blankenburg-Didner, a German pilgrim whose own walk overlapped with Ms. Thiem’s trek on three occasions along the Camino, including on the morning of April 5.
The United States Embassy in Madrid said the F.B.I. was assisting Spanish national police in efforts to find Ms. Thiem. Her relatives, friends and volunteers have also organized their own searches around Astorga, so far to no avail. The United States Embassy in Madrid said the F.B.I. was assisting the Spanish national police in efforts to find Ms. Thiem. Her relatives, friends and volunteers have also organized their own searches around Astorga, so far to no avail.
Richard Paili Yien, deputy attorney general for Nevada and a college friend of Ms. Thiem’s, traveled from Carson City, Nev., to Astorga as part of the volunteer search efforts.Richard Paili Yien, deputy attorney general for Nevada and a college friend of Ms. Thiem’s, traveled from Carson City, Nev., to Astorga as part of the volunteer search efforts.
Even though Ms. Thiem had sent an email to the British pilgrim saying she would next travel to a town a few miles west, “there isn’t a whole lot of evidence that she ever left Astorga,” Mr. Yien said. During his time in Astorga, he also noted a “more heavy police presence along the Camino.” He added: “I feel safer here than in my hometown.” Even though Ms. Thiem had sent an email to the British pilgrim saying she would next travel to a town a few miles west, “there isn’t a whole lot of evidence that she ever left Astorga,” Mr. Yien said. During his time in Astorga, he also noted a “more heavy police presence along the Camino.” He added, “I feel safer here than in my hometown.”