Women’s Travel stories are a growing genre, and there are some great online and printed versions. One great local NZ book is Going the distance: Women outdoors in New Zealand
It should have been a short and relatively easy day, but my leg was swollen and painful, so I walked slowly with a strange flat footed gait.
Rosemary had lent me her walking stick which had been useful for threatening dogs and crossing muddy streams, but now came into its own as a support. The quiet woods and shady lanes of the past few days gave way to new towns and building sites, with road works and new tarseal obscuring the Way.
After going up a steep hill on a new road, beyond MillaDoiro, I could see no Way marked, so chose ‘down and north’. Not a good choice as I ended up by the river I wanted to cross into Santiago, but no bridge. So up the hill again, asked for help from two people who gave me contradictory advice, decided to head for the nearest bridge, and limped off.
Later I learned that this spot was the scene of three separate assaults on women travelling alone, only a few weeks ago. Each had hesitated, trying to find the way, and a man had offered to show them – leading to complaints to the police and an arrest. The guide book had been promising the uplifting sight of the Cathedral spires in the distance, but all I could see in the rain was chimney pots aand cranes. Read on
Ceridwyn writes: Each day, I started where I left off, usually by a wayside marker, with a bright yellow scallop shell pointing its rays in the direction i needed to go. The number of km is also on the marker. It was so great to see it drop from 115km t0 99 to 83 and down to 49- over half way. The markers have been erected by the Spanish government and are such a welcome sight. Read more
It may not be much of a website, but it is a great idea – Women Welcome Women Worldwide. When founder Frances Alexander’s children were teenagers, they exchanged hospitality with other young people throughout Europe.
She thought that women could have this opportunity too, and wrote about her idea and the network now numbers more than 3000 members in 70 countries. It has been going now for over 20 years and after 11 years in France’s house, it now has its own office and company structure, with trustees from around the world.
Women Welcome Women World Wide (5W) aims to foster international friendship by enabling women of different countries to visit one another. Members are of all backgrounds and from many parts of the world. Any woman may become a member, regardless of nationality, religion, home circumstances, etc.
5W is more than just a network of beds – it aims to foster international understanding by cross-cultural friendship. Members range in age from 16 to 80+ and come from all walks of life – housewives, students, retired, business, professional, artists, farmers, office workers, unemployed, etc, etc. They have one thing in common – a wish to befriend others from other parts of the world.
When you decide to travel, you write to the hostesses whose names you have selected from the membership list. We find the best friendships are made when members have taken time to correspond before travelling. We recommend that the first visit should be short, in case it is not what you expect: lifestyles can be very different from your own. The visitor should fit in with the hostess and be prepared to entertain herself during the day if her hostess is working.
There is no set subscription to belong to 5W, they realise that women in some countries are unable to transfer money easily, so the membership payment is a donation. The recommended minimum donation (RMD) is £35 per annum.
While they have a website (of sorts) they do not have email, but you can contact them at their UK address 88 Easton St, High Wycombe, Bucks, HP11 1LT
