been back less than 24 hours(neede to catch up on lost sleep)

i witnessed and spoke to numerous people affected by crime, barcelona is probably one of the worst cities i have been to for crime, i only spent 2 days there, choosing to spend time in perpignan in the days before and after the match, they had a huge music festival all over the town, it was fantastic on the sunday night, stages all over the town with different styles of music from jazz to thrash metal.

i've been to hamburg amsterdam sydney aukland london and glasgow on a sat night but barcelona is a pit of crime in comparison, it's so blatant in other cities if you catch a pick pocket in your pocket they would appear to show remorse, in barca they just smile and shrug their shoulders. then they return and try again, we were sat outside a bar and a pickpocket repeatedly came back and tried his luck, the waiter had warned us and told him to do one, it got to the stage where i had to threaten violence before he'd leave, ironically he returned with a friend later!
i had to clench my fists stand up and spit profanities at them, they weighed it up and sauntered of.
i was in a group of 6 and thought the whole thing was worrying.

i had very little money on me, no phone or wallet, no pocket on my wire shorts (cash in socks) and a pretty savvy traveller but believe the people who compare warrington and manchester to barcelona are total dingbats, wake up and smell the roses (pushed in your face by a morrocan)

it was blatant, our hotel was near the police station which had a long line of people waiting to report crimes 24 hours of the day! all nationalities all ages.


that aside i had a brilliant time

No, we shouldn't, but in that area it i well known that you do.

As you (I think) pointed out earlier that you would have to put yourself in a dangerous situation in this country, well that is what we all did by hanging around on the Ramblas. It is well known, and is mentioned on pretty every tourist site.

If you went to Sydney for Rugby and stayed in Kings Cross for example you would have to take the same care, and the point that it is annoying is irellevent (although I must admit Kings Cross was nowhere near as bas as Ramblas)

Ramblas isn't in England, it is well known how bad it was, and it was as bad as had been stated in advance (maybe worse based on the aggression).

When complaining about Barcelona, people need to look at where they were. My hotel was about 1k from Ramblas, and it was very safe round there. If you were in Ramblas, you were in a dangerous location, and you had to take precaution, no matter how annoying it might be.

Does it open up onto the beach? Are the bar staff dressed in the most minimal of bikins? If so, I have been there and it is flippin brilliant.

To true slim we have just arrived back and never ever in my life have i been to a city so crime ridden and rotten the las ramblas stretch was totally a nerve racking experience we witnessed several attempts at pick pocketing ,people being pushed and jostled away from their friends so they could then get smashed by the gangs of scum hiding on the corners a bag snatched on the beach unbelievable 3 feet away from us (i posted about this prior) luckily we all knew the score seven of us in total went we met up with a couple from the wire (great night dean and claire) and we all walked together the pick pockets on the train wait for it take off and when it surges you back and you grab the rail thats the time they hit your wallets ,talking to a young lad in the irish bar he got punched twice from behind and his chain robbed.
Just stick in large numbers tell them all to do one dont let them touch you (they get upset when you push them away).

That aside we had a great time (except Mrs Doubtfire who lived above the apartment we were staying in) AND WHEREVER THE WIRE GO WE WILL FOLLOW

I know Becky. A bloke ran off with my wallet on first night at top of La Rambla near Catalunya Square. Luckily I realised quickly and chased him and he dropped it. It's a crime hot bed. A great weekend though, with the match, Olympic Stadium, the Nou Camp and the city tour, plus some great bars, making it special.

I've not been Barcelona for years (I was only little).

If La Rambla has such a bad reputation for crime and other trouble...Why didn't people go elsewhere? It's a big enough city...

because it was probably most peoples first time there

It was my first time at beechy head last year,But i didnt throw myself off the bloody cliff..

So they open google type in Barcelona and the first article reads for example...

La Ramblas, loadsa bars and shizzle, gets a bit crazy what with the prostitutes and pick pocketers but hey, you're British, you'll be fine.

I'm sure most will have heard about it's reputation but went regardless, I bet many, most of there weekend was spent in the vicinity. If you're going to bring the pockets to the pickpocketers...

I think people knew there was crime there but nowhere near as bad as is was when seen at first hand, I was only in Barca for the day of the game and we had no trouble, but i have never seen so many down and out junkie waste of space low life scum in any other major city.....but Salou was fantastic.

i knew of it's rep personally so i took precautions ie split my money into 4 pockets and left all my jewellery at home i had the luxury of my mates son lived there for over a year and also i'm a big bloke so i didn't really get approached apart from the "tom's" but you live and learn and most will be prepared for it next time

I didnt go to Barcelona but I was gutted today when one of my close work colleagues returned to work who had been .................. they had a great time ............ apart from the fact that on the train he had his wallet stolen and he knows exactly how it was done ( woman with pram one side . he makes way for her .. wallet stolen from other side in the crush) ........... but it was so quick at the time ................ fortunately he had only taken enough money for the game day and had enough to see him through his remaining stay .............but it was still a pain to get his cards stopped etc.

Having said that ............ he said he would go again next year they had a great time!

Yeah, the trains were packed, unfortunately because I was so cynical of everybody it meant I was probably really rude to everybody. Nobody was getting past where I was stood on the train.

You really had to keep your hand in your pocket with your valuables in there. No reason (or excuse) for having it in a pocket or bag without you holding it unfortunately.

Bit of a naive argument Lee, criticising those who attended the game.
We went because we wanted to watch the Wire and have a good weekend in the process.

If everyone displayed the attitude you are, then we would have had 60 fans there.

And people who attended will agree that even if the necessary precautions were taken, many of the incidents were beyond preventing. (such as being jumped by a gang.)

Not criticizing people going the game. I've said elsewhere I'd have love to have gone and hope I do.

My point was people shouldn't go to such a notorious place and then be surprised people get robbed. Specifically La Ramblas. There are plenty of nice places to have a drink. Then there's museums, art galleries,....

Oh you silly billy! Did you know that there are museums on the Ramblas? Together with important Gaudi works and also the Colon Monument being at the very start of the "notorious place" with the Plaza de Catalunya at the other end leading to Passeig de Gracia where I stayed. It's also the main route to the port and marina, and a vital hub on the metro system.

It is very difficult to avoid the central commercial part of Barcelona which stretches for almost 3/4 of a mile heading west/east to the sea. It's not like some out of the way seedy area.

Anyhow to test your rationale, I went to to see some museums, a picasso gallery, most of the famous gaudi buildings, the telerifico, and Sagrada Familia. I also walked down the Ramblas and went to an Irish pub. Should I have had it coming under your logic?

The Perpignan 42 + the rest of Willis Street?

Yes i did, but i bet nobody got robbed or attacked in a museum or art gallery. Or if so, a much smaller percentage.

You've had it coming a while. What you have done I presume, is built your own defence mechanism.

[i"Eh, Gringo. Yes, you. Orange man. Here. My friend." (In a stereotypical, Speedy Gonzalez type voice) [/i

"Insert standard Wires71 response. Full of big words, and mildly patronising."

[i" You wanna buy a watch " [/i

"No I do not. Lots of chatter about his watch, his Porsche 911. The Price of tickets in the North Stand, then about how Lee Briers didn't appreciate his contribution to the Wolfs when he sponsored a game a decade ago."

[i"Screw theeeees. This guy is Kkrazy. Even krazier than he looked on Teeveeeeee. 'Eee, no gonna invest is us Sergio, c'mon." [/i

Wires 71 shouting down Las Ramblas "Come back. Come back. I've not even told you about Skents yet. He's smalltime. SMALLTIME."

that is hilarious

any way in summary Barcelona, a crime riddled ces pit, nice buildings, good art, museums, beutiful weather, bit pricey, nice locals, high unemployment, nice stadium,irish bar, alcohol free beer at match,good win & well deserved holiday!

did i have a good time...yes

would i go again... yes

have i been nicer places...yes

have i been worse....yes,widnes for example

did i spend a lot....yes

Very good. You have me down to a tee.

Oh. My. God.

Ian77 had Funniest Post Of Today with his 'he knows the rules' on t'other thread, but mon Dieu....you've wee-wee'd all over it.

There's a man in Culcheth with a wry smile right about now, I'd wager?

Wires 71 & JWP would make a great comedy duo like a Cannon & ball

Rock On Wires 71

Steady Tiger, I think they're a bit more like Mike and Bernie Winters at the mo.