Yep, it was much worse than I expected in that it was very much in your face, and not discreet, but then there had been a thread about it in advance, and everybody I spoke to abaout Barca had warned me about it.

My post really was in response to somebody who had had his backpack unzipped 4 times. Surely after the first occasion the backpack would be turned round and carried on the persons chest rather than back. Most people did that anyway, and when I had my bag with me it was certainly held in front of me. Wearing a bag on your back in a crowded area is asking for trouble.

Things like being attacked and so on is one of those things that as has been pointed out is very difficult to take precaution against, but a few websites I read had warned about the Southern end of the Ramblas, warning that it was terrible at night.

Unfortunately, our crowd was always going to be an easy target. Strangers to the town, many only there for a day or two, plenty of beer and highlighted with our club colours.

www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/ma ... as-ramblas

www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/ma ... as-ramblas

The Spanish police are some of the laziest I have ever seen. The only time I saw them moving was when they were going into a cafe for their lunch.

The lack of police presence in this area was a real surprise. This simply wouldn't happen in main areas in England.

sounds like the good old british bobby in warrington blues and twos blazing as they shoot through the bus lanes at bridge foot at 6:30 on their way to Subway.

I've been to Ibiza a number of times and Amsterdam once and not seen any trouble in those places. Yes you get people selling drugs but you just say no and they move on.

I've seen documentataries and read up on the Internet on the Barcelona pickpockets, they are really quick and work in big groups. Often young children or old women who won't get arrested by the police who are almost definitely doing the dirty work for someone else.

As a tourist you need to blend in, you can't look Spanish but you can look like a foreigner who lives in the area, walk quickly instead of standing around, keep expensive items away - if you look like you don't have much on you then they aren't going to waste their time trying and will target someone else instead.

Do you ie,read the papers or listen to the regional news???????

Young lad shot in fallowfield manchester over the weekend!!
Lad hailed a cab manchester city centre sat evening, got raped,YES RAPED!! bY THE CAB DRIVER....

Stop being so blinkered and get real you fool??

Looks like its you being blinkered. You've just read a few stories in the newspapers about crime in Manchester. Perhaps if you went out there yourself you'd realise that these are rare incidents and Manchester is fine.

If we all lived our lives in fear of crime we'd never get out of bed in the morning.

We ventured down Ramblas on the 2 nights we were there, and though I didnt actually witness any trouble, theres no doubt theres a seedy undercurrent in the area. The girls were a laugh though, to get rid of them pretty quickly, just tell them you're into ladyboys, they soon get off to the next 'customer'

THE HOOF

i didn't go to barcelona but have been several times before and it does have big problems with petty crime,pickpocketing and violent attacks.i have worked in madrid and burgos in northern spain where i never encountered any problems at all.i have spent time in many european cities but barcelona i rate as the one where you have to be more vigilant but it is still a place worthy of a visit but i don't think we should play our fixture with cats there on a regular basis.

ramblas is fine if you say no to them hookers and also avoid the drug dealers. we went there friday saturda night and were fine apart from when the hookers kept feelin you up!!! we went to a nightclub called sunset by the port and was class stayed there till 5am (Spanish time) but then had the problem of walking back to Melia hotel with no money and just me and mate. overall i would go back to Barca any weekend but ignore the hookers on ramblas and it is class.

Where did you tell them? Behind the Spar in five minutes, drop your slacks and I'll get me some fudge. We'll call it a pony.

They the colored ones who offered you the best you no what you ever had? Tried follow me back to my hostel sloshed on Saturday night worst thing worst thing is I look about 15 even though I aint

Not read the full thread (because I've just got back) but IMO the moral of the story is keep your wits about you. Its well documented over here that Oxford Street in london is riddled with pick pockets etc. I had my folks with me & we came away 'unscathed'.

I had all my money, cards, hotel room key and match tickets stolen. Walked about 40 yards down Ramblas in a big group of people with my bag to my side.. I was well aware of the crime and was being careful but they are very good at what they do. Later on I was walking down by the stadium and a 12 year old made a grab for my bag but failed. Horrible city for crime.



I live there, trust me it's nothing compared to the levels of crime in barca. It's only dangerous round here if you put yourself in dangerous situations like walking home alone at night. What i saw happen in Barca was insane

Sounds like you're just stupid.

That's a bit harsh. They are good at what they do, although it does surprise me that somebody could be well aware and then still get picked within 40metres.

The tips like using pockets with zips, and using two wallets etc. were certainly useful tips.

the only trouble we seen was a pick pocket getting beat up by 4 guys just off the rambles in a side street,the guy got his wallet back but the picket pocket got his just deserves,running away covered in blood.
and how bad r the black prositutes?got slapped for telling 1 to f*ck off,and plenty of their pimps down the side streets.
the only downside for are group of 7 was that 1 of us lost 100 euro on that spot were the ball was in the middle of the ramblas street.

apart from that had a brill weekend just a shame that there was no beer inside and the very very long and steep walk to the ground,and before anyone says about could have got the bus,im a stinge bag.

having been to barcelona on many occasions I stayed in a district nowhere near the ramblas and thus had no hassle, I went there for a pre match pint and got the tube. if you stay near the criminals you are more likely to fall victim to them and its not even close to the nicest part of the city anyway. whilst travelling stare back if needed to prove you know what you are doing and where you are going even if you don't and avoid dark areas and should be fine. look vulnerable and you will be and this applies everywhere. believe it or not barcelona has improved, it still has a long way to go though.

hi vernon,een you at the match,think i had you at least 3 times at halftime calling your nameout and you just didnt know where it came from even though i was hiding from you,top weekend mate

8/10.

I've just got back and practically stayed in the Ramblas areas for the entire 4 days and nights. Sorry to hear of people's troubles but I felt safe. Perhaps it would be different at 3am.

It wasn't that class fella and the 40 Euro to get in was shocking, now the Baghdad cafe is class (so i was told).

yes

yea, really stupid i guess for probably looking the other direction for about 3 seconds. People shouldn't have to walk around on guard 24/7 holding everything infront of them. Thats what i did for the rest of my time and it was pretty annoying. Can't say iv ever been to a rugby game before where the only people in the big que for tickets outside the ground are all people who have had them stolen.