Quote: slimwire66 "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
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
as everyone got off the bus on the hard shoulder!
