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.)