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

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