 | Barcelona Be Aware! Reviews | 1 - 10 of 94 |  |
Tourists are often see as easy prey for the unscrupulous. The souvenir industry provides plenty of examples, especially in Barcelona. Many northern Europeans seem to think that Mexican-style hats are traditional in Catalonia. This is curious because one never sees Catalans or Spaniards wearing them. If you do see someone sporting one you can bet that he (or she) is a tourist of the first water. Similarly, Flamenco is about as typically Catalan as a ham sandwich at a Bar Mitzvah.
Some of the cons are a bit more subtle- Tapa bars for example. Contrary to what most tourist think, tapas are not typical of Catalonia. In fact, if you want real tapas , you’ll have to go to Southern Spain or the Basque country. In those areas, generous portions (often free of charge) are set before customers to accompany their drinks. If the tapas are charged for, the price is usually a token one. In Catalonia, by contrast, local caterers and bar owners see tapas as a quick way of fleecing tourists. The quality of the food is often pretty indifferent, the portions minute, and the prices wholly unreasonable. You’ll probably find yourself paying as much for two or three tapas as you would have for a proper meal. Particular care should be taken with tapas containing mayonnaise. A combination of poor display and conservation practices, general lack of hygiene in food preparation, and virtually non-existent official inspection of catering establishments means Salmonella is a real threat. Dozens of cases are reported every year, including a few deaths.
If you do decide to shell out on tapas in Barcelona, make sure you see the price list first - the local waiters have a nasty knack of hacer el despistado (making mistakes on purpose) when it comes to adding up the bill. Better still, if you are in a group, make sure someone keeps tally. Japanese tourists are a favourite target because they are so polite and unassertive. Leave a Comment
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If you hate the smell of cigarette smoke, Barcelona may not be for you. Everyone smokes - especially the women! You see people puffing away wherever you go, and the souvenir stores sell ashtrays in every shape and form. None of the restaurants and cafes we went to limited smokers in any way. Everything is one big smoke-filled haze.
January 2006 update: Aha! My theory has now been proven. People in Spain DO smoke more per capita than anywhere else in Europe (apart from Greece). In fact, Spain is "credited" with inventing cigarettes 500 years ago. According to an article in the newspaper, Spaniards have been hooked on smoking since Christopher Columbus brought tobacco back from the Americas. It was claimed to have all sorts of medicinal properties at the time. In the early 1500s, the residents of Seville began to collect old cigar butts and roll them up in paper - making Europe's first cigarettes. Surveys have shown that the average Spaniard smokes 2,300 cigarettes a year, which is 850 more than other Europeans.
As of January 1, new laws have gone into effect which ban smoking in bars and restaurants. The weird part is that these restrictions only apply to establishments larger than 100 sq.m. Leave a Comment
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Beware of the chains of American Coffee Shop which are springing up around Barcelona. They are targetted by theives and bag snatchers.
I had my shoulder bag stolen from next to me in S***bucks on Passeig de Gracia, opposite La Pedrera!! There were warning signs up at the counter, but the theif managed it all the same :(
Bag thieves know that American and British tourists feel safer going to familiar branded stores so will target them to get your camera/money etc. The Coffee Shop on Passeig de Gracia is immediately next to a subway for the metro, so theives can disappear quickly and be hard to follow!
When I went to search for my bag, I found another two empty handbags in litter bins on Plaça de Catalunya!! It underlines how common thieving is. Leave a Comment
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Some years ago, the ambiance here was a bit underground and it was dangerous to come at night, but some efforts have been made in the sense of recovering the square for visitors (there is always a police car, at least) and now is a pretty safe, interesting and lively place, both at day and night. Leave a Comment
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Barcelona has a big problem with dog's "souvenirs" that cover every park and street, so the city adopted that slogan, you can read on my picture below. By the way I can't realize why there are so many "sheets" on the streets if in 5 days in Barcelona, I've seen just 3 or 4 dogs!!
The slogan could be funny as I found it but seriously it explains very well this problem that ruin the atmosphere of this magic city... Leave a Comment
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Barcelona, like many other major cities in the world has it's fair share of beggers, pick pockets and opportunist thieves. If you take the usual care you should be alright as far as being robbed goes. Don't stray into areas that don't look safe, don't flash great wads of money and don't leave expensive items on show for all to see, it's as simple as that!
As far as beggers go, then only you can decide what is and is not a worthy cause! I was approached by lot's of gypsy type looking ladies with babies in their arms looking for money.
It's a concience thing and how you deal with it is up to you, but I really would not encourage it as it only breeds more of the same. Leave a Comment
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Not far from parkway Passeig de Gracia when I have turned to Avingida Diagonal, there happened a following case with me. It is necessary to tell, Avingida Diagonal unlike Passeig de Gracia is not so populous. I was delighted to an opportunity to have a rest from tourist crowd and have directed aside Templo de la Sagrada Familia.
Suddenly the young man has approached to me with a map and asked how to pass somewhere. I have stopped and looked at his map, trying to explain something. During the same moment a person has approached to us, having presented as a policeman. He has shown any counter without a name and posts. He demanded to show the passport as he suspected, that I search for drugs. I was filled with indignition by such suspicion, but I have been forced to show the passport, not releasing it from my hands. Then suspicions of false dollars have sounded. Then I with indignation have continued the way, having ceased to answer questions. The person has lagged behind. The mood has been spoiled...
Who was he? A policeman or a swindler? I don't know. Be careful!
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The U.K. has gone "Health and Safety" MAD you would never be allowed into a building under construction without the obligitory hard hat and boots. Thank goodness the Cathedral has different rules!! The only danger in visiting the Sagrada Familia while it is still under construction is getting past the many beggars who plague your way to the entrance, and BTW watch your money and other valuables = pick pockets like the Cathedral too. Leave a Comment Website: www.informa@sagradafamilia.org
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Although I always felt safe during my trip to Barcelona, I wanted to make you aware of the danger while waiting at the bus stop for the shuttle bus to the airport at the Plaça de Catalunya. It was extremely busy as it was a public holiday.
A Spanish man came towards me and began to talk to me in Spanish, which I couldn't understand. My handbag was on the ground beside me. While I was trying to understand the first man, a second crept up behind me and snatched my bag from between my feet.
They both ran off as fast as they could.
Handily, the police station is directly opposite at the metro station. As my passport was in the bag, and my flight was leaving in the next hour, I was lucky to negotiate my departure with the aid of the police report.
Apparently, they seek out tourists who look wealthy (?) and are distracted with all their luggage. My advice is to look scruffy and keep your eyes on all your belongings. Leave a Comment
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If there is any souvenir store located on LAS RAMBLAS you must avoid this Souvenirs Cristy No.38. In several occasions he, the owner actually shortchanged my friends by nearly ten euros, till last week, we first passed by the police and explained to them what we had last week and our experienced. So, two of the police stayed out of their sight, without the owner knowing that police where just around the corner, so, my friend bought a prepaid telephone card which cost 6Euros, my friend handed the owner a 20Euro bill and the owner swiftly swings a 10Euro bill (picking it up from his cashier machine) making us believe that he only received 10Euros, and he insisted that there was no 20 Euros handed to him. So, because our friends could not defend themselves in Spanish this Pakistan keep screaming at us, cursing us out of the store giving us only 4 Euros changed. So, came the two police man and we got back 14Euros change, left this Souvenir store and will never return to this "Theif". We strongly advise to do your shopping elsewhere as we don´t like you to experience and upset your whole day with this Cristy souvenir store. Tourists enjoys bringing back home a bit or a touch of Barcelona t-shirts, or some nick-naks, but not to the point of getting cheated...like we did.
This souvenirs Cristy store is located on Ramblas corner Plaça de Teatre. Right infront or across this store is the internet shop called "Easyeverything and next to the internet shop is Subway Store.
It´s bad enough that we warn everyone tourists and everyone how rampant the pickpocketing is all over Barcelona City, but contrary to that it´s quite pathetic as Barcelona happens to be so beautiful with rich culture. Leave a Comment
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