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Barcelona


arbroath55

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Went in February for 4 days and very much enjoyed ourselves. Was about 18 degrees so locals were in jackets while we walked around in shorts! The La sagrada famalia really does have to be seen to be believed, an incredible building although the queues were brutal so we never went inside. The tour of Nou Camp is brilliant as you are left to your own devices for the entirety, we sat in 4 seats dead high up for about 40 minutes just taking it all in. For food I'd eat somewhere off the Ramblas strip as the one meal we had there wasn't great and very pricey although that may have just been that particular restaurant. All other restaurants were great and the Beer (Estrella Damm) was beautiful. If you are going during the football season I'd definitely try and get a game in as it's a great experience. I'm thinking of trying to convince a few pals to go over again near the end of october as I enjoyed it that much!

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Watch your wallet and valuables.Know someone who fell asleep on train and shoes were missing when he woke.

Of about 30 people I know who have been to Barcelona including myself. Only about 4 of them haven't been robbed or pick pocketed. I'd leave any valuables you don't need in the hotel safe and only carry as much cash as you need.

I told my girlfriends friend that and she thought I was exaggerating. She then lost her families cash, passports, travellers cheques the lot on the first day she arrived.

I personally hate the place and will not return.

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Yep got my iPhone stolen off me in Barcelona when I was pished last year. Hookers came up to us and started touching us up, obviously we were like feck off! The sneaky wee beggers obviously had taken my phone out my pocket while they were at it. A combination of me being pished and them being so sneaky led to me not noticing. Chased them down Las Ramblas once I had realised but they just denied it, they had changed clothes as well.

Moral of the story watch yourself in Barcelona, especially Las Ramblas.

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Yep got my iPhone stolen off me in Barcelona when I was pished last year. Hookers came up to us and started touching us up, obviously we were like feck off! The sneaky wee beggers obviously had taken my phone out my pocket while they were at it. A combination of me being pished and them being so sneaky led to me not noticing. Chased them down Las Ramblas once I had realised but they just denied it, they had changed clothes as well.

Moral of the story watch yourself in Barcelona, especially Las Ramblas.

...don't get too pissed and hang around with hookers late at night.

:wink2:

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Great place,been 6 times now,avec kids and sans kids.I know its cheesy but this http://www.city-sightseeing.com/tours/spain/barcelona.htm

will help you see everything ,and as it says get on get off when you want.

For eating when you are up in the stadium area instead of getting on the underground back into the city walk down a couple of streets,loads of places to eat and decent prices for tapas and estrella.

If you want to eat in the centre try here, Ciudad Condal Bal,de, Rambla de Catalunya, 18, 08007 Barcelona, Spain

Bang in the centre.

Touch wood ,never been nobbled but had people running past me chasing other people,saw one guy belt a lassie on the train ,turned out she'd dipped his pocket she got off threw his wallet between the train and the platform and the guy got out and squeezed himself between the platform and train to retrieve his wallet....

when you walk up las ramblas you could almost pick out the scammers so if anyone heads for you change direction,its unbelievable the amount of folk who are taken in by the old 3 coconuts and the one pea thing under the shell,usually septics so thats ok

as someone said previously don't get pished in the centre...

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Do the bus tour.

Book tickets beforehand to go to Sagrada Familia and you can just walk up and walk in. You have to see the inside. DO NOT MISS IT!

If you like architecture, go to Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau. Probably the best thing to visit after Sagrada Familia. Surreal.

Beer....it's almost all lager, but La Fabrica Moritz is definitely worth a visit. It's a brewery in an old factory that does food and has a museum, and a terrific shop that sells all sorts of beer-related and quirky stuff, and the food is good too. Not expensive and well worth seeking out. The beer is great and it's usually packed, which is a good sign. Not too far from the main drag.

Las Ramblas is over-rated. Go when it's not busy if you must see it....and, really, you don't need to. Pick pockets are, indeed, rife.

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Yep got my iPhone stolen off me in Barcelona when I was pished last year. Hookers came up to us and started touching us up, obviously we were like feck off! The sneaky wee beggers obviously had taken my phone out my pocket while they were at it. A combination of me being pished and them being so sneaky led to me not noticing. Chased them down Las Ramblas once I had realised but they just denied it, they had changed clothes as well.

Moral of the story watch yourself in Barcelona, especially Las Ramblas.

hokers on Las Ramblas were trying to annoy us as well - number of times - sussed out they were nigerian so spoke back to them in pigeon english so they knew to piss off

I guess if you are getting into crowds, just need to always put your hands in your pockets - what i always do

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Nearly got my pocket dipped on the train from the airport to the city centre.

I had two cases and the Mrs had the wee one in the pram, as I was getting off with the two cases a guy and a woman both well dressed in suits started pushing into me. I was trying to keep my balance more than anything, ended up just dropping the cases and pushing back once I felt the hand trying to get into my pocket. I thought I was ok with my wallet in my pocket as it was a deep pocket, buttoned down and difficult to get anything in and out of, but they still nearly managed it.

The folk never looked dodgy at all, I did think it was stramge that as the train came into the station they went round everyone right to the back of the queue to get off. Quickly realised what they were doing when they started pushing into me.

After that I kept anything valuable well hidden.

Did actually contemplate buying a cheap wallet with a picture inside of me giving the viccy. Thought it would be funny to have someone find that if they had stolen my wallet :-))

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Nearly got my pocket dipped on the train from the airport to the city centre.

I had two cases and the Mrs had the wee one in the pram, as I was getting off with the two cases a guy and a woman both well dressed in suits started pushing into me. I was trying to keep my balance more than anything, ended up just dropping the cases and pushing back once I felt the hand trying to get into my pocket. I thought I was ok with my wallet in my pocket as it was a deep pocket, buttoned down and difficult to get anything in and out of, but they still nearly managed it.

The folk never looked dodgy at all, I did think it was stramge that as the train came into the station they went round everyone right to the back of the queue to get off. Quickly realised what they were doing when they started pushing into me.

After that I kept anything valuable well hidden.

Did actually contemplate buying a cheap wallet with a picture inside of me giving the viccy. Thought it would be funny to have someone find that if they had stolen my wallet :-))

haha that would be class, will remember that for next time :lol:

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None of my party of 4 were robbed. Had a great time, was February though so I don't know if that makes a difference

I went in April and had nothing stolen.

I do laugh at the Spanish wearing parkas and whatever when it's 22C. Have a look at yourselves.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Just back here`s my travellers tips and experiences.

* First, it`s a big city with a population of just under 4 million so that cheap hotel deal may not look so good if you end up miles from anywhere, luckily we got a deal and stayed here http://www.hotelpraktikbakery.com/ no bar, no pool, no gym, no room service etc just a small reception desk and a bakery with a q from early morning till mid evening with locals in for bread, cakes etc. Breakfast was 8 euros in a cafe overlooking the bakery and you basically just filled up on fresh bread, ham, cheese and muffins till it came out your ears.

* We took the airport bus in, drops you right down town at the top of the Ramblas. Travellers Tip - buy your ticket inside the air terminal when you arrive and you get on the bus before those who didn't.

* We bought a 2 day hop on hop off sightseeing bus ticket and still only managed 2 of the 3 loops the buses take. The bus ticket comes with a book of discount tickets for various attractions including the Nou Camp.

* Nou Camp - we got caught out here as we booked online thru` an agency, downloaded the stuff and rocked up. The small print on page 3 was that we were meant to visit the agency office to pick up the tickets. Travellers tip - just pitch up at the Nou Camp and buy your tickets when you get there, either cash at the windows or by card at one of the machines and press the button that says `Bus tour` or similar and you get a few quid off.

* Ramblas - never saw any pickpockets or incidents but saw plenty of potential victims mainly walking round in groups off the cruise ships with badges round their necks saying `Rob me first please`

* Ramblas = very crowded street with flower stalls down the middle, highlight for me was wandering round the huge market just off it, we had lunch in a wee place inside the market with fish so fresh it winked at me. http://www.boqueria.info/index.php?lang=en

* Eating out, we used trip advisor to find places close to the hotel and had a memorable night here http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g187497-d2151085-Reviews-La_Pepita-Barcelona_Catalonia.html

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  • 3 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...

Why is it such a scumhole of pickpocketry, in a way that other big cities aren't?

I know a guy who had his wallet nicked, emptied of cash, and returned to his jaikit without noticing. Impressive work!

I've been 5 times, and have honestly never seen anything like that - they normally take the wallet.

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Park guell and bocannero both worth a visit. Guadi park outwith centre is on bus tour route. Bocannero big market with fresh fruit, veg, cheese, fish, meat def worth a look and u can get a good meal in here too sitting at a wee bar people watching. Sagrada familia impressive. Beach area is good we've been a few times and always have a meal at gamba de la rey, a seafood restaurant overlooking the water in the barcelonetta area. Football def worth a trip if there's a game on. Pure theatre. Enjoy

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  • 7 months later...

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