Why Barcelona is Totally Overrated

Paula sent me these words after a rather unhappy visit to Barcelona:

Everyone city has its idiosyncrasies.  I have traveled enough at this point to understand and accept this.  Those habits and practices I find strange are generally the height of normal to the locals, and the reverse would be true if they were visiting my hometown.  Occasionally, however those quirks that can make a destination charming and memorable, trip past funky personality trait into full-fledged annoyance.  This was my experience with a recent trip to Barcelona. 

I had heard a wide range of things about the city, but I decided to put them out of my head and gather some of my own impressions.  Unfortunately, what I took away with me was not particularly complimentary.

A.    Noise, noise, noise.

I was warned about the noise level, especially at night, before I arrived.  I deliberately chose a hotel that was off the main thoroughfare in the hope that the sounds of the city’s raucous nightlife would not disturb me during my stay.  Part of the point of a vacation is being able to sleep when and how long you like.  Sadly, between the sounds of groups of people cutting through the side street beneath my window, and the incessant honking of car horns, sleep proved nearly impossible. 

B.  The Incomprehensible Train Ticket

I like public transportation.  It’s a great way to get to know a city and its people, so I always spend the first few days of any trip simply riding around and getting oriented.  It was with great confusion that I discovered that, after purchasing a ticket, I couldn’t get on the train.  Apparently, I’d purchased a ticket for the metro system, which is run by a different company, though it functions on the same set of tracks.  If you have purchased the wrong one, oh well, you’ll need to buy a second ticket for the other line, in order to enter the platform. 

C.  Get Used to Being Spit On

Theft is a huge problem in Barcelona, especially on the main streets.  I knew this coming into the city, and consequently “squirreled” my valuables away in various places and kept any bags I was carrying close.  This did not prepare me for the “bird poop” ruse, however.  A common theft technique, the erstwhile thief spits on you from the back, claims that you have been pooped on, and then, while “helping” you remove the poop, relieves you of any bags you may have put down and picks your pockets as well, for good measure. 

Every city has its problems, but Barcelona proved to be especially trying.  Now that I know what to expect, I may go back and try it again.  At this point, however, I am simply looking forward to being able to sleep through the entire night undisturbed.

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