BajaNomad

Barcelona and we got robbed!

BajaBlanca - 6-2-2015 at 07:37 AM

It was the classic ripoff strategy used all over the world:

guy comes to my window about 10 minutes after we pull into downtown Barcelona. YOU HAVE A FLAT. Les suggests I get out of the car and check it because he felt no wavering at all. YES, it is flat I say. The next 10min are a blur of a guy moving back and forth in a car -right where Les is getting the spare out. Another guy blabbing on and on in my face about where to get a mechanic blablabla. Then he disappears and the car takes off and voila! I look in the car and my bag is gone. Les looks and his apnea machine is gone (thought it was a camera case). I go to a bar and the youngster inside calls the police for me. Then I go back out and a car rides up and the guys hands me my purse saying: I saw that the action was suspicious and I grabbed these two things - apnea machine and my purse. I tear up and thank him profusely and ask Les to give a reward - he is looking in incredulously and refuses to give any cash. Long story short - gone is the cell phone. gone is my IPAD. gone are all the cards and cash from my wallet and purse (not a lot mind you).

The police show up but we are horrible reporters - I didn't realize that every single person involved was part of the scam until much much later.

we changed the tire, found a hotel and went to file a police report. it was going to take all day (about 5 hours) so we left without filing. the lady who was taking notes said she gets tons of reports using the same MO.

The good news is that Les had moved the passports to the suitcase. The good news is that my IPAD has a PIN and I think they cant get in??? The bad news is that I could not access FIND MY IPAD because we had no device - I now know that I could have downloaded it right to my laptop. Too late. It may be dumb, but I used that IPAD like it was an extension of my arm! I am really peeed off.

Yesterday the feeling was anger sadness anger sadness. Rollercoaster. We did take a tour of Barcelona and it is gorgeous but my heart was not in it.

So, I am trying to access the pics on iPhoto and haven't done it yet but we had a VERY fun day up to the crime and I will be reporting on it ....

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Barcelona is expensive - our hotel was higher than anywhere else, our meals were higher than anywhere else, the subway was double anywhere else.

Gaudi - the architect - outdid himself in being gaudy :))))))

The buildings are old and all have verandas with flowers.

The subway was a bit confusing.

The police were on the scene within minutes - three on motorcycles but we could not give good descriptions of the people or the cars!@#$%^&!!!!!

The tolls if you enter the city by car are really expensive - to the tune of $30 dollars at some of them. You can do non toll but it adds an hour to the trip. The toll freeway was fantastic - not one pothole, smooth and pretty empty of traffic.

The scenery between Valencia and there is really pretty. Lots of Valencia orange trees, lots of olive trees with other veggies scattered about.

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We are now back at Peniscola - on the coast between Barcelona and Valencia. We ate the most delicious Italian meal which included

a huge mixed salad
a main dish - Les had lasagnette and I had pork. His was the *
a dessert of tiramisu for me and whisky ice cream for Les
a glass of beer and a glass of wine (could have chosen water)

all for 22 EUROS or $25.

Ok my son is trying to track the ipad for me with my FIND MY IPAD - not much I can do to get it but I want to know WHERE IT IS.

No pics yet but like I said - I will try to locate them on ICLOUD to show some places we went to on our way to Barcelona.

David K - 6-2-2015 at 07:45 AM

So so sorry Blanca!!!

Ateo - 6-2-2015 at 07:55 AM

Damn! I'm sorry and wish I could help in some way. I was gonna offer to try and track the iPad but it sounds like your son has that duty. Glad no one was hurt.

I know the percentage of theifs in Barcelona is small, but...

durrelllrobert - 6-2-2015 at 08:38 AM

While driving a rental car into there for the Summer Olympics in 1992 we stopped at a red light (no toll road then). A group of people were walking across in the cross walk and a well dressed young man came over to the passenger side and was looking in the window. Suddenly he took a large rock out of his pocket, smashed the window and grabbed the camera case off my ex-wife's lap and took off running. The people behind us saw it happened and the driver took off running after him but he got away running down into a a large ditch.

The people behind us spoke English and had us follow them to their nearby home where they tapped a piece of cardboard over the broken window and called the local office for the rental car and made arrangements for us to take our car there and exchange it for another.

Unfortunately the camera case not only contained an expensive 35mm camera and all of the extra lenses but it also had about 10 rolls of undeveloped rolls of film documenting our previous tours of the UK, Italy Germany and Spain.

Udo - 6-2-2015 at 08:43 AM

The worst part is losing the rolls of film.

I feel your pain!
Quote: Originally posted by durrelllrobert  
While driving a rental car into there for the Summer Olympics in 1992 we stopped at a red light (no toll road then). A group of people were walking across in the cross walk and a well dressed young man came over to the passenger side and was looking in the window. Suddenly he took a large rock out of his pocket, smashed the window and grabbed the camera case off my ex-wife's lap and took off running. The people behind us saw it happened and the driver took off running after him but he got away running down into a a large ditch.

The people behind us spoke English and had us follow them to their nearby home where they tapped a piece of cardboard over the broken window and called the local office for the rental car and made arrangements for us to take our car there and exchange it for another.

Unfortunately the camera case not only contained an expensive 35mm camera and all of the extra lenses but it also had about 10 rolls of undeveloped rolls of film documenting our previous tours of the UK, Italy Germany and Spain.

JZ - 6-2-2015 at 08:57 AM

Have been to Barcelona about 10 times.

It is the well known pick-pocket capital of the world. I know 10+ people that have gotten hit. One girl had her pulse cut from the bottom with a razor blade while standing on the train.

Gotta watch your chit there OP.

DENNIS - 6-2-2015 at 09:07 AM



Hate to watch my friends learning the hard way. Get the hell outta there.

DENNIS - 6-2-2015 at 10:00 AM



Isn't Barcelona pushing for independence?

vandenberg - 6-2-2015 at 10:55 AM

Hate to say it, but this happens all over the world. Paris is the known headquarters for pickpockets with its large gypsy population.
I've been had twice here in good old Mexico. Once in Mazatlan on a public transit bus and once in picturesque Guanajuato, where some jerk apparently threw some nasty stuff on my slacks and, while trying to get it removed, managed to get my cash ( just came from an ATM) and was even so experienced at it, that he removed credit cards out of my wallet, but leaving it in place. Took an hour to realize the card was gone. Some of these folks are experts at this game. I was brought up in the city and am far from naive, but these Fagans of the world are all around us.

Hook - 6-2-2015 at 11:35 AM

Great. I will be there for four nights in late September.

But it's not like I will be unaware. BARCELONA is the pick-pocket capital of the world, not Paris. It's legendary for it.

Whale-ista - 6-2-2015 at 12:02 PM

Aghhh! So sorry to read this- hope your Ipad will be found before they break in and reset it... yuch. Do your photos stream to the cloud? That helps...

In 2013, my sister and I took our mini Ipads to Europe for 3 weeks of travel. I noticed they were quite the novelty that summer as we held them up to take photos over the heads of crowds- drew lots of curious stares from young people who know/use technology, and had not seen the minis in their market.

(Fortunately- no one tried to "adopt" ours. They both returned home, stuffed with 1000s of photos.)

One note re:Barcelona- I was walking in a Barcelona Park with a friend- he was a bit in front as I took photos, when suddenly he came walking quickly back to confront a man who had been approaching me from behind and looked suspicious to him.

Was the stranger intending to do me harm? Grab me? My bag...? I'm glad I didn't find out...

Be safe as your continue your travels... thanks for sharing your adventures, good & otherwise...

motoged - 6-2-2015 at 12:17 PM

Our hearts go out to you guys.....it is sometimes difficult to not be angry, etc......when you are victims of a crime....

BajaBlanca - 6-2-2015 at 01:17 PM

thanks for the kind words! we hightailed out of Barcelona, not wanting to temp fate. I am having trouble accessing icloud photos but I know I will do it.

Barcelona is a wonderful city - I cant stress how wonderful the regular folk were.

Last night as we had dinner in a small pub-like place, I was on the internet with my son in the air force when Les decided he would go to the ATM for more cash, the waiter said it was on the corner and he says to me - jokingly - come get me if I don't come back and we smiled at each other. Being so spooked by the whole steal my purse incident, I had my laptop and nothing else with me.

so 15 minutes go by ....it was a holiday, so I figure maybe there was a long line. 30 minutes go by and I am now seriously concerned. After 45 minutes, I get up and ask if I can leave my computer on the table while I go to the corner to look for Les. Too dangerous they say.So, I ask if I can leave it with them at the bar (reasoning being if I leave my laptop, they will know that I intend to come back and pay for our drinks). Too hot here and no room they answer. Leave it up front. so I hand it to a lady and as I am walking out, Les appears and I break into tears! He was as surprised as I was - too much for this lady in one day. He had gone to 4 or 5 different machines and all were out of cash.....he wanted the cash for our trip to Peniscola today. The waiters and waitresses all came to see what was up and I tell them about the incident that morning and how I was afraid that something had happened to Les. They served us some free deliciously prepared chilis and I discovered that 3 people working there were Brazilian and we chatted away. Nice ending eh?

thanks all for your kind words and if I had the chance to come again I would! This is an amazing country with tons of history that is radically different from Mexico, England, Italy, US, Brazil.

Sangria is wonderful.
Churros with chocolate is wonderful.
Music and dance is outstanding.
Paella is great and we bought a paella dish to prepare it traditional way
Every single person we asked for directions helped us immediately
Catalan is very exotic and really captured my interest

Regarding independence: there is a major movement to make everything Catalan. Classes are all taught in Catalan, if a shop puts a sign in only Spanish, there is a fine. If they put Spanish first and Catalan second on the sign - there is a fine. It is a very strange language to my ear - a mixture of Portuguese - latin - French and little Spanish????

Tomorrow we leave and we still haven't decided what we will do with the last day.....

AKgringo - 6-2-2015 at 01:47 PM

Sounds like a hell of a trip so far, I hope that is the last hiccup you have.
It is a shame you won't be home to welcome the other Blanca to Baja!

BajaBlanca - 6-2-2015 at 02:04 PM

I hope she fizzles out!

vandenberg - 6-2-2015 at 03:17 PM

Quote: Originally posted by BajaBlanca  
I hope she fizzles out!


She will and you won't.:light::biggrin:

Have a great trip.

DENNIS - 6-2-2015 at 03:29 PM



And to think Barcelona got the Olympics in '92.

Bajahowodd - 6-2-2015 at 05:03 PM

Barcelona is in the part of Spain that was part of the Ottoman empire way back when. Its unique architecture is a remnant of that time. Just perhaps it has become a magnet for street Crime is because it has become a major embarkation and disembarkation city for Mediterranean cruises for a bunch of major cruise ship lines. There are times when there are thousands of unsuspecting tourists walking the streets, courtesy of Carnival, Princess, Norwegian, Etc,

SFandH - 6-2-2015 at 05:18 PM

According to World Nomads dot com, Barcelona IS the pickpocket capital of the world.

Interesting descriptions of popular MOs:

http://www.worldnomads.com/travel-safety/spain/Barcelona-Pic...

oxxo - 6-2-2015 at 05:22 PM

We were in Barcelona a couple of days a month ago. We were not that impressed. Very crowded and very confusing. We much preferred Malaga/Granada and the Alhambra was fantastic. But the sleeper along the Costa del Sol was Cartagena, and old, old Roman town with a coliseum. The prices are much less in Andalucia compared to Catalonia, and my Spanish was very passable there, not so in Barcelona. I got into an amicable discussion (in English) with some students at a separatist booth along the street in Barcelona. Reminded me of my days at Berkeley a long time ago. They are totally committed to seceding from Spain. I told them "buena suerte", they are going to need it.

Will we go back to Barcelona........maybe. We will go back to Andalucia.......definitely, we are making plans now. However, of all the places we have traveled in Spain, our number one favorite is San Sabastian in the Basque country - best tapas (pinxos) restaurants in the world!

We really like Spain (better than France or Italy in our opinion) and there are many interesting sights to see. It is just that Barcelona is way down the list for us.

Hook - 6-2-2015 at 05:55 PM

OXXO, please send me any recommendations you have for San Sebastian, especially pintxos bars. We are spending four nights there, too.

Right now, I have Borda Berri and La Mejillonera on the must-do list. Did you eat at either of those?

I gotta start my own Spain post.......

Bob H - 6-2-2015 at 05:58 PM

Was stationed in Rota Spain during my first two years in the Navy (1968-70). It was a treat! The Costa del Sol had so many great places to eat paella. I'll never forget those days. Went back in 1990 and visited the same places, including Puerto Banus near Marbella, a beautiful marina area with lots of fantastic seafood restaurants. I would not hesitate to go back to that area for another visit.

So sorry to hear about your experience in Barcelona!

Stickers - 6-2-2015 at 08:48 PM

Blanca,

This very same heist happened to friends of mine from L.A. two weeks ago upon arriving in Barcelona.

When you started posting from Spain I was going to warn you but figured that this doesn't happened to everyone, guess I was wrong.

They said they guy that ripped them off was well dressed, well mannered and very kindly trying to fix their flat tire.

BajaBlanca - 6-2-2015 at 10:00 PM

oh Stickers...I totally understand why you didn't post it but I really wish you had....just having the possibility in the back of the mind helps so much.

Hook et al - I think that anything related to Spain belongs right here! Ask away! and others, please tell your good (I hope there aren't more bad) stories here too. Living and learning.

4Cata - 6-3-2015 at 12:13 AM

So how did you like Gaudi? Did you get to his park? How about La Sagrada Familia cathedral? Wowsers! Hope you got some tapas though Valencia is one of THE tapas centers. So sorry about your experience. I use a decoy wallet with expired cards that helps me feel better but I guess I've been pretty lucky. Plus my across the body travel purse has steel mesh in the bottom and steel cables in the strap. Never lost anything yet. Hope the rest of your trip is good. Can't wait to see your photos.

Hook - 6-3-2015 at 05:38 AM

Quote: Originally posted by BajaBlanca  


Hook et al - I think that anything related to Spain belongs right here! Ask away! and others, please tell your good (I hope there aren't more bad) stories here too. Living and learning.


No, I really have to start my own. We have so few places in common. I am flying back into Valencia from Pisa, but I simply grab a rental car and head south. My main areas will be San Sebastian, Barcelona, Granada, Sevilla, La Rioja. You stayed quite a ways outside of Madrid, as I recall.

Barcelona could have been helpful.........but I understand your reluctance to stay. All in all, it was helpful. We will be on our guard.

vandenberg - 6-3-2015 at 07:13 AM

Hook, if you have a rental car try not to miss the Alhambra, outside of Granada.

[Edited on 6-4-2015 by vandenberg]

oxxo - 6-3-2015 at 07:46 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Hook  
I am flying back into Valencia from Pisa,


If you are in Pisa, absolutely do not miss the short side trip to the Cinque Terre region just north of Spezia. YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY. Forget going to Portofino, too touristy. Best to hire a guide to tell you all about the history of this hidden gem. We used Umberto (info@cinqueterretour.it) - excellent!

Hook - 6-3-2015 at 12:20 PM

Definitely doing Cinque Terre. That will be in my Italian post......on a Baja board. :biggrin:

Also hitting Lucca, Greve in Chianti, Montalcino, Montepulciano, Siena. Not sure about Florence. I might have Christian Icon Overload by then. Also favoring smaller towns in Tuscany.

BajaBlanca - 6-3-2015 at 03:24 PM

sounds like a wonderful trip! we did stop at Portofino last trip and had a cup of coffee as I recall, then we moved on.

Same with cinque terra but it deserved a longer stay - simple stunning.

Today we went south to COSTA BLANCA and it was fun -more on that tomorrow. Just got back to England.

Hook - 6-3-2015 at 04:34 PM

Back to England? Girlie, you are going to be back in time for Hurricane Blanca........if the airport isnt closed before that.

chuckie - 6-3-2015 at 05:45 PM

Well, there is always Cleveland....What happened to Poland?

Hook - 6-3-2015 at 07:26 PM

Quote: Originally posted by chuckie  
Well, there is always Cleveland....What happened to Poland?


LOL! Barcelona not high on your list, Chuckie?

Skipjack Joe - 6-3-2015 at 07:55 PM

Another vote for San Sebastian from me. The people of that city have a wonderful custom of going for walks through their neighborhoods every night after dinner. The streets are marginally empty throughout the day until around 7pm and then suddenly they're stuffed with people until about 9:30pm. And all they're doing is walking around and socializing. Then it all subsides and the streets are empty again. I witnessed this in the city's center. Nobody was actually buying anything at the stores - just walking. Really cool. Can't imagine anything like that in LA or San Diego. Totally different lifestyle and mentality.

There is something like that at the square at San Ignacio after the heat lifts as well. It does seem to be a magnet for the young (and their skateboards (boo)).

churro - 6-3-2015 at 08:21 PM

Have some tapas for me!

BajaBlanca - 6-3-2015 at 11:01 PM

we are headed to Poland soon but this is our home base (England).

Yesterday we drove south to the COSTA BLANCA area south of Valencia and it was really beautiful! My favorite was a town called BENIDORM. It reminded me of Rio de Janeiro. Gorgeous beach, lovely promenade with many women, men, kids, dogs walking. Lots of buildings but wide open streets.

Driving south, we saw so many castle on the hillsides.

I remembered something I forgot to mention earlier: no alcohol is sold after 10 pm except in restaurants anywhere in Spain. I cant remember any country I have been to that had that law.

4cata - About Barcelona, there are no pics (stolen ipad and iphone and our camera was back in England) at all. Tapas are in every single restaurant, paella is offered in every single restaurant. We took a tour around Barcelona but did not get out anywhere - Gaudi's work is odd and complicated at Sagrada Familia. It was packed there. My favorite part of his work is the mosaic and I got a mosaic t-shirt that honors him. Barcelona is beautiful but we really didn't have a chance to appreciate it.

A decoy wallet is a good idea but our stuff was stolen from INSIDE the car since we had no clue it was a heist....I think the rule is: LOCK THE CARE EVERY SECOND YOU ARE NOT IN IT. and that goes for Mexico or Brazil or Spain.

David K - 6-4-2015 at 08:07 AM

While on tour in Italy, at one of the over the highway restaurtant/ rest stops, our guide (an Italian) pointed out a group of gypsies and warned us to mind our wallets, that they were supreme pick pockets. Gypsies belong to no one country and by treaty can cross borders freely without passports... at least that is what we were told in 1985. Traditionally, I think they originated in Romania.

durrelllrobert - 6-4-2015 at 08:38 AM

If any of you are in the Costa del Sol area of Spain (I know Blnca won't be) you should add an extra day to your visit and drive to Gibraltar and see their "INTERESTING" airport:



and then visit the 300 strong colony of Barbary apes.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbary_macaques_in_Gibraltar

And if you have another extra day you should take the ferry across the Straits to Africa and Visit Morroco.

windgrrl - 6-4-2015 at 05:34 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Traditionally, I think they originated in Romania.


Over 1000 years ago in India, actually, and the target of persecution for many centuries.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gypsy#Origins

Udo - 6-4-2015 at 05:59 PM

Quote: Originally posted by durrelllrobert  


And if you have another extra day you should take the ferry across the Straits to Africa and Visit Morroco.



I will second that trip. BE SURE you get a guide at the northern border into Morocco. They are inexpensive ($20.00 for the whole day). Do not be alarmed when the border guards take your passports into the customs office and don't come back with them for about 10 minutes.

Leo - 6-4-2015 at 08:21 PM

So sorry to read about your troubles in Barcelona Blanca. I still read your posts and most of them are funny and inspiring. Maybe you remember me? Dropped your mail off at the restaurant at the corner to your neck of the Baja a few years ago after having our RV parked at your sister's in SD. Anyway, a few years ago on our first night in BARcelona we saw it happening in front of us while having dinner at a terras. Purse snapped from a lady, running and screaming, it felt awful and didn't even happen to us. Warning signs all over town, even at the Starbucks which gave us a really bad taste of BARcelona. Not sure if the art and architecture made up for it. I won't go back that's for sure.

BajaBlanca - 6-4-2015 at 09:50 PM

Leo - I do remember you, the RV at my sister's !

I guess I should have gone into Starbucks ....and I am also disappointed in the guidebook since they did not mention to be particularly careful in Barcelona - it is clearly dangerous.

Today my British friend and I are off to London to visit museums, see a play (Jersey Boys) and on Saturday, visit with a high school friend whom I haven't seen for 45 years....

This is what wiki has to say on the museum we are going to:


The Victoria and Albert Museum, London, is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects. It was founded in 1852 and named after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

[Edited on 6-5-2015 by BajaBlanca]

BajaBlanca - 6-4-2015 at 10:05 PM

windgrrl - what an interesting read on the gypsies! everyone I know thinks they are from Romania. Living and learning!

elgatoloco - 6-5-2015 at 06:03 AM

Blanca so sorry to hear of your misfortune. :fire:

Churros con chocolate can cure most ails but..........

Wish you safe travels ahead. :dudette:

http://www.btp.police.uk/theft/pickpockets.html#sthash.5Y6Iq...