As I mentioned in a previous message, I said that Barcelona was a downpoint of my trip to Spain the week of May 20-30. The people are rude, and they when they see a foreigners coming, they snatch their purses and kids. Does anyone feel the same way?

Sheesh! What a terrible experience you had in Barcelona and a worse impression! Sorry to hear that. I felt totally comfortable and safe during the Semana Santa I spent there in 1999. We rode metros, buses, took taxis, did lots of walking all during the day and night and never felt threatened or held suspicious at any time.

Your posting, generalizing "the people" and "they" is somewhat.. ummm.. how shall I say...... a generalization. Surely not 100% of those you encountered did/seemed this way..

Again, I'm sorry to hear you feel this way about one of Spain's jewels (in my opinion). It certainly has its own charms and is distinctive in style, manner, and people.. and really can't be compared to, say, Sevilla, Cáceres, Santiago, or Madrid.

What other parts of Spain did you visit? Did you find Barcelona MUCH dirtier than Madrid??

Saludos, MadridMan

Well, tell me where your kids are and I will try to get them back for you.

Hello again. I hope I didn't come across as pushy or rude. I just had a really bad experience. On May 20th, I along with students went to Madrid for an opportunity to see another culture. When I first arrived, I was excited. As I left the airport and headed into the city, I noticed a lot of graffiti but that's normal with any big city. We spent 3 days in Madrid. I really didn't find Madrid to be dirty. We went everywhere. The people were friendly and I was impressed by the architecture. The smoke in Madrid and the rest of Spain is really unbearable to me. I didn't realize how much they smoke and like another person on the message board, I was taken. One of the sites I liked was the Royal Palace. I would love to "borrow" just one of those candeliers. After Madrid, we headed for Toledo. Afterwards, we went to Segovia, Avila, Plasencia, Carceres, Cuenca, Barcelona, Figeres, and just across the border into France. The best part of the trip was in Carceres. The city was great and I had a blast interacting with the people. I realized the farther south I go the nicer the people become. OK Thanks a lot. I definitely will visit Spain again. I'm thinking about getting a summer home in Southern Spain when I get older. See you.

Well, I think jysuper has a point

It is true that the people of the south of Spain are more charming and friendly than the ones from the north. Not only with tourists, but also with spaniards from other places. Which leaves us citizens of Madrid in the center not as charm as the andalusians, but not as cold as the notherns.

Hope you enjoy more your next visit jysuper

Fernando

Jysuper- I'm sorry you had not so good an experience in Barcelona, but I'm glad you liked the rest of Spain! I traveled to Barcelona several times, and although I enjoyed it and found the people friendly, I have always thought that Spaniards got friendlier the further south you got, but I wasn't sure if I was just being biased!

Viva Andalucia! Viva Espana!!

Very interesting observations here.

I have lived in Madrid for 38 years now and have loved every minute of it. I have always super-enjoyed the people. The real madrileños have a tremendous sense of humor and a real "joie de vivre" attitude. With time, it has become a real international melting pot and it is harder and harder to find these authentic old type of madrileños. But the new generation of "born and raised" have the same attitude I think. And that is what is contagious and wonderful about this city.

My experiences with Barcelona and the Catalans has never been unpleasant and I have enjoyed Barcelona when I have been there. But the Catalans have an attitude problem that only seems to be getting worse as they become more and more nationalistic. They seem to have a chip on their shoulder about things and people non-Catalan and it reflects in their treatment of fellow Spaniards and non-Spaniards.
Excuse me, your personality complex is showing guys.

I've posted about this before - it's unfortunately true and most foreigners in Barcelona are "hasta los [censored]" with the situation as well. The only bright spot is that it appears the socialists will win the next elections for the Generalitat and the nationalists will be out for the first time.

This imposition of invented culture has done marvelous things for the economic growth of Madrid however, as companies relocate there to avoid the idiocy here.

It will do marvelous things for one MM board poster too when he relocates this summer as well...

By the way, for those interested in this topic, I would like to tell you that my knowledge and attitude about Barcelona was helped a lot after reading a book called Barcelona by Robert Hughes.

I reckon that in any big Western European city the people are probably indifferent to foreigners simply because they see so many of them. I did make the mistake of trying to speak Spanish to a guy selling Barcelona keyrings on the Ramblas but I didn't realise at the time that he was selling them on behalf of a Catalan nationalist group and he did not take kindly to me trying to communicate in Spanish. Generally I try to steer clear of people who describe themselves as nationalists.....seems wrong to me to be only concerned about your own little world.

I OBJECT! Your honor, I move to strike rash generalizations like this one posted by Fernando:



Who says "it is true"? You? I find fault with that line of thinking, and have found the people everywhere I go in the north just as warm and receptive to me as anywhere else in Spain I've been.

That FACT has only been confirmed by my most recent trip. I had locals walking along with us pointing out the way to go, inviting us for tapas, drinks, etc. Remember that I'm GENERALIZING in the geographical sense...this happened everywhere we went, and not just in the pilgrim albergues and pilgrimage places.

Shame on those who think the north is "cold" and "less charming or friendly". On second thought, keep telling everyone these lies...then the north will be more unspoiled and wonderful for people like me who appreciate it!!! :p

richarmadrid, I love that book by robert Hughes. It was wonderful!! Unfortunately I read it after I returned from Spain. Can't wait to get to Barcelona again now that I have a better historical/architectural sense.

Bricamb, I don´t know about Cataluña, but I know that in the Basque Country nationalists are friendly just like everyone in general. It´s not that they are only concerned only about their little "own little world", but more a struggle for recognition. Regional Languages were repressed under Franco and so now people have strong feelings about things like that.

About certain people looking at you and then obviously going for their bags, belongings and kids as if you are going to 'snatch' their stuff,
well a lady did that to me in Madrid and it just made me laugh! I luuuuuuv Madrid and even though i've been conned by bar men, coaxed into ordering things i don't want, cheated with bills 10 x what i should be paying i still Luuuuuuuuuuuv Spain.(no one gets away with this! not with me!)
As for the Northerners being colder than Southerners - I just don't know! While in Andalucian towns searching for olive oil I found that some people would run into their homes and bolt the doors and then peek through windows! and some people stare and cross to the other side of the road, and continue to stare! (all part of the fun as far as I'm concerned) But then a lady at an olive oil factory was majestic in welcoming us and was so joking and friendly, she was just exposed more to foreigners, that's all it is at the end of the day. .... but Andalucia is a gem!
As for the northern parts i've had no problems, but many of my Spanish friends from Madrid would certainly act differently and cautiously while in Basque regions and Barcelona, but only because they would be treated unfairly, once their accent would be established. .
So at the end of the day we are all just sharing our opinions and experiences, and these are ALL valid, I think my sweeeping generalisation comment would be; nothing wrong with opinions and always arrive at a place with an open mind

..by a very suspicious looking, not to be trusted desperado type olive oil in guitar case Londoner.
Whose next?

By the way
everyone is entitled to my opinion! oops everyone is entitled to their opinion!

Try coming up North to Yorkshire miche! Sure you'll be treated with suspicion here! That accent of yours simply will not be tolerated.

You, know, mad woman weilds olive oil bottle in unconcerned manner - doesn't realise consequences of said action . . . speaks in southern namby tones . . . .

Sorry, off topic MM, so back to it - yes miche, I'm entitled to your opinion.

Jo

Hey Jo!
You guys are the ones with the funny accents-not us Londoners .....cor blimey! :p tee hee
Luv Miche

All of you Brits have odd accents. Everyone knows the "King's English" is spoken in California, dude. :p

Calibasco said:
Everyone knows the "King's English" is spoken in California, dude.

...fer shure, Cali!

Saludos dude,
Mama Chula
"former surfer girl" from a loooooong time ago!