We had some great experiences in Spain. We had some very frustrating experiences in Spain. I’ll recap what would otherwise be a long story as a warning to travelers going to Barcelona. For the record, we had read and heard that Barcelona is full of pick-pockets and other theives and criminals, so our guard was up plenty. Problem is, we didn’t know all of their tricks. So let this be a lesson from our wallet to yours.

June 22
La Rambla and Shopping
Spontaneous and mysterious flat tire while at a stop light, pointed out to us by a couple of guys on a scooter. Lisa waits with car on busy road while I carry the slashed wheel on my dented head to the only 24hr garage in Barcelona, a mile away.

June 23
While attempting to go to the Picasso museum street thieves pull scam on us. One by my door motions that we have yet another flat tire and would not being satisfied with an inch of window. He had to bang on the door to get me to open it (unlocking all doors), accomplice opens back door on passenger side and runs with Lisa’s Nikon camera ($800). I took up chase but lose the parasites in Barcelona alleys.

We decide there’s nothing else to do as we’d have nothing to share with the police and find a lot to park the car for another attempt at the museum. At a stop light we have the same scam tried on us again (yes, not 10 minutes later than the successful attempt). This time I yell unkind words at the weasel and he and his accomplice walk away in shame. Truth be told, I was angry enough at not catching the first set that had I not been concerned about sticking around to protect Lisa, I’d likely have gotten out and done my best to take care of things, with perhaps good but likely bad results as an American dislocating the elbows of parasites in a foreign country is not looked upon well from what I understand, and I only had one small weapon. Don’t know what they might have had.

After parking the car, we approached the museum again on foot, but going through the area where I lost the first set of Barcelona’s vast population of parasites. I see one and he recognizes both Lisa and me and ducks into the kitchen of the restaurant he was in. I start taking pictures of him and his fellow parasites and keep close watch on the rat-hole of a restaurant they inhabit, while Lisa goes into a nearby shop to call the police. Police come, we give report, they ask us to file a full report at the station which we agree to and end up spending essentially the rest of the day there. Lost day on parasites. The second coming can’t come soon enough, though we have been praying that those looting wastes of food/water/air will find Christ and change their ways.

Oh, by the way, the police ask why we thought the guy might be right enough about the flat tire to open the door. We tell him that we had had a flat the night before. He said “kids on a scooter tell you?” We say “Uh, yeah.” He proceeds to tell us that the kids on the scooter were the ones that slashed our tire, with a knife or sharpened screwdriver in their shoe. They have an accomplice who then opens the door, same as the above mentioned procedure, and takes whatever is close-by inside. The cop asks if anything was missing, but there wasn’t. He says, “then they failed that time. That’s good.” Yeah, celebration time.

So, to sum up. We were in Barcelona 3 days. Crime was attempted on us 3 times. Two were successful (a camera to the tune of $800, and a tire to the tune of $200 and a night and day wasted). We decide Spain is not for us until they can get a new government and police force who take immigration and crime seriously. Goodbye Barcelona.

June 24
We drive from Spain back to France. Wonderful to see France. Vive La France.
We drive to Rocamadour, a cliff town in the Dordogne region with a spectacular appearance. We stay the night in one of the well-furnished out buildings of a beautiful farm turned chic Hotel just a few kilometers away from town. We head back into town and explore on foot. Amazing sights: tight walking streets lined with shops and restaurants, ancient buildings covered with character, a small old chapel next to the grave site of one St. Amadour. Night pictures from various places around the valley looking at the lit city. One of the best parts of the trip so far. Amazing.