Do not kid yourselves and pretend crime in Spain is not bad or it is the same as in the US. I am a young woman, and my girlfriends and I have backpacked throughout the US and nothing happened to us! We have slept in Penn Station NY waiting for a train to go to Vermont, backpacked in Arizona and Colorado, slept in the desert, nothing happened to us. <BR>You say NY is dangerous, that is because you have never been there, and just repeat what others said, or I have noticed that most people in this board come from rural areas and small towns in the center of the US, that is why you think NY is dangerous. It is not dangerous compared to Spain. <BR> <BR>Only in Spain my girlfriends and I were gassed in an AVE train going from Madrid to Barcelona one year ago. All of our stuff was stolen, everything gone, they did not leave us with anything. They have to have gassed us because I do not remember anything, when we woke up everything was gone, all the backpacks, passports, money, debit, credit cards, and also my pants and undergarments were down to my ankles when I woke up. Disgusting! I was crying, we went to the police in Barcelona, but it was too late, people were off the train before that. I talked to the police I reported the crime, not only the robbery, but also the sexual assault. Nothing could be done, I went to the US embassy, to no avail. I had to call my parents I could not cope, and I had to wait to get my passport. The same with my girlfriends. My parents picked me up and I left! I was only 19 last year, and a college student eager to know the world. <BR> <BR>All of you who claim that Spain is not unsafe, should read all the posts from all the people who had a bad experience with crime in Spain. New travelers should know that crime in Spain is on the rise. <BR>

We now have "Robert", "Coors Light", posting the exact message written above under the alias "crimeinspain", and copying it to all new posts on Spain. I guess he is using his feminine side, by pretending he is a woman. Or, we have another bigoted spain-basher on our hands. Why else would this person be compelled to copy the same reply on numerous posts? I think his next alias should be "Archie Bunker".

I've got friends who were "gassed" on a sleeper train while in those bunks with canvas covers, but I forgot which country it was in. Does anyone know what kind of gas they use? All they remembered was waking up with huge headaches.

We have visited Barcelona as a part of our honeymoon in July. The people that we encountered there were very friendly. We walked a lot and also took a metro and we never had any problems outrselves nor did we see anyone else being mugged. We felt very safe at all times and the biggots and racists who are posting comments on this board should be ashamed of themselves. They are just trying to degrade such a beautiful contry as Spain and possibly funnel the tourism to other parts of the world. Barcelona offers so much beauty and charm that it would be a real shame if someone would change his/her travel plans based on the reports posted by a few illeterate idiots.

I've been avoiding these anti-Barcelona postings, but I am going to add my opinion just once. We spent five days in Barcelona as part of our honeymoon in late June. We saw three instances where someone had just had something stolen at La Ramblas. We never saw an actual incident, only the aftermath (usually a tourist yelling, followed by the slighty tardy police officers showing up.) It was not comfortable at La Ramblas, but I use a money belt. Our biggest complaint was that Barcelona was the dirtiest city we have ever seen, and the whole place smelled like urine. You could see the stains on every corner of every building. I don't think it was just the dogs, either. Unfortunately, Gaudi's great buildings will always be there. The Miro Foundation was very great. The Picasso Museum has some important works, but they are in a building that was not meant to house art. I'm glad I went, but I don't see any reason to return, unless they finish La Sagrada Familia (yeah right!)

<BR> <BR>Has anyone mentioned Athens? My wife and I had been with a group in rural areas in Crete, etc, and were back in Athens on our own. So our guard was down as we boarded a city bus. And both of us quickly had our wallets lifted. <BR>Another case of not being careful in big cities. <BR> <BR>Bill in Missouri

You must be joking mister 'crimeinspain ([email protected])'. <BR> <BR>You said: <BR>'Only in Spain my girlfriends and I were gassed in an AVE train going from Madrid to Barcelona one year ago.' <BR> <BR>Well. In Spain there is no high-speed railway between Barcelona and Madrid. The only one at this moment runs from Madrid to Sevilla. <BR> <BR>You better leave the moon. <BR>

Look, I was in Barcelona in May and yes, I sat at a cafe and watched people being robbed. They were people at tables whose bags were on the ground unattended - of course they were going to be robbed. My bag was on my lap with my arms through the straps and nobody was going to bother me when there were plenty of people who weren't careful to take advantage of. The other thing was, the people doing this pickpocketing were pretty obvious. I'm sure there are others who are not. Why go if you're not going to enjoy it and it's a shame if you miss such a rich and fantastic city for this reason. Bottom line, just be smart. Leave your valuables at home and just carry what you absolutely need that day.

Re: Lou's comment: "Our biggest complaint was that Barcelona was the dirtiest city we have ever seen, and the whole place smelled like urine." <BR> <BR>Interesting perspective. My girlfriend & I, on the other hand, didn't perceive either of those things. Funny how people can visit cities and come away with such different impressions.

To "crimeinspain":Obviously, you haven't travelled by train in Spain. I seriously doubt that you've even been there. First of all, the AVE only travels from Madrid to Sevilla. Second, these trains all full of honest people who are seated all around you, pretty close together and those closer can see every move you make and every word you say if you don't intentionally lower your voice. I doubt very much that anyone could get gassed, robbed and raped in one of these trains without someone noticing. I also doubt that someone would pay a ticket to get on an almost two hour ride to do this in front of other people and nowhere to run and hide (it's a moving train) if they get caught.

An old tourist and children were blown up in Spain. Two bombs in resort areas were denoted in Spain, obviously aimed at tourists. <BR>Even Spain's own government says that crime is on the rise in Spain, and that they are worried about how terrorism is affecting tourism, I do not understand why people on this board choose to avoid the obvious, do not accept reality and misinform potential travelers. <BR>

SURLOCK: <BR> <BR>Must you "facture" the english language. <BR>"Once, me, my daughter" .......

Ok, Ted: <BR> <BR>I, my daughter.. Are you happy now? <BR> <BR>However, I'm sure you understood what I meant, didn't you?? <BR> <BR>Surlok

My girlfriend and I are going to visit Barcelona and Madrid in November. Since it won't be the tourist peak season, will be have a higher chance of being targeted? Also, can anyone recommend what will be a good neighborhood to stay at in these two cities?

Surlock: <BR> <BR>Thanks for paying attention. It should be "My daughter and I". or "My daughter, xxx and I. <BR> <BR>When my children or my students would say "me and him" I would think " what language are you speaking".

Wen, my girlfriend & I were there in March of last year -- which also was not peak tourist season -- and we thought that, because of that, we may have actually had a <I>lesser</I> chance of being targeted, thinking that perhaps the evildoers come out in force when the tourists do. <BR> <BR>As for neighborhoods in Barcelona, I'd recommend either the Eixample ("Expansion") -- the newer part with the grid streets and the Modernisme buildings -- or the older Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter.)

Ted, <BR> <BR>Yesterday I was sleepy, now, I'm not. I'm not a native English speaker, as you shall have already realized. Now I need an English lesson. I learned to say: <BR> <BR>Me and..my daughter, son, friend,... or <BR> <BR>My daughter, son, friend... and I. <BR> <BR>Is this wrong? <BR> <BR>Surlok

Bedi: <BR> <BR>So sorry to hear this happened to you. I travel on my own extensively (on business mostly)and I have become far more careful recently about where I stay and how I act (partly due to being alerted to safety problems on this board). <BR> <BR>I was in Barcelona a few months ago and saw no muggings. I was considering various hotels in different areas. I asked Maribel, a regular on this board, to help with a recommendation. She STRONGLY advised that I stay in the L'Eixample area and she was right on - broad streets, plenty of light, high-end area. I was glad I did not choose an hotel on La Rambla - colourfull as it is, turn right off the main street and it has its seedier side and this is not something I need when travelling alone. <BR> <BR>I also agree that you can be mugged anywhere and a single women is an easy target. The problem when travelling is that one does NOT know the areas to avoid at night, while, at home, you do. My female collegues in Barcelona generally avoid certain areas at night and my female collegues in Paris advised against travelling on certain metro lines at night. <BR> <BR>If I am going to a city I don't know, then I will stay at one of the more expensive hotels and then check out cheaper ones in the same area for the next visit. I try to avoid any hotel near a train station, as they tend to attract "undesirables". If I arrive late I night, I give the taximan a huge tip which always results in him hopping out of the car and helping me with my luggage. If I need to read a map, I keep my back to the wall. I have become very good at "feeling" people over my shoulder following me and checking out a shop that I can duck into. <BR> <BR>These rules apply anywhere I go - North America or Europe. <BR> <BR>Despite the trauma, I hope you did enjoy this beautiful city. <BR> <BR>Regards ... Ger

Surlock! <BR> <BR>Perfect! " My daughter, friend and I." Now if I could speak your language as well as you speak english, that would be wonderful.

Mr. Bob: <BR> <BR>Why are you so angry? Such vugarity coming from you mouth.