We encountered a rude waitress in Barcelona during our first day of travelling in Barcelona. We just came from the train station that morning and asked the hotel reception about where to eat a good Paella <BR>and he suggested a downstair restaurant which called "Hotel Ingles". Only to be disappointed by their B...waitress which ruined our whole day. <BR> <BR>After our appetizer (Salad) and she is about to serve the paella, she noticed that the oil and vinegar used by us was not put in rack and <BR>caused her to bang it back to the rack <BR>and made a irritating noise (sounds produce by tongue and teeth) which means she's angry. <BR>Do the customer deserve this kind of service after a long tiring travelling by night train??? <BR> <BR>I do believed its something to do with our race since we're Asian and if she dont like to <BR>serve asian she might as well not to work as an Waitress nor the Restaurant Management should put a sign outside their hotel and restaurant that says "NO ASIAN IS ALLOWED". They even intentionally refused my brother's American Express Goldcard <BR>(though have indicated in the door sign that American Express card is accepted) and said that the card is no longer valid because the ink at the back of card had been erased already which is obviously <BR>ridiculous as he have been using it during our travelling thus having no problem. <BR> <BR>So I suggest that people specially Asian to be warned not to go to this restaurant though the food is okay but their attitude toward their Asian <BR>customer is very very rude and shameful of them to be a racist and unfairly treat people by colors. <BR> <BR>The name of their restaurant is : <BR> <BR> HOTEL INGLES LOCATED AT CARRER DELA <BR> BOUQUERIA NEAR THE RAMBLA. <BR> <BR>I hope other people cold be warn by this ads and to avoid the same incident happen to us. <BR> <BR>Anyone (Asians) experienced the same racism in Spain?? Spanish people stares at people so rudely from head to toe which Im sure they are aware of what they are doing is wrong and very very bad. <BR>

I think the Spanish waitress who gave you the hard time can not deal with the fact that she's serving an Asian customer now in the 21st century whereas in the 18th century history, Spain had colonized several Asian countries like Philippines and supposedly superior to them. Funny how some people want to hold on to their dark history, instead of learning from it, they'd rather repeat it. That would be scary in the case of the Holocaust!!!!

Babe 61 - Get over it. Just because they don't serve chicken fried rice in Spain doesn't mean they are racists. I am a Japanese-American who has visited Spain numerous times and have NEVER witnessed any type of racism. <BR> <BR>The Spanish people are warm and cater to well mannered tourists appropriately. <BR> <BR>

Message to Riki <BR> <BR>As if you are insinuating that I am not a well-mannered tourist that's why I experienced it. How could you say it wherein you not even know me. I am a frequent traveller and not even once receive this kind of treatment in other part of the world. So you can just keep your mouth shut up. In fact I know about Spanish culture since our country had been colonized by them for hundred of years and yet suprised to find out that they still have this mentally. I am very much angry <BR>with the Spanish waitress as we dont DESERVE this <BR>kind of treatment as we dont do it to others. <BR> <BR>

babe -- I can understand your anger at this particular waitress. Her behavior was rude and you certainly did not deserve this treatment. But perhaps she is the kind of person who shouldn't be working in the service industry at all because she just doesn't get along with people at all, regardless of race. Please don't judge a whole country by the actions of one person.

Message : Lori <BR> <BR>Thanks for your conforting words. I am not judging the whole country for the mistake of that waitress but I think it will really took me some time to erase this bad incident and as of now no intention of going back there. As you know why, we only not encountered the rude waitress but have almost been robbed in their subway station <BR>and have been scrutinized by their national police <BR>in the border (Port Bou) Im not so sure about the <BR>spelling. So for staying there for 2 days and 1 night, I think we dont have a good memories about the people except for the beautiful architectural buildings made by Mr. Antonio Gaudi and the Park Guel. And I would like to think that its only unfortunate of us to meet those kind of people and <BR>incidents which didn't happen from the rest of our <BR>European tour. We have been in 20 Cities and never <BR>never being look down by other people in other cities. Anyway, thanks for your kind & comforting words. <BR> <BR>

This is funny shit!!!! especially the japanese guy saying "just because they don't serve chicken fried rice..." HAHHAHHHAHA funny shit!!!!!!!!!!!!! <BR>

Dear Babe <BR>How can you be so sure that this is racism? Did they refer to your skin or you nationality... May the waitress had a bad night with her lover... may be the police were doing their job, protecting you and others... may the thief tryed to rob you and also the Spanish old lady besides you... IS THIS RACISM? I have Mediterranean dark skin. You cannot imagine how many times I felt the same way, specially in "white/blond" European countries, I mean France, Belgium, Sweden, even in the Netherlands... but was it racism or xenophobia? <BR>None of us can juge your feelings but the way you explain them is doesn't seem to be RACISM but a sequence of bad events which made you angry. I have been in Spain several times (it is true that I could be easly confused with a Spanish guy), I know lots of people been there and this is the very first time I hear such comments on Spanish behaviour. May be things are changing and we are not noticing it. We should all be alert against RACISM anywhere, everywhere... <BR>Babe, thanks to come out and rise the question. <BR>Alexis

Message to Alexis, <BR> <BR>I was with Babe in Barcelona when these 3 incidents happened. I would like to agree that the waitress may just have a bad day and was in a rotten mood. But I noticed when she was serving other tables with Spanish customers, she was very pleasant with them, saying warm greetings. Whereas in my case, after I said "gracias" to her upon serving our salad, she did not even look nor acknowledge my thanks. Also We were the only Asian customer in that restaurant that afternoon. <BR> <BR>The thieves are low-life scum of the earth and they would rob anybody regardless of your skin color, that I agree. <BR> <BR>The border police in Port Bou is a completely different story. After all the passengers left the train in Port Bou to transfer to another train to Barcelona. Port Bou, being the first port of entry in Spain from France, the border police picked one dark skin guy before us and was interrogating him and making telephone call to check the guy's record. He was not even finish with the guy and when he saw us, he stopped us and demanded our passport, the first guy happened to be an American and asked him why he only picked the non-white passengers out of the hundred people. He was questioning the police criteria or basis in making the spot check of the tourist passengers. The police became furious and said to him in Spanish, "this is my God Damn country and I can do whatever I want". I said to the guy that he was right since the police did not stopped any of the Caucasian looking passengers before and after us. How can you blame us for not thinking that it has something to do with the color of the skin? In the station, before the connecting train arrives, the racist pig was walking,looking around again for any suspicious character, and guest what? he spotted another colored tourist and asked for his passport? Meanwhile, there must be at least 50 or more caucasian looking tourist that he did not even bother. Coincidence or just plain Racism?

Sorry to hear that you had a bad experience in that restaurant (ate there and stayed at hotel Ingles twice in 1994 and 1996). Hope it was only a bad day for the waitress. I never encountered any rude Spaniard. I felt very much at home and comfortable as they made me feel like a guest in their country.

Message : Monica <BR> <BR>Are you an Asian? Anyway, as Oto says, it's not that the waitress had a bad day or in bad mood coz <BR>she serves other non Asians with smile and even greeted them. I bet this waitress is not yet working there the last time you've been there. And <BR>Im not refering to all their staff as the waiter seems to be nice to us except for that BITCH waitress which I think should not be working to <BR>serve people. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

Hey babe, what's with the broken english?

being an asian myself, i must admit that i've experienced racism no matter where i am. but i let it go. it is the type of hostility represented here under this topic that perpetuates racism and hatred. perhaps the waitress had a bad day. possibly. perhaps she does have a problem with non-caucasians, possibly. can we judge her by the 'first impression'? perhaps she has had an awful experience with an asian individual in the past that would explain (though not justify) her actions. isn't that possible as well? can you say that you would not do the same, babe? it appears as if you are, expressing hostility to all spaniards because of one experience with a less than pleasant person. many of the individuals who have posted messages in response to your original message have tried to be diplomatic and to express their own opinions. however, you seem to be hostile to them as well. we are all friendly individuals here and this is a friendly forum to share ideas and experiences. let's not change that.

Jenny <BR> <BR>Thanks for your message. I guess I have to let it go and try to accept it as part of life and travelling but I believed you can't blame me coz it's not only 1 experienced but a series of bad <BR>incidents happened to us in Barcelona.

Luca - Can you believe this Chinese American that can't even write in correct english? I wish he/or she would at least learn the language. <BR> <BR>I wonder if BABE speaks spanish as poorly as she writes english. <BR> <BR>Babe - From one Asian to another...get a grip, shut your mouth, and remember to complete every sentence with a big ..... AHHHHH SOOOOOO!!!! <BR> <BR>P.S. I hope the Spanish Inquisition gets their hands on you.

Rikki, <BR> <BR>Please keep your mouth shut up!!! Nobody is asking your opinion nor want to talk to you, END OF TOPIC <BR>AND YOU CAN SAVE YOUR TIME AND GO TO H.... <BR>

Hi, <BR> <BR>I totally agree with the initiator of this forum, most of you guys don't have to live with this shit on a daily basis in Europe. <BR> <BR>Regards, <BR>Mr.Patel <BR>

Actually, Babe, you did ask my opinion. You posted a question on an open forum, remember? <BR>