lauramsgarden

my heart goes out to the wonderful fun, generous people of Catalunya and Barcelona - you are in our prayers

docdan1

Above comments by WhatH and PalenQ very much appreciated. I am a Catalonian by proxy now, and Barcelona, here I come!!!

Traveler_Nick

In about three weeks I'll be there.

bilboburgler

I guess all our prayers and hope go out to all the families and loved ones of those who died last night. Plus all those affected either wounded or traumatised.

I saw the new barriers in Nice this year and I guess more streets will be pillared around tourist hot spots

At least there is clarity about innocence and guilt. We will defeat all these people.

On the other side

I see the people in the second van all got "taken out" before they did much damage and the hunt goes on for the first team (who may or may have not been the second team).

kja

I join all those who condemn violence and terrorism.

I join all those who send thoughts and love and hope to the people of Barcelona, and Catalunya, and Spain, and beyond.

I also join all of those who believe that when possible, we should seek understanding before judgment. I sincerely believe in the premise, “innocent until proven guilty.”

So while I don’t understand Bedar’s words, I would like to hear Bedar’s explanation before rendering judgement. JMO.

Whathello

Your post proves once more that you are a kind and balanced person kja.

As for Bédar the need for a good word got the better of him.
I agree that he could come and elaborate or say something that would remove some of the extremely bad impression he left.

I agree/hope that such acts show ISIS weakness.

Tralfaz77

This method of terrorism seems to be the 'thing' now because it's so easy to do, almost anyone can rent a vehicle and if so inclined use it to plow through a major pedestrianized thoroughfare. What can be said anymore. Just horrible.

Barcelona is the first place I visited abroad with my boyfriend of 12 years now. My heart is with the victims and residents of this fair city and the entire country of Spain.

cheska15

Bedar might have been getting the same news that we have had here in Australia this week about a group of people in Spain damaging a tourist bus and putting signs up on the beach and other places for tourists to stop coming to Barcelona and Spain in general. The news article said that this group would be focusing on Malaga and San Sebastián in the coming weeks. Im not sure if this anti tourist sentiment is correct ( maybe a beat up) as we didn't find that when we were in Barcelona in April

My heart goes out to the people affected by thiis terrible attack. I just can't get my head around the why.

quiltingmamma

Cheska15, the events are unrelated. The tourist bus incident was more than a week ago and were local youth. Barcelona has become frustrated with so many tourist in their town driving up housing prices and changes that force locals to move outside the city. Venice is another city where tourism has a negative impact.
ISIS has taken credit for yesterday's activities. And they may well have chosen Catalonia for the fact that Catalans are working up to a referendum in October to split, and getting from Morocco and Spanish north africa to that area of coast is easy. Details keep unfolding.
I am sure Bedar didn't understand the enormity and it was just an impulsive post, but just because you think it, doesn't mean you have to type (or say) it. It is too easy to hit 'send' without knowing what you are saying.
Sadly, there are 'Spaniards' who do not consider Catalans worth their sympathy. So on top of this attack is also the tweets and social media posts that as it happened to Catalans, it isn't worth their Spanish tears.
It is all a sad state of affairs.

cheska15

q. Sadly when a person is so far away all you get is the media's view of events without the full background, and the media seem to never let the facts get in the way of a story. It is awful to think that people are not able to show sympathy for the loss of life, and the injured irrespective of political beliefs.
Luckily I don't believe everything that is written in the media. My intention of my post was not to cause offence, just an explanation of what we are hearing in the last month.

quiltingmamma

Cheska15, I didn't take offense and I don't think others can either. I follow several travel posts, and spent numerous hours yesterday following Barcelona news. It was also being translated by a regular poster into english. Some of it my assumption (the reason Catalonia may have been a target); the last paragraph was from tweets that were publicized. those are hard to misconstrue.
However, the bulk of the support has been just that, supportive and done in solidarity. There resilience is amazing, as Las Ramblas was open for business later today..so says the Barcelona news, though crowd events for the Gracias Festival are cancelled.
I am glad your April visit was not marred by any of this.

cheska15

q Thanks for your reply. Spain is such a beautiful country and the warmth and friendliness of the people were amazing. That is why I found the media reports a load of rubbish because we did not have that experience.

Whathello

Media are not interested in anything positive it doesn't sell.
Support us the only thing we can do now but I am amazed at how much difference it makes.
When Bruxelles was hit I was really thankful for all the support Belgium got.
When it was 9/11 my US friends appreciated the small gesture my mails were.
My Spanish friends answered me to thank my words of compassion I sent them.
Just a pity we have to send so many such messages ...
i am not aware of soaniards not supporting Barcelona and because Catalonia might separate. If such vile people exist it is not worth mentioning it. Some people live in hate. Like in charlotte. But most people - the ones who count - are reacting Soundly.
I had been planning a visit close to varcelona, time to do it.

Dianedancer

quilting - Unfortunately, Venice wouldn't exist if there weren't tourists. It's been quite a while since it was a great port or power.