These photographs were taken outside El Bosc de les Fades, unfortunately I couldn't get any of the inside of the bar because the flash on my iPhone has been playing up and likes to paint my photos white?
And we also visited La Boqueria, this is another place you must visit while in Barcelona, its a giant market that sells fruit, ham, fish, alcohol, chocolate and pretty much any food you could want and my favourite...SWEETS!! and lots of them, all different sorts, and they are very beautiful, I kept looking at the cute little marzipan animals, however these were priced at 27.50euros for a Kg. Now I'm not too sure just how much a Kg is, but seeing as I can put on a Kg in weight in an afternoon, I'm guessing its not that much...therefore...not many sweets! My mum bought me some fruit from one of the stalls, they came in a little A5 size treys with a plastic fork, two treys for 4euros, which is a very good price, the fruit was lovely, a selection of dragon fruit, mango, kiwi, grapes, strawberries and different types of melon. Very refreshing if you've been shopping all day! The stall was called Vidal Pons and their business has been established since 1897.
Can you spot Marilyn waving to me? The above two photographs were taken walking down Las Ramblas. Las Ramblas is lovely, it gets very busy with all the tourists milling about, but there is a lot to see and do. I like to hear all the different languages, because this place attracts tourism from all over the world. And you'll see why when you visit. I must warn you though, be careful, always watch your bags and belongings, its very easy for pickpockets to take things out of your bag if you are not being careful. Just to put this into perspective, I've only been here a week and I've seen people panicking after having just had money or a camera stolen. Ok so these did happen on the metro and one occasion two German tourists had money taken, they didn't even know until they were at the exit of the metro, I was with my roommate who is German, she translated what they were saying for me, the gentleman had one of these 'bumbags' on or I believe 'fannypacks' in American. the theif has just unzipped the front and very easily took all his money, he also had his passport in there, he was very lucky not to have that taken too. It sounds silly but the amount of tourists I see wearing these things is incredible, please be aware if you walk around with a fannypack or a camera around your neck, you are a target and also a very easy one at that.
I will blog more specifically about thieves on the metro and around Las Ramblas in due course. Don't let the worry of being robbed ruin your time in Barcelona, its a fantastic city and with the most beautiful welcoming people. If you are aware of the thieves and know how to protect your things, you'll be fine. In all my time spent in Barcelona over the years, I've never been robbed. Though I know many people who have been.
Here I am with my roommates...This was taken on my friends' phone, inside El bosc de las fades...her flash worked, and probably the last time it worked...for her anyway. She had fallen victim to this street crime. She left her bag unattended on Barceloneta beach, only for a few moments, it couldn't have been longer than a minute. But that's all it takes, about 10 minutes later after we had been searching desperately in the sand one of the guys that sells beer on the beach said he found it and handed it over to her, she immediately checked the contents of her bag, everything apart from her house keys and rail pass were taken. She didn't have much money, probably only 5euros, but it was gone and along with her mobile phone. More than likely the guy that 'found' the bag was the guy that stole its contents.
