Buzz
Before heading to Barcelona, I thought it was a city worth exploring for its architectural and artistic richness, the beautiful things I love. However, within just 10 hours of arriving in Barcelona, my perception of the city did a 180-degree turn. Everything rosy was crushed, and Barcelona, for me, was reduced to a few words:
In general, I'm not a big fan of this city, so I won't go into detail about it. Instead, I'll share a bitter experience about my foolishness here.
Magical 1-0-2 Act by the 'Cop' in Barcelona
Barcelona, located in Catalonia, is quite a lively place. Walking through the streets of Cataluna, you'll find banners demanding independence and separation from Spain.
Here, and it seems like all of Europe, immigrants, or the so-called 'lice,' are shameless and use terrifying tactics. I became a painful victim of a blatant scam right before my eyes :(, in broad daylight. All because of a naive mistake, carrying too much cash and falling prey to their cunning schemes.
I arrived in Barcelona by bus, a journey that broadened my knowledge and introduced me to an adorable Swiss friend. I marveled at endless olive groves and vibrant sunflower fields across the arid land resembling a desert, stretching from Andalusia to Catalonia.
Arriving by bus, I was in a hurry and forgot my money pouch at home. Normally, I'd secure a large amount and leave it locked in the hostel. Unfortunately, that day, after checking the money, I absentmindedly stashed almost all of it in a small wallet inside a big backpack I was wearing. The scam happened around 8-9 pm, ruining an otherwise beautiful day. It occurred inside the Supercat store near the central train and bus station in Barcelona—Barcelona Sants—just as I was waiting for the fateful bus to the beach for a sweet beach party.
The naive me, just after buying a bunch of fruits and beer to enjoy by the beach, was approached by him! I was sitting alone, seemingly unnoticed by passersby. He, a man who didn't look like a scam artist, dressed like a... policeman from head to toe, approached. He even had a fake police badge to trick me when I demanded ID. Additionally, he pretended to ask if I wanted to go to the police station for a drug check. He even pulled out his phone and spoke English with someone to confirm if I was the suspect.
I was terrified, fearing a false accusation, drugs planted in my bag, and me not knowing anything. So, I nervously agreed to let him check my bag. Luckily, my camera was well hidden, but he dug deeper, discovering my wallet. He asked me to open it. At that moment, my power bank fell. I thought he deliberately made it drop to distract me, so he could quickly grab my money.
The most disgusting tactic of this guy was not to take all the money and run, leaving room for me to cry out. He only took ¾ of the money, leaving a few coins to avoid suspicion. I carefully checked my wallet and still saw money, so I didn't suspect anything. However, later, he apologized, claimed there was no drug involvement, and vanished. The naive me checked the wallet again, only to find it emptied, leaving me in tears due to my foolishness and unfounded fear. So, my grand plan for a beach party in Barcelona was shattered. My first day in Barcelona turned out to be more disappointing and vile than I could ever imagine!
Traveling to Barcelona and the disappointments named after architect Gaudi
Apart from the sophisticated scams by the shameless immigrants, Barcelona wasn't a pleasant experience for me due to many unmet expectations.
Park Guell - the most overwhelming disappointment
Among all, Park Guell turned out to be the most absurd park I entered, costing around 10 euros. There was hardly anything except a quirky building and a few beautiful facades in Gaudi's style. All surrounded by hundreds of tourists, standing shoulder to shoulder, struggling to get a glimpse inside the peculiar building, the beautiful facade, and the ceramic walls (which reminded me of the vibrant snail shells and the ceramic mosaic street in Hanoi :)).
Looking at this, it brings back memories of the ceramic mosaic street in Hanoi, doesn't it? :p.
The whimsical corridors of Park Guell, looking somewhat... artificial
The entrance to Park Guell, in reality, it could be accessed... for free
From a distance, this place looks a bit... childish, or perhaps, it just doesn't suit my taste
And it became so boring that I abandoned Barcelona and spent the remaining half-day in Girona, which I'll talk about some other day.
At the price of 10 Euros with nothing much to see, I advise you to steer clear and skip this park if you have a tight schedule exploring Barcelona. If you still want to see if I'm fair in describing it this way, then buy tickets online for a discount compared to on-site purchase (an extra 3 Euros).
La Sagrada Familia - Crowded to the point of breathlessness
The second disappointment is La Sagrada Familia. I didn't pre-book because it's too... expensive =))) so I decided (a very correct decision) to check it out and if it's truly beautiful and grand as advertised, I'll go in. And as I predicted, that unfinished construction of the century is indeed a tourist horror =)).
Seemingly the most crowded tourist spot in Catalonia. Besides the scorching 35-degree weather and the swarm of tourists, this unfinished church didn't impress me much, as I've been captivated by the ancient beauty and sophistication of other churches. To be fair, it's a bit unfair to judge such a beautiful work when it's not completed yet when I visited :)). But on the other hand, the cranes above, the messy construction turned this place into a third disappointment in Barcelona. However, hearing my friend praise this church inside, I can only... keep my mouth shut :P, a bit regretful. If you pre-purchase La Sagrada Familia tickets online and skip the lines, the experience might be quite okay since you won't have to squeeze through the crowds.
Casa Batlo - Every enchantment now remains a mere illusion
The most disappointing aspect of this Barcelona trip is Casa Batlo, but truth be told, it's still another letdown, just with some redeeming qualities. First, let's talk about the ticket price. Mother, 25 euros for a visit here is truly a rip-off, the clever handiwork of Spain's masterful marketing minds. Under their influence, lively videos depicting an imaginary world and full of symbolic images representing Gaudi's style made me marvel and book tickets right away.
Upon arrival at 8:30 AM, the place was already swarming with people. Due to its small size, moving around without bumping into other tourists or invading each other's frames was incredibly challenging. All the furnishings inside the house - which I believe were distinctive features of Gaudi's style - have been sadly taken away, turning the house into an empty space with nothing but a floor dedicated to selling Gaudi souvenirs.
Casa Batllo looks beautiful and dazzling from the outside. One of the quirky houses in Barcelona.
Casa Batllo shines brilliantly, but stepping inside still brings disappointment
A peculiar fireplace designed by Gaudi, simply adorable.
Charming window frames at Casa Batllo - a hot spot in Barcelona tourism
Fortunately, the dreamy windows and the audio guide have brought life to this UNESCO-recognized world cultural heritage. The smart guide vividly recreates the glorious era when the house was designed for the Batlo family. In general, this is the most beautifully preserved house that encapsulates the vibrancy and entire design philosophy of the genius Gaudi. It must be said that he had a visionary and completely distinctive outlook, even though he lived in the 19th century. Just imagine a house where every corner is crafted as smoothly and beautifully rounded - who wouldn't want to live here?
3D effects from the Casa Batllo app are truly mesmerizing
The enchanting illumination inside Casa Batllo, especially falling in love with the window
Outside the Casa Batllo building, resembling a delightful pastry
The wall I adore the most within Casa Batllo
I highly recommend booking tickets for this place and perhaps skipping Park Guell if time is tight.
Get discounted online tickets for Casa Batlo to avoid the queues
Bright spots that stand out when traveling to Barcelona
Of course, there are still some shining moments when traveling to Barcelona. After all, it's not unbearable. In fact, Barcelona has a lot to offer for you to enjoy:
Barcelona beach with golden sand and azure sea is impressive, but personally, I find it less charming than the beaches in Vietnam. However, anyone traveling to Barcelona must visit. Source: Pixabay.
The houses in Barcelona are distinct with their light yellow color.
Adjacent houses with only trees on the balconies, lacking any beside them.
When you travel to Barcelona, you'll constantly encounter houses like these.
The streets bustling with pedestrians and bicycles, devoid of car shadows.
Casa Vicens– Gaudi's first masterpiece.
A glimpse inside Casa Batllo, Barcelona.
Famous Casa Milá that I only managed to glance at while traveling in Barcelona.
Casa Amatler- right next to the famous Casa Batllo.
Candy-shaped lollipops, seemingly priced at 1 Euro each in Barca's shop.
Inside the shop, historical milestones of Barcelona are showcased.
FC Barcelona has a charming store indeed.
Explore the glorious history of the football club firsthand.
I might consider revisiting Barcelona one day, if I find it less annoying :)). But seriously, visiting Spain without experiencing Barcelona would be a missed opportunity.
Experience the grandeur of the royal palace and the charming old city of Seville.
2 days in Lisbon - the beautiful city of Portugal.
Paris exudes romance like a lifelong lover in Europe.
Posted by: Nguyen Thi Hai Yen
Keywords: European Chronicles - Barcelona - roof-scam!!!
