I normally only post photos because that’s how I communicate. However, writing is therapy and when you need it, you have to get it out. It’s like going to the psychiatrist who doesn’t actually say anything (fine by me) but lets you ramble on. In my case, I’m not a verbal person so I would likely text the psychiatrist or write him/her an email even if we were face to face.
Yesterday we went on an all day tour of Barcelona with a small group. I don’t actually listen to the tour guide. I just hang around looking for photo opportunities. Julie, on the other hand, listens to the tour guide and within a relatively short time knows all the people in the group. The people in the group also treat me Ok because they assume that I can’t be as bad as I appear to be based on my association with her.
The tour guide repeats what we all know which is that people in Barcelona hate tourists. I totally understand, because I hate tourists and I am one. The problem is that all the interesting places in Barcelona are packed with tourists so it’s hard for Barceloneans (or whatever they call themselves) to enjoy a stroll in one of their favourite places without being inundated by throngs of people.
When it comes to taking photos, tourists ruin pictures. Many people, when they travel take mostly selfies: “I was here, I was there”. The last thing i want in a photo is a picture of myself. The second last thing I want is a tourist in my photo. Don’t get me wrong; I like to have people in my photos – but I mean local people who are living their lives and doing things that may be potentially interesting. Tourists aren’t interesting. I’m not a fashion photographer and no matter how fantastic you think you look, if your a tourists, you really are not that interesting. You’re just wandering around, taking selfies and generally ruining otherwise good photos for people like me.
Clearly not all people in Barcelona hate tourists. The people we have met have been very nice. A young woman insisted in giving me her seat on the metro (I know I looked like I needed it) and a younger man offered her a seat in return. The man at the pharmacy went out of his way to help us out – even suggesting restaurants to go to. The man at the front desk at the hotel has been super friendly and helpful, The young woman at “The Coffee Shop” down the road is very friendly and pleasant.
According to the tour guide, even the pickpockets are friendly – maybe too friendly.
WR Foster 