The Drunken Traveler: Barcelona
Eli's Travel Blog
What To Watch Out For
Pickpockets The biggest damper of my trip to Barcelona was losing 100 euros to a couple of dudes who took advantage of an opportunity to prey on unwitting tourists. Fortunately, it was just money, and my credit cards, IDs, and physical being were unharmed. However, pickpockets don't give you back the stuff they don't want once they take your wallet, so be very watchful and never keep anything of value in back pockets. Scammers Let's be honest, it's not hard to tell tourists apart from locals. If you're not careful, it is easy to fall victim to cab drivers who jack up prices for tourists. Make sure you know a relative range of what the ride will cost, and make sure the driver agrees to that. If possible, have a map handy to make sure the driver isn't driving around aimlessly to squeeze more money out of you. Similarly, make sure you're not getting cheated at clubs and bars and restaurants.
My Top 3 Tips 3. Go fucking crazy Whatever this means to you, go for it. For some of you, it means going all out at the clubs. Do it. Stay at the club until 7AM and then watch the sun rise from the beach. Stick your tongue down that cute Spanish girl/guy's throat at the bar. Go for it. If that's not your thing, go crazy in some other way. Order twenty plates of tapas (been there, done that). Get twenty scoops of gelato. Very rarely will you get the opportunity to visit a place like Barcelona, so just make the absolute most of it. 2. Don't be a (complete) idiot Barcelona is not that dangerous of a city, but it still kinda is. If you attract too much attention, like drunkenly yelling on the subway or passing out on the streets, there will probably be consequences. Foreign countries can be scary, and from experience, getting separated from my buddy the first time I went to Barcelona was terrifying. Have a card with phone numbers, hotel addresses, nearby metro stations, and any other important information on it. That's probably the smartest advice you'll ever get from me, but I don't want for you to get lost or die either. 1. Don't Have (Too Much Of) A Plan The best adventures are spontaneous and unplanned. When I went to Barcelona for the first time, it was because my dumb ass didn't know I needed certain documents to go to Brazil. I dropped a few grand to go to the World Cup then found out the day before I was supposed to leave that I wouldn't even be allowed in the country. I had one day's warning, so Sunday, I thought I was going to Brazil, and Monday, I landed in Barcelona. This was the mindset I had for my trip, because honestly, what else could I have fucked up at that point? Barcelona is a place where you will always have shit to do. Don't stress out if there's a huge line at the place you wanted to see, or if it rains on the day you're going to the beach. Being open with your plans might mean that you get to experience something else in its place. Follow me along my adventures through Instagram and Twitter More travel blogs: Budapest |
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