Mon, 28 May 2012
| Index | Last | Var.(%) |
|---|---|---|
| BEL 20 | 2135.43 | 0.75 |
| DAX | 6418.36 | 1.24 |
| IBEX 30 | 6597.8 | 0.84 |
| CAC 40 | 3079.58 | 1.04 |
| FTSE 100 | 5403.1 | 0.96 |
| AEX | 295.96 | 1.09 |
| DJIA | 12454.83 | -0.60 |
| Nasdaq | 2837.53 | -0.07 |
| FTSE MIB | 13242.57 | 0.67 |
| TSX Composite | 11576.47 | 0.09 |
| ASX | 4120.2 | 0.96 |
| Hang seng | 18847.69 | 0.72 |
| Straits Times | 2794.34 | 0.78 |
| ISEQ 20 | 503.13 | 0.44 |
Text size
Blogger Jeremy Holland finds himself turning to conspiracy theories to explain the rising crime in Catalonia's capital.
Leaving aside that nothing gets turned off-and-on in 10 minutes in Spain, who would have scheduled such a blackout when the Las Ramblas was teaming with mostly tourists and expats coming out of the closing bars? And, why pick a street famous for its late-night watering holes like the Kentucky? Of course, if it wasn't the city or the criminals, then who? More importantly, why wasn't there a single police officer afterwards?
If you think it's a bit far fetched: News earlier this month in Spain detailed the incarceration of 230 police officers stemming from corruption charges such as drug trafficking, pimping and immigration paper falsification. But like I said: It's just a theory.
Written by an American expat, From Barcelona is a blog dedicated to the city, the life and the people of the capital of Catalunya (Catalonia).
Yes, nice observation and I am afraid that you might not be too far off about the "conspiracy" angle. I have been her 6 years, and work and also play music every weekend in the center of Barcelona. I know many business owners here, and the common belief is that yes, city officials and the police are paid off by the "mafias" who control the street criminals to let those crimes occur. They are also paid off to let beer sellers sell their beers and paid-off to let the prostitutes on Las Ramblas, most of whom are just pick-pockets disguised as prostitutes to pick pockets and steal purses. When the "heat" gets too high, city officials call in the friends in the media to play a game of smoke and mirrors with the public, such as the last few weeks of daily articles in La Vanguardia placing most of the blame on the tourist! People wake up: Yes, maybe Madrid is keeping to0 much of your tax money. But your own Catalan politicians have stolen your city and have given it to the mafias. The snake that eats it tail...
I have just returned from one of my regular trips to BCN staying at a friend's flat off Las Ramblas. Walking home by myself down Las Ramblas (sober) at 1am on Friday night I was physically attacked 3 separate times in about 200 metres by "prostitutes". After the 3rd attack (suffering scratches and welts) I had to take refuge in a shop for a few minutes where the shopkeeper just shrugged at my plight. No police about. No one came to help me. It just seemed an accepted part of life on Las Ramblas. I was so distraught by the attacks I was home by 8pm every night for the rest of my stay. It has happened before, but this time was way beyond what I've experienced before. My friend is Spanish and hasn't had a problem. They target me as I look like a typical British tourist but there's not much I can do about that! I'm so incensed by my experience I'm thinking of starting a bout of letter campaigning. No point complaining if I'm not going to do anything about it! Any suggestions of who to write to?
Hey Tom and Marc,
First of all, Tom. I'm sorry to hear about what happened to you, and as far as a letter campaign, I don't know if writing to any Spanish authority would be of any help, I'm afraid. And Marc, thanks for confirming my suspicions.
Now, of course the main question is: What can be done? I
¨ES LO QUE HAY¨ .....My favorite expression here..absolutely embaressing!!!! get out while you can, or lock your doors and windows, because it´s just going to get worse here!! lol spain
I've just come back from Barcelona and the problem isn't worse it totally different and now it's violent. These muggers disguised as prostitutes are like a pack of hyenas and will stop at nothing to get your valuables, they are violent, make no mistake. Now I come from a very bad part of London bad I've never seen anything as openly criminal as this. If I saw somebody do this I would not be afraid to smack them, but i suspected these women have people higher up the criminal chain and that includes the police as they were by my accounts purposely missing from the entire length of Las Ramblas
Hey Andrew...you´re right on!!!! I was watching the news last night, the usual bullshit..the crisis, the flu, crime, etc....nothing good..and all of a sudden they report about the ramblas in BCN and these black bitches that are like a pack of hyeenas attacking anybody and everybody that walks by...like I said before...lock your doors and windows it´s just going to get worse here..get out while you can..I know I am!!! LOL
Yes, nice observation and I am afraid that you might not be too far off about the "conspiracy" angle. I have been her 6 years, and work and also play music every weekend in the center of Barcelona. I know many business owners here, and the common belief is that yes, city officials and the police are paid off by the "mafias" who control the street criminals to let those crimes occur. They are also paid off to let beer sellers sell their beers and paid-off to let the prostitutes on Las Ramblas, most of whom are just pick-pockets disguised as prostitutes to pick pockets and steal purses. When the "heat" gets too high, city officials call in the friends in the media to play a game of smoke and mirrors with the public, such as the last few weeks of daily articles in La Vanguardia placing most of the blame on the tourist! People wake up: Yes, maybe Madrid is keeping to0 much of your tax money. But your own Catalan politicians have stolen your city and have given it to the mafias. The snake that eats it tail...
I have just returned from one of my regular trips to BCN staying at a friend's flat off Las Ramblas. Walking home by myself down Las Ramblas (sober) at 1am on Friday night I was physically attacked 3 separate times in about 200 metres by "prostitutes". After the 3rd attack (suffering scratches and welts) I had to take refuge in a shop for a few minutes where the shopkeeper just shrugged at my plight. No police about. No one came to help me. It just seemed an accepted part of life on Las Ramblas. I was so distraught by the attacks I was home by 8pm every night for the rest of my stay. It has happened before, but this time was way beyond what I've experienced before. My friend is Spanish and hasn't had a problem. They target me as I look like a typical British tourist but there's not much I can do about that! I'm so incensed by my experience I'm thinking of starting a bout of letter campaigning. No point complaining if I'm not going to do anything about it! Any suggestions of who to write to?
Hey Tom and Marc,
First of all, Tom. I'm sorry to hear about what happened to you, and as far as a letter campaign, I don't know if writing to any Spanish authority would be of any help, I'm afraid. And Marc, thanks for confirming my suspicions.
Now, of course the main question is: What can be done? I
¨ES LO QUE HAY¨ .....My favorite expression here..absolutely embaressing!!!! get out while you can, or lock your doors and windows, because it´s just going to get worse here!! lol spain
I've just come back from Barcelona and the problem isn't worse it totally different and now it's violent. These muggers disguised as prostitutes are like a pack of hyenas and will stop at nothing to get your valuables, they are violent, make no mistake. Now I come from a very bad part of London bad I've never seen anything as openly criminal as this. If I saw somebody do this I would not be afraid to smack them, but i suspected these women have people higher up the criminal chain and that includes the police as they were by my accounts purposely missing from the entire length of Las Ramblas
Hey Andrew...you´re right on!!!! I was watching the news last night, the usual bullshit..the crisis, the flu, crime, etc....nothing good..and all of a sudden they report about the ramblas in BCN and these black bitches that are like a pack of hyeenas attacking anybody and everybody that walks by...like I said before...lock your doors and windows it´s just going to get worse here..get out while you can..I know I am!!! LOL
Expatica's Getting Started section will provide practical information on how you can open a bank account, exchange your driving licence, improve your Spanish, and more.
Here's a guide to an extensive list of groups and clubs in Madrid for expats, from sports groups to social and family gatherings.
A brief introduction to our Tax section for Spain, from help with inheritance tax to accounting advice.
Here's a short introduction to our Banking section for those living in Spain, from what to ask the experts to opening a Spanish bank account.
Twitter
LinkedIn
Facebook
Google+
6
