Day: 4 July 2004

Port Bou – Moving on

Call it Port Boo, it annoys the locals and can be used to confuse border officials.

The sort of mentally symbolic gateway between France and Spain.

Wait
Rather than wait for 2hrs in Port Bou, I felt the 5 minute train journey over the border could easily be taken on foot.
Alpha male like myself would not find this a problem, and I set off through the Boo heading for the French border.

Aside from treading on a prickly pear on the Spainsh side, and avoiding lumps of dog turd on the French side, a hot, tiring and worthless journey was had.. amended slightly by a cool glass of lager and an ice cream in a beachfront Cerbere.

Next is Nimes, where excitiment, entertainment and a three hour train journey follow.

Here’s a movie of the beach in case you’re as bored as I am..

Barcelona – Football

Managed to wander round, get drunk and watch the football.
Good constructive stuff.

Didn’t bother with the museums.

Got some pictures of bits and pieces which I will be adding later.

Due to excessive American students, have decided to give myself a new name for each independent tourist encounter.
So far have been Harry, Jim, Fred, Geoff, Brin, Mat, Damon, Lodger and Pimp..

This saves time thinking about things and you can concentrate on the conversation to come.

Barcelona Cable Car

Barcelona – Scam

Barcelona

Barcelona hosts the best backpacker horror stories.
Snatchings, street scams pickpockets, all the best stuff for those travel yarns.

This one of the more popular scams you’re likely to encounter on Las Ramblas.

Find the Lady

Hat and balls trick on cardboard table.

Balls are exchanged between hats, money is exchanged between Spaniards, all is jolly, all is normal..

Hat is chosen by Spainiard.
Spainiard loses bet, and no objection, continues with the game.

Gullable tourist approaches, spots the ball (which is peeping out from under hat), points at hat, encouraged by locals, withdraws money from pocket.

Guy snatches money and will not return it insisting that a hat is picked.

Barcelona Las Ramblas
So he’s got your money. If you want it back, shout now, if not, go ahead, pick a hat and forever hold your peace. You won’t find the berry, (unless they want you to continue upping the stakes and drawing in a crowd).

Also, if you watch closely, all the money the locals exchange is folded bits of paper, passed to the bottom of the pile of notes.

You are like the unlikely fish attracted by the flashing lure and these guys see you coming and take your money off you.

If you don’t like losing money, pass them by or watch others lose. Don’t get involved, and don’t lose your temper, as I nearly did.