Travel and Safety Secrets
If someone throws a baby at you in Barcelona—you might be getting robbed! That is one of the many odd, yet eye-opening tips my Professor gave to my fellow students and I upon arriving here. Although we were vigilant on the streets during the four weeks spent in Seville, we have to be much more aware in Barcelona, as pick-pocketing and general contact with large groups of people are much more prevalent here. In Seville, I felt very safe walking around during the day, and didn’t feel like I had to be hyperaware of my belongings all the time. But in Barcelona, even my professor almost got pick-pocketed on one of the first days! Many pick-pockets use distraction to slyly take wallets, phones, and more. That distraction can be as little as having a partner talk to or bump into you, or as extreme as supposedly throwing a baby at you and taking your purse in the moment of panic.
The most important travel tip is to simply be aware of your surroundings. On our first day in Barcelona, a college-aged student was on his phone, with an expensive camera visible in his bag. A man began to approach him, but a local Samaritan advised the student to sit down right in time to evade the pick-pocket. So, if you’re going to be on your phone, make sure to have your belongings very secure, on your lap, and be with others who are also keeping their eyes peeled.
Besides safety tips, there are other tricks I’ve learned from my time in Spain to help make traveling a better experience. By far the most helpful one I’ve picked up has definitely been to always carry water. In the USA, water is available everywhere—and it’s free. However, in Spain, it is rare to find free water, as you almost always have to buy bottles. Add that to the summer heat, and you get a mix that could lead to severe dehydration and sickness. I used to take for granted my air conditioned car and the plethora of water fountains scattered throughout American cities, but now I will appreciate them when I return home. So, I always just keep a small plastic bottle in my purse, or drag around my big reusable one, depending on the situation. All in all, to travel, safely and effectively, keep your eyes open, and your body hydrated!
