CUIDADO! ATTENTION! CAUTION! ACHTUNG! PICKPOCKETS!!

The main perk about studying abroad in Europe is the facility to travel within Europe. Ryanair and Voyages-sncf have simplified our travels in Europe. I have had the chance to find awesome deals in both websites, and they are both very efficient. I’ve had a blast in Paris, Amsterdam, Reus, Tarragona, and Barcelona (so far) because of them and well because of my pocket. So far one of my favorite trips has been BARCELONA! As I spread the news to my friends and family about my trip to Barcelona, everyone got excited, yet; they ALL warned me about the infamous pickpockets!
Just for an image I keep my wallet in my purse that I carry across my body and closes with a zipper.
I felt my wallet was secure so through my whole trip I felt fine. I enjoyed Gaudis amazing architecture, the food, the beach, Las ramblas, Los Boquarillos, Park Guell the list goes on!
I was amazed by it all, especially by how NICE the Catalunyans are, they themselves even warned me about the pickpockets. Again, I felt my belongings were secure for my purse is always on me and basically in front of me. At the end of my Barcelona trip I was preparing to go to Tarragona. I had my purse as usual and my backpack and one duffel bag. My friend Annick was right behind me the whole time. We had printed out our tickets and sat down at the train station waiting on our train. As I was sitting I decided to do a run through of my stuff, and when I reached into my purse I realized my wallet was gone! I immediately backtracked and asked around....and well it was gone. I realized that In the span of about 15 minutes, they had stolen my wallet and I did not even feel it! So what did I learn!? Do not keep everything in your wallet. Spread your cards around or get a money belt!! haha
Luckily I only had 20 euros and they didn’t steal any money out of my cards, and even better that I was not traveling alone.... or else I would have been STRANDED!

BE SAFE, AWARE of your surroundings, and when people say BEWARE of Pickpockets.... LISTEN to them!

:)

Valerie Ibarra