Oh how we Love BCN

Trying to write and describe my experiences is a lot different to explaining them in person (maybe because I try to use my humor and make weird facial expressions to get a laugh out of people and I do get the laughs but I think it is at me), but I do feel I need to share these things with you.
Barcelona is a city I love, full of culture, great art, sun, sea, sand, mountains, the cuisine, amazing parties and bars, people in general are very friendly and you are very likely to meet people that are in the same boat as you. Everything you need you have it. But when it comes to certain things like being civil, cosmopolitan or even united, Barcelona is still far from that.
I come from London, a very cosmopolitan city, full of different cultures and races. Customer service is essential in any business and if it doesn’t exist that company won’t exist either. London is great but also has its negative things, like the weather, traffic and transport and then there is knife crime which is a main and critical issue in that city.
Over my years living in Barcelona I have come to realize that we are at least 10 years behind London. Only in the last 6 years do you see the kebab shop in every area, you have the “paki shops” which is our newsagents but the Spanish haven’t come to realize but saying “paki” or “chinos” is a bit racist but even I say it without realizing it may be very offensive, but is it ok because we all say it!? What I am saying about this city is not meant to a negative remark and I am not here to offend any of my fellow Asian and Barcelonés friends or family. I want to look at the funny side of this.
Firstly, Barcelona is a village converted into a city. In the last 50 years it has developed and expanded greatly but then if you compare the city to Dubai or Japan we are still pretty slow. The reason for this slow development is because the quality of life and goals are very different to any other city.
Spain is famous for its laid back lifestyle, the sangria and siesta. But unless you live here you will realize it isn’t like that anymore. If you go the south of Spain you will see that a siesta is actually a necessity as it is so hot during the day (40º) that no one can work. So many people, mainly elderly die in summer there because they don’t have Air con for whatever reason and die from the excess heat. But here in Barcelona siesta doesn’t exist unless you are not working or work the traditional working hours of 10.00 – 14.00 and 16.00 – 20.00. Unfortunately or fortunately for some this doesn’t always happen. Nowadays offices are turning “American” and doing the 09.00 – 18.00 jobs.
I can describe the way of life here in one word, “Mañana”. This means tomorrow. Yes everything is always left for tomorrow. You need water in your flat? “Mañana”. You need to get an urgent cheque through? “Mañana”. We live in the city of minimum effort. Now this is good or bad for you. This will either teach you to become more patient and not take things in such a stressful manner. Or it will push you to your limit and you will end up having a breakdown and hating this place.
So whenever anyone complains about this great city I do have to say “Welcome to Spain” or my fave one is “Spain is different”.
Luckily this has made me a more chilled out person. Maybe too chilled but at least I have my hair on my head and I don’t suffer from anxieties.
I am not going to start discussing all my thoughts because if not this will drag on. I want to do it in parts.
I want people to read this and not take it to heart. This is for us people who stress too much to have a laugh because you are not the only sufferer! And if you do not live here and are planning to in a future or even have holidayed here, maybe you can read this and take certain things into account.
I do believe although we complain about the Spaniards, there are two sides to every story and I would like to post about what the Brit’s have done to the family resorts in Spain and what names we have been given because of the drunks that come and ruin it for the rest of us. But that will be in the near future.

Next post will be about:

The Metro –