La Rambla, Barcelona

The capital of pickpocketing? 

When you step out onto the street of la Rambla is the first thing you notice the crowds of people that swarm the streets, the people clutching their bags in fear or the brightly coloured stalls lined up informally along the streets? Or is it the illegal salesman that approaches you confidently, waving his product and trumpeting the childish toy in your ear. The street is buzzing with activity. It is the type of place that would look rather like an ant's nest from above. The mixture of tourists and slightly poverished locals mingle together, browsing the stalls. The stalls are piled high with souvenirs and memorabilia with olive coloured Spaniards slumped behind. Each one is practically the same and a person is likely to make just one purchase as they walk up and down; yet despite that the sellers must get a fair few buys throughout the day with the sheer enormous amount of people. 
          Everything seems rather relaxed as people gaze up at the towering department stores that line the outside beyond the road and sip icy, fruit enriched drinks. Until the phantom pick pocketer strikes. No one ever sees it: or notices it. Not until it's happened. Only then do you realise the necessity of the armed, pacing policemen that eye the crowds suspiciously. A woman reaches to pay, realising she no longer can. Frantically she raises the alarm. Like a tidal wave the panic spreads from one person to another. But it is no good. Somewhere, distant in the gaggle, a young man is proudly fingering a designer purse. 

           In the market I casually conversed with a retired tour guide, back because she couldn't stay away, to the place she has visited thousands of times. I spoke to her with enthusiasm about my experiences of the day. Nodding with wisdom of the place in her eye she revealed in a strong Spanish accent "not once in my 45 year career did I bring a group here without something being taken." I felt quite taken aback by this statement, realising the scale of the theft that goes on here. Or do they just target the naive looking tourist?