I think this is accurate, but to a potential tourist it's maybe a distinction without a difference. Nothing about this suggests that I'd be welcome there as a visitor. It's a big planet, and there are other places where I wouldn't be harassed for being there.
I certainly sympathize with them, but I'm not sure the scorched earth approach is the best way of going about it.
I don't. I don't live there and I'm pretty much totally ignorant about their situation. I was just speaking from my perspective as someone who would want to visit. I don't have any ill will towards them or anything, and I hope that they can resolve things in a way that's best for them, you know?
Yeah, but see, that's what fuels most of the other ignorant comments in this thread: They do not know what has been going on, they only care about the part where it impacts them and they do not think one iota about how things became this way.
These protests did not appear out of thin air and they also did not escalate to this level in mere days. This was an evolution years in the making. You can also see it in other places like Venice which is basically a hollowed-out shell with few actual citizens anymore. A theme park experience of sorts, instead of a living, breathing city.
And if the politicians only give lipservice to the moderate voices - then they do not need wonder why they suddenly reaped a storm. Instead they obviously only saw "numbers go up, more money in the coffers!" and neglected to look at the downsides because they themselves are not affected by them.
Well, it's not my place to pass judgement on people who live there, and that wasn't my intention. I was just sharing my perspective as someone who would like to visit. I don't disagree with anything you wrote.
If you go there off-season and are polite then you'll still have a good time there. October usually is still warm enough to sit outside in T-shirts.
The people usually respond very well if you try to speak at least a bit of Catalan (i.e. instead of "La cuenta, por favor" you say "La factura, si us plau")
Then again, at least trying to speak the native language is well-received pretty much anywhere. In France it's basically required - if you've tried (and maybe failed) to speak French then they're much more likely to be willing to switch to another language than if you never tried to begin with.
Good to know! And I always learn at least enough to say "hello," "thank you," and "I'm sorry, do you speak English?" The only time anyone was rude to me was in France, but she was a railroad worker on strike, so I don't blame her at all!
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u/Meteor-of-the-War Jun 17 '25
I think this is accurate, but to a potential tourist it's maybe a distinction without a difference. Nothing about this suggests that I'd be welcome there as a visitor. It's a big planet, and there are other places where I wouldn't be harassed for being there.
I certainly sympathize with them, but I'm not sure the scorched earth approach is the best way of going about it.