We didn’t really think it through to be honest. I’d pretty much forgotten about it. Years ago we’d had thefts in Spain, Peru, Bolivia and Chile. But our luck with things getting taken in Spanish speaking countries was far from over alas…

After leaving a friend in the south of France we headed into Spain so that I could get some non-Duolingo Spanish practise. (The fact that we weren’t planning to go further south than Barcelona means the actual Spanish is more limited but it’s close enough for our travel purposes and the fact that as Aussies we only have 90 days in Europe in any 180 day period.)

We stopped for a couple of nights in an old castle-like house just north of Barcelona. There’s not much to do there without a car but it was a pretty cool place to stay for a couple of days.

Then to Barcelona to see Gaudi’s work, wander the old streets and eat paella 🥘

I had booked into a shoe decorating workshop because I had so much space in my bag and needed more stuff to drag around with me for the next few months. Or maybe, because I thought it would be pretty fun and make a great souvenir. I even (optimistically) thought the kids might like to join me… but that was a hard no.

So I go to the shop bright one morning and join four other attendees to learn how to make (well, really just decorate) these traditional shoes. It’s at the back of a shoe shop which was closed for the class, but the doors were open to allow airflow and they simply had them roped off.

I was closest to the door, so just over halfway into the small shop, with The other four attendees listening to the staff member who did at the back of the shop, facing towards the door. And sometime during the first hour or so of the class, someone came into the shop and took my bag, which was on the ground next to me. Luckily I had my phone in my hands so that was not taken. I only noticed when I went to get my reading glasses to start the decorating and my heart sank. No one saw anything except the staff member did recall a man come into the shop to “browse” but apparently didn’t think anything of it?!

I was able to cancel one card immediately using my banking app but the other I had to call the bank. There was some cash in there too, my driver’s licence and other bits and bobs. So much for buying the slash proof bag – doesn’t help when they take the whole thing!! The staff member did call the police who said they would come by, but 1.5 hours later when we finished the class they still hadn’t.

I had the joy of checking the bins for my bag as I went to meet M and the kids. Such a great feeling.

M convinced me to file a police report so we could claim the theft on insurance. Barcelona police have quite a good service with an English speaking person to take the report and then the police officer checks it and gets you to sign it (after waiting an hour or so). The fact that they have this is quite depressing.

It’s a horrible feeling, just looking around wondering who it might have been and if it will happen again.

The best I could do is text the business with some suggestions of how to improve security and write a Trip Advisor review. Ahhhh impotent rage through the keyboard.

And, in the end, we couldn’t get anything on our insurance as the claim didn’t meet the excess. And then when we flew from Barcelona to Naples we had money taken from my checked in bag. (We don’t actually know if this occurred in Spain or Italy of course, but there’s a track record there…)

So, the curse of the Spanish speaking countries continues. Coincidentally (or perhaps not) I’ve decided not to bother learning Spanish any more, instead I’ll take up the acoustic guitar when we get back. (Yes, I’m hoping that by saying this out loud it means that I’ll actually do it!)

And the paella wasn’t even properly cooked 😞