Barcelona Is Dead!

Barcelona is Dead!


While I was visiting the city this summer and walking trough town, I noticed this piece of streetart. This message struck me quite a bit as I have had similar thoughts concerning the general condition of this city. At the end of 2003, I had stayed for over four months in Barcelona, studying spanish and having an incredible time. Not only because of the people I met there but even more because of the city's atmosphere: the bars, the people from all over the world, the streetart, the cultural posibilities, the immigrants (mostly the pakistanis), the general liberties, etc.

It's not that everything has changed and you couldn't enjoy this city anymore but for my part it has definitely lost a lot of what it made it so very special. The bars are not allowed to play music loudly after 11 p.m. which means you can hardly hear the beat of a song. Also you can't buy alcohol anymore after 11 p.m. and neither are you allowed to drink it in the streets. A lot of nice and special bars have simply vanished. You can't smoke pot anymore in cafes or bars - they'll throw you out if you do so. A few years ago, I sometimes wondered watching a rather old guy lighting his joint in a cafe in a busy street. Of course, the crime has obviously decreased for a huge part or at least it has been pushed out of the center.

(transl.: "Your work stinks")

I noticed the obvious intention of the government to make this city more secure and chic-cosmopolitan on the other hand. But I don't think they know to what price they're doing so. The city is losing its creativity and its liberty - its identity.

("Butaaaaaaaanoooooooo" - Salesman of butane gas)

Most of the posted pictures aren't really a strong support for my opinion - even though they are all taken in July 2007) but, of course, I tried showing the special and beautiful sides and sites of town.

("Peligro" = Danger; they wanted this statement under their photo)

(José María Aznar)

Still, some pieces of streetart are rather clear: so maybe Barcelona is not quite dead, yet. But it's agonizing!