It happened so fast. We arrived in Barcelona Franca train station past 10 pm from Perpignan, France. Darkness had fallen and all the passengers headed quickly for the taxi stand at the exit of the station. Barcelona Franca station was deserted at that time of the night, and there was an air of nervousness among the tourists.

On the street, we were standing in line for the taxi when i first noticed them. Two young men dressed in black leather jacket, white shirt and denim pants came to stand a few meters from our line. I found it strange that they carried no luggage and didn’t seem to wait for anyone in particular. Gypsies? They were lean, had black hair, black eyes, and aquiline noses. I stared at them but they evaded my eyes which added to my suspicion. I looked at my friends Rachel, Aida, and Joan, my sister, standing in front of me. Since they were facing the street, they didn’t see the strangers. Except for Aida who carried her bag on her shoulders, we left our luggages on the ground besides us.

Suddenly, a taxi arrived. An argument ensued between the taxi driver and the would be-passengers. In that split second when everyone’s attention was distracted, we heard a loud shout. I saw a young Japanese or Chinese, ahead of us in line, run after the stranger in black leather jacket who was walking away with a luggage! Was he a thief or a pickpocket (carterista)? The stranger in black jacket, realizing he was caught red-handed, dropped the luggage and continued to walk as if nothing happened. What a nerve! Everyone grabbed their luggages in fear. It was our first encounter with Barcelona’s dreaded gypsies. It taught me to trust my instincts, and warn my friends next time. It taught everyone to be on the guard always.

The problem was, we didn’t know that there was a connecting train from Barcelona Franca (the train line from Perpignan, France) to Barcelona Sants (which goes to the heart of Barcelona) so instead we took a taxi to go to our hotel, Renaissance.

“It would have been more dangerous,” said Aida, “what if we were the only four passengers waiting to board the Barcelona Sants train? Or worst, if there were only a few passengers on board the Sants train?”

Yes, it could have been worst and we thanked God, the Blessed Mother and our angels that we were not the victims of the carteristas. I don’t know what we would have done. I believe that we were there at the taxi stand for a reason, and not on a connecting train. Our ignorance may have been a blessing.

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