While studying abroad in Barcelona, Alice Rose Auckland quickly fell in love with the city’s vibrant culture, welcoming locals, and dreamy Mediterranean charm. Her experiences ranged from practicing Catalan with friendly shopkeepers to hiking the Pyrenees and celebrating Pride, all of which made her feel at home as a solo female traveler. But beneath the beauty and excitement, she became increasingly aware of Barcelona’s reputation for petty crime, with friends regularly sharing stories of theft and harassment.
Her own encounters were jarring. First, she was robbed in broad daylight by a man posing as a fellow shopper, who snatched her bag and escaped on a waiting motorbike. Then, weeks later, she was drugged at a local bar — an experience that left her physically shaken and emotionally vulnerable. Despite these incidents, the kindness and support of her roommates and the broader community helped her recover her confidence and appreciation for the city.
Alice acknowledges the risks that come with urban life but refuses to let fear or a few bad actors define her relationship with Barcelona. For every moment of danger, there were countless moments of joy and discovery. Though she was both robbed and drugged, her love for the city never wavered — if anything, those trials deepened her connection to it.
