
Tourist accuses 'petty' local for purposely ruining barcelona holiday photos
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A tourist has slammed a Barcelona local for 'deliberately spoiling holiday snaps' after spending a hefty sum to visit the picturesque country. Traveller Kylie, known on TikTok as
@continetal.ky, highlighted a 'downside' to visiting the popular Spanish city. In her footage, she's seen posing in front of Barcelona's Arc de Triomf, with fellow
tourists soaking up the scenery. Yet, she singles out a man positioned right in the middle of the archway, obstructing her ability to snap a clear shot of the landmark without his intrusion.
She remarked: "We're at the Arc de Triomf in Barcelona and you know how they've been hating on tourists... I'm pretty sure this guy is standing here to purposely be in
the way of people's photos. "He has been standing here for 10 minutes since we got here - not moving, he's not with anyone. He's 100% just standing here to be in the way
of people's photos." Some viewers defended the man's stance in response to her video. One commenter stated: "Yes, we in Europe's main cities are done with tourism.
Our cities have been destroyed by tourism. The local economy suffers from it because local shops were replaced by tourists shops." Another added: "I'm in Barcelona right now
and honestly I don't blame him for peacefully protesting. I have seen some wild and disrespectful tourist behaviour." However, some found the action incredibly petty. One
individual remarked: "Everyone should boycott Barcelona. It's not that great anyway unless you like having your pocket picked. Let them see how they get on without tourists for six
months." Another voiced their opinion saying: "Everyone's going to other countries and Greece this year; it's beautiful with friendly people who appreciate tourism. You
can't have a tourism-based economy and then moan about people choosing to visit." This situation follows widespread anti-mass tourism protests across Spain. Residents have been
protesting for several months over skyrocketing rents and the scarcity of affordable housing. Some protesters have resorted to vandalising prized cultural sites with expletive-laden graffiti
to convey their anger, with messages including "f***ing tourists" and demands such as "get out of our city" when translated into English. One of the historical edifices
defaced was the Royal Palace of La Almudaina, which dates to the 14th century and serves as the King and Queen's official residence during their visits to Majorca. Together with the
Cathedral of Palma, the palace stands as an iconic feature of the Balearic Islands' capital. Stone walls near the s'Hort del Rei botanical gardens and Dalt Murada, a splendidly
refurbished stately home, have also fallen prey to the spray-paint attacks. Thousands of tourists who trek to the region express shock at the severity of the spray-painted sentences, whilst
some professional tour guides echo the sentiments of exasperation. Tour guide company Pro Guías Majorca expressed dismay at the graffiti, labelling it an assault on Palma's heritage
and stating: "there are many ways to protest, as long as the forms are appropriate, and it is an inalienable right. But this is unforgivable." They highlighted that "who has
done this, is against himself and the values that constitute us as a community". Despite most tourists being unable to decipher some of the Catalan graffiti, the large, garish red and
blue slogans clearly express antagonism towards tourists and come with a hefty price tag for removal. Residents, now accustomed to the habitual protest marches decrying overtourism, have
also voiced their dissent on social platforms. One local stated: "I am against excess tourism but also against graffiti. One thing does not take away from the other," distancing
themselves from the acts of vandalism. Another resident took to social media, commenting: "Now it turns out that Majorca's number one enemy is the tourist, without thinking that
hundreds of thousands of people eat every day thanks to tourists. This should also be considered a hate crime."