Barcelonians: instructions guide

Whoever visits our city during these Euro-summit days will leave with the wrong impression. The people they will see about in the streets, working and stoically withstanding these days of mobilization, are only a minority representation of the essence of Barcelona. The others, those who can only use one indicated lane of the road when driving, who as pedestrians invade zebra crossings endangering wider circulation, those masters of illegal parking, all of those are parapeted in their houses waiting for the storm to abate. During the Olympic Games, many of Barcelona's residents, fed up with hearing of official recommendations and extraordinary measures, packed their bags and left on vacation or went to their houses outside the city. Those of us who stayed behind back then suddenly realized the city was a wonderful place, with little traffic, good hotels, without great agglomerations and full of great, unforgettable moments. We never said so out loud because it wasn't a welcome thought but deep down we all suspected Barcelona was at its best when its natives are a minority.