Many delays at Barcelona Airport

[peregrina2000]

Protestors have descended on BCN and many flights have been delayed. The jail sentences for convicted pro-independence Catalán politicians have been issued, and thousands have taken to the streets.

If you are traveling to or through Barcelona soon, this is something to keep an eye on.

In Pictures: Catalan protesters march on Barcelona airport after jail verdicts for separatists

Spontaneous protests erupted across Catalonia on Monday demanding the release of separatist leaders after they were handed stiff sentences by a Spanish court. Thousands of angry protesters marched on Barcelona's El Prat airport, where ugly clashes broke out with police.

www.thelocal.es

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Oh no, we are heading to O'Hare airport at this very moment to catch our flight to Barcelona! Yikes!

 

[natefaith]

It doesn't look good. Thanks for sharing, Laurie.

Bon voyage, Chris! Hope it's OK

 

[Camino Chrissy]

It doesn't look good. Thanks for sharing, Laurie.

Bon voyage, Chris! Hope it's OK

Thanks, Faith. I am quite worried at the moment. We arrive tomorrow the 15th in late morning...can't believe this is going on now!

 

[KinkyOne]

Thanks, Faith. I am quite worried at the moment. We arrive tomorrow the 15th in late morning...can't believe this is going on now!

Latest news says metro is restored but clashes between protesters and police still going on and off. I'm watching live feeds for the whole day.

Reportedly 1200 cars on their way to block Barajas (Madrid) too.

 

[KinkyOne]

Screenshot

Captured with Lightshot

prntscr.com

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Latest news says metro is restored but clashes between protesters and police still going on and off. I'm watching live feeds for the whole day.

Reportedly 1200 cars on their way to block Barajas (Madrid) too.

We already have bus tickets purchased from the airport to Tossa de Mar for 2 nights before returning to Barcelona. I hope it will be running! Bad news for me! If I was a gambler playing the lottery, I'd never get this "lucky".

 

[KinkyOne]

We already have bus tickets purchased from the airport to Tossa de Mar for 2 nights before returning to Barcelona. I hope it will be running! Bad news for me! If I was a gambler playing the lottery, I'd never get this "lucky".

We'll see what tomorrow brings. The roads are completely blocked for now. Even passengers and flight crews had to walk some of the way to the airport today.

I don't know which road goes to Tossa de Mar but these were blocked earlier today:

On the spot protests kick off in Catalonia after jailed leaders' verdict

Barcelona's key avenues cut off and spontaneous marches start as heavy police presence guards country's main infrastructure points

www.catalannews.com

 

[peregrina2000]

Thanks, Faith. I am quite worried at the moment. We arrive tomorrow the 15th in late morning...can't believe this is going on now!

Oh Chris, so sorry to hear of your travel plans. My guess is that things will be “controlled” soon. Have a good flight and let us know. Buen camino, Laurie

 

[KinkyOne]

T1 of the airport is the one most damaged and still under blockade. Clashes going on.
Also in city itself.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

T1 of the airport is the one most damaged and still under blockade. Clashes going on.
Also in city itself.

Kinky, we are to land at T1 tomorrow. I'm still at the Chicago airport and have heard nothing yet.

 

[KinkyOne]

Kinky, we are to land at T1 tomorrow. I'm still at the Chicago airport and have heard nothing yet.

More or less clashes going on outside of the building or at least not in the area where you'll go first after landing. Although it's said there are thousands of protesters I doubt very much they would (or could) siege the entire terminal

Scroll down a little bit on this link and you'll see the damage in one short twitter video:

Catalan trial verdict out - live updates

Follow the latest developments after the conviction of 9 pro-independence leaders for sedition

www.catalannews.com

Anyway they are very peaceful but police is still using force (tear gas, bastons, vehicles etc.). I think you'll be just OK but the transport from the airport might be something else. Calm down as all will be well

 

[KinkyOne]

Kinky, we are to land at T1 tomorrow. I'm still at the Chicago airport and have heard nothing yet.

Told you everything will be OK. The protests at T1 have been called off few minutes ago

I think the reason was police firing rubber bullets at protesters.

 

[NorthernLight]

You have the opportunity to witness history in action. Just like a medieval pilgrim who has to keep their eye on the situation, to pick a route around conflict zones, to make their way safely to Santiago.

Stay calm and carry on.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

More or less clashes going on outside of the building or at least not in the area where you'll go first after landing. Although it's said there are thousands of protesters I doubt very much they would (or could) siege the entire terminal

Scroll down a little bit on this link and you'll see the damage in one short twitter video:

Catalan trial verdict out - live updates

Follow the latest developments after the conviction of 9 pro-independence leaders for sedition

www.catalannews.com

Anyway they are very peaceful but police is still using force (tear gas, bastons, vehicles etc.). I think you'll be just OK but the transport from the airport might be something else. Calm down as all will be well

I appreciate all the updated info. The link says it timed out. We board in an hour. It will be soon enough I'm in the midst of it.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

You have the opportunity to witness history in action. Just like a medieval pilgrim who has to keep their eye on the situation, to pick a route around conflict zones, to make their way safely to Santiago.

Stay calm and carry on.

Thank you! I will do my best to try to see the positive in the experience when we arrive.

 

[NorthernLight]

Bon voyage and buen camino!

 

[KinkyOne]

Thank you! I will do my best to try to see the positive in the experience when we arrive.

See the post no.12

 

[Camino Chrissy]

We arrived at the Barcelona airport and are now in the bus to Tossa de Mar for a couple of days before returning to the city. Im happy to report that everything seems back to normal, except for a few bands of police officers.

 

[jmcarp]

For whatever it's worth, and not that this has anything to do with the current situation in Barcelona, but my wife and I were in Barcelona at the time of the 2017 Independence referendum. In spite of the reports seen on major American news media, we saw only a couple of peaceful marches. We were also in near proximity (sight distance, across the street and down the block) from one of the polling places, and saw none of the "violence" depicted on the news. Granted, we were already there (but scheduled to leave from BCN the next day), and we were mainly in the tourist areas, but we witnessed nothing that caused us concern for our safety or well being. We flew out the next day without incident. Of course that was then and this is now, and the situation may in fact be different.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Have just checked in to our pension in Barcelona and were told there will be a strike and demonstrations tomorrow, and two of our prebooked tours are probably cancelled...I have no idea what to expect.

 

[Charrito]

Have just checked in to our pension in Barcelona and were told there will be a strike and demonstrations tomorrow, and two of our prebooked tours are probably cancelled...I have no idea what to expect.

There's definitely a strike in Cataluña tomorrow, and anyone who attempts to go to work will be confronted by the violent pickets to stop them.

 

[KinkyOne]

Have just checked in to our pension in Barcelona and were told there will be a strike and demonstrations tomorrow, and two of our prebooked tours are probably cancelled...I have no idea what to expect.

There are demonstrations everyday in major Catalan cities (Barcelona, Tarragona, Lleida etc.). Thousands of people are marching to Barcelona for tomorrows strike and demonstrations from 5 different cities. Students are on strike for the second day. If you stay away from Gran Via, Diagonal and Leitana you should have no problems with that I guess because those are the streets where major rallies happens. Also Plaza Catalunya, Plaza de Espana. And of course places where main government, both Catalan and Spanish, buildings are.

Barcelona is big enough to avoid all this and enjoy it

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Thanks, Kinky, for all the good ideas to avoid the rallies.

 

[NorthernLight]

@Camino Chrissy - and how was today? BBC reports lots of active protests today, including blocking entrance to Sagrada Familia.

 

[KinkyOne]

"30% of factories, 62% of building firms and 40% of service companies close down for the general strike, according to official figures at 4pm. Some 21% of port workers back the stoppage

The numbers of the Catalan strike: 60-80% in commerce, 90% of university students, 43% in public education, 30% of civil servants, 26.3% in health, and 36% on the metro

Electricity consumption fell over 10% due to the #vaga18O "

Also 57 flights (Iberia, Vueling) has been canceled.

So you can imagine what it's like with hundreds thousands of people in the city center.

 

[Anniesantiago]

Have just checked in to our pension in Barcelona and were told there will be a strike and demonstrations tomorrow, and two of our prebooked tours are probably cancelled...I have no idea what to expect.

This is one of those times I'd be catching bus or plane to another part of Spain or even visit another country. I have been in Spain during violent protests - no fun.

 

[KinkyOne]

This is one of those times I'd be catching bus or plane to another part of Spain or even visit another country. I have been in Spain during violent protests - no fun.

I'm sure other parts of Barcelona are quite peaceful although between 525.000 (by Police) and 750.000 (by organizers) people gathered today in Barcelona. Watch out for 26th (next Saturday) when general protests are announced. They even postponed legendary El Classico between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid football clubs which was set exactly on that day.

Anyway if you follow this website you would know where major clashes are taking place. Twits with short videos:

Protests as Catalan leaders sentenced - live updates

Follow the latest developments as pro-independence supporters take to the streets in response to the conviction of the movement’s leaders

www.catalannews.com

Live feeds of the situation that looks like a battlefield:

As I already posted for @Camino Chrissy in one of the previous posts if you avoid those areas you should be completely safe!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I felt safe all day. I only saw a peaceful march down Las Ramblas while we were having lunch earlier today. Not sure what may be going on tonight, if anything.

 

[KinkyOne]

I felt safe all day. I only saw a peaceful march down Las Ramblas while we were having lunch earlier today. Not sure what may be going on tonight, if anything.

Same as every night. Clashes with police. It looks like battlefield as I posted above.
Two nights ago only in Barcelona 400 those huge plastic trash bins have been set on fire in barricades.

In situations like this hooligans also take their role, sadly...
Even more sadly the last night there began clashes between far-right neo-nazis and far-left protesters. Not good. But that's already bordering one of the forum rules about politics. Nevertheless it could be dangerous being around places where clashes are going on. If you watch live feeds you could hear a lot of shots fired. Those are mostly from police firing foam/rubber bullets (you don't want to get hit by one) and some are fireworks of protesters.

Wish you peaceful and cozy night!

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Friday Peg and a friend took a 9 AM airport shuttle for a 7 PM flight from Barcelona. They also took 4 books. There were no problems and are home now.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I am still in Barcelona. A taxi we took back to our pension late afternoon could not get through protestors so we got out and walked the rest of the way. Outside our balcony tonight are police in full riot uniform and carrying what looks to be tear gas guns. Thankfully the tours we had booked were on schedule after postponing them a day due to the strikes.
We leave tomorrow...overall we never felt threatened in spite of the demonstrations.