Trileros

If you see a group of people and one of them plays with three shakers or shells and a small ball on a cardboard or portable table, DO NOT STOP. That person will be asking people to guess where the ball is. Never guess as this is a swindle.

It seems in fact easy, but as we say in Barcelona "the hand is quicker than the eye" so simply don't try, in fact, don´t even get closer as you don't have any chance of winning and you will only be asking for trouble. Also, sometimes there are "pickpockets" around so don't even stay close to watch. You will never see locals playing at this, only tourists, so beware!

This scam is always performed by several people. The person moving the shakers/shells, two or three people betting (or pretending) and several checking that the police doesn't show up. One of them will shout "agua" (water) if they see a police officer getting closer and everybody will run away.

Sunscreen and sun glasses

During summer time, Barcelona can easily reach temperatures of over 30ºC (86ºF) so you should take some precautions when walking around the city. Always use sunscreen and sun glasses.

Use sunscreen products that protect against both UVB and UVA radiation and ensure that you use them even on a cloudy day as sun's rays can penetrate the clouds.

For optimal protection, apply sunscreen at least 20 minutes prior to sun exposure, and reapply every two hours. Sunscreen and aftersun lotion can be bought at any pharmacy or supermarket.

In conjunction with the above, it is also recommended wearing a baseball cap or a hat as it will proctect areas normally exposed to the sun such as neck, forehead and scalp.

Remember, get a tan don't get burnt.