Raval Field Trip Journal April 22nd

Simply taking a short walk in this area of the city reveals a fundamental distinction between El Raval and other parts of the Old City (Ciutat Vella)…El Raval is definitely not an area that is frequented by tourists very much. If fact, the only “non local” inhabitants that you can see are the Pakistani/other foreign immigrants who have settled in this area – they clearly dominate the presence of the area. Regardless, there are many factors which probably justify this reality but the primary one is the fact that El Raval was not a very “safe/touristy friendly” area some years ago. It is important to note that this area had once been the center for illegal activity (drug dealing, prostitution, etc.) for quite some time. Additionally, it was in this area where the anarchists held their “stronghold” – a presence which certainly reflected the chaotic nature of this section of the city. It was only until the ________ when the local government decided to refurbish the area in an effort to attract tourists and stamp out crime.
Although this attempt was mildly successful, the overall goal was not truly achieved. Demolishing old buildings to pave the way for broad streets such as “Ramblas de Catalunya” was a clear attempt at “bringing life” to the neighborhood while also bringing some needed air from the sea (ventilation). Additionally, building five star hotels yearned for posh tourists to spend a few nights in this recovering area; however, these attempts were met with mixed results. Certainly, the area seems to be cleaner/more welcoming than it probably was 20-30 years ago – cars have limited access on the streets, fresh air makes its way into the area from the sea, and buildings such as MACBA and other museums attract younger crowds/families into the region of the city. However, the trip there still gave me the impression that the city never fully “succeeded” in achieving their goal: tourists can hardly be found, the area is still home to many “sinful” individuals/activities, and it still gives the feeling of an area that is unwelcome to tourists. I cannot completely explain it but in a twisted way, it felt like the locals wanted change/improvement but they still wanted to hold onto the last vestiges of a “real/non-touristy” section of the Old City. Granted, there is a large portion of immigrants in this area who probably would just be happy with a roof over their heads but the push for change seems to hold a bit of a conflicted existence (people want young people to come to the area but don’t want skateboarders outside MACBA, they want tourists to stay at the new hotel but they don’t offer them any real captivating activities/shops, etc.)
All in all, the area is a pretty interesting section of the city which has a lot of character; I would probably have ventured over to that area a bit more if I had been introduced to it a bit earlier on during my stay. However, I still feel that the area has much room for improvement. I understand that change/progress takes time and there is no possible way that an entire area can change in less than 20 years so this reality gives me hope that the city will achieve their goals. Unfortunately, they are not there yet and it may take 20-30 more years before drastic changes can be seen…