Barcelona...Spanish or Catalan?

Question

I'm going to Barcelona this summer. How hard is it to go around Barcelona without knowing how to speak Catalan? I speak a little spanish. I bought a book on Catalan but that's a hard language.

Answer 1

Catalan, but they all speak Spanish

Answer 2

YOU LUCKY DOG!!!!!

I wish I could get out of this little town~~

Will you take me with you?

Answer 3

From what I hear you can get around knowing Spanish and especially English. You should be just fine. However, it is always smart to get a few of the really key phrases down in Catalan such as please, thank you, where's the bathroom, etc.

If for some reason you get lost and nobody speaks either English or understands your limited Spanish, it's always a good idea to have a back-up plan. If you are staying at a hotel, grab one of their postcards at the front desk, often this will have a map, or at least an adress and you can just hand it to a cab driver.

But ALWAYS bring a pad of paper and a pen and your patience. A lot of time playing sherades can be funny and a great way to make friends with a local. If you don't understand how much something costs, for example, in Catalan, just have them write it down. They can also draw maps, etc.

If you're really worried about it, one of those electronic translators can work. It's not the fastest method of communicating, but can be a real life-saver.

Good luck!

(I know how you feel--I've got a little Italian down, and I will be going to Naples which has a totally different dialect.)