I’m going to Barcelona to cover the Mobile World Congress for work (woo hoo!) and am fitting in a little vacation there beforehand. I’ve been reading some tourist tip sites and a Frommer’s guide book and the pickpocket warnings are standing out to me a lot. And they’re worrying me – almost enough to make me not want to take anything important with me, including my iPhone. Crap. I can’t go 2 weeks without my iPhone! Not. Possible.
I do have a first-generation “spare” iPhone that I use for snowboarding. I got an incredible deal on it ($75!). It’s a bit beat up, but it’s a fabulous back-up phone that I hardly worry about. However, my 3G has GPS, which I can envision needing to get around and I’m thinking that the cell tower triangulation that the first-gen iPhone uses won’t be enough to pinpoint my location to be as useful as I’ll need. Plus, I’m thinking of bringing my husband’s new digital camera, a Nikon Coolpix, instead of my old Sony DSC-T1, but I will feel terrible if something happens to it.
I’ve lived in and traveled through Europe before, so I’m not a total newbie. To be honest, I’m not quite sure why I’m getting so worked up about my safety and the safety of my gadgets in Barcelona. I must be getting old or something. (I vote for “or something”.) Part of it must be the fact that I’m a little overwhelmed about spending time in a country where I don’t speak the language. I opted to take French in high school and college, not Spanish. I can tell you my name, the time and date, and ask where the bathroom is in Spanish, and that’s about it. Which reminds me – I need to find a good translation app.
Shoot. I’m sure I’ll end up taking my iPhone 3G. Hell, probably both of my iPhones despite my concerns. Don’t ask why – it’s best if you don’t. Gah.
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