Barkelona, Spain (AP) – a group of tourists sitting outdoors in the Spanish city of Barcelona, trying to enjoy their drinks when a woman raised a cheap plastic water pistol and fired an arc with water.
Its optional weapon-the cheapest variety, a variety-sort of a sort of increasingly common gadget in protests for antitourism in the southern European country, where many locals fear that visitor overload drives them from their hidden neighborhoods.
How did the modest water gun become a symbol of discontent?
From refreshing to revolutionary
The phenomenon began last July, when a fringe, left -wing activist group based in Barcelona that promoted the “designed” of the successful tourist sector of the city, held its first successful rally. Some brought water rifles to shoot each other and stay cool through the summer heat.
“What happened later became viral, but in reality it was just a joke from a group of people who brought water weapons because it was hot,” said Adriana Kotten, one of the organizers of the tourism neighborhood assembly, before the Associated Press.
Then some turned their water rifles from each other to tourists. The images have been touring the world, becoming a public coup about the cause of anti -tourism.
The weapons reappeared in April, when the same group stopped a bus on tour in Barcelona, the capital of Catalan.
Downloaded weapons
On Sunday, about a thousand people left from a luxury shopping boulevard popular with wealthy foreigners before police prevented them from approaching the destination to watch Barcelona’s best view: La Sagrada Familia church.
The marches scattered unsuspecting tourists along the way, chanting slogans and carrying protest signs. One read: “Another tourist, a smaller resident!”
They left a trace of hotel door stickers, lamps and outdoor cafes showing spicy water surrounded by an English message: “Tourist go home!”
However, the number of protesters in Barcelona carrying water cannons was a minority in the pistol group, many fired only in the air or in each other. A dad was throwing his baby into the front package, a water gun in his hand.
Outside the protests, the locals of Barcelona do not look for water cannons or do not strive for tourists. And many of the city still support tourism, which is a pillar of the local economy.
“Symbol”
Can the water gun really change the minds of tourists, authorities or business that lead to the industry? It depends on who you ask.
Lurd Sanchez’s protestor and her teenage daughter, each of whom holds a water gun, said the pistol “is not really to hurt anyone.”
“This is a symbol that is said to be tired of how the tourism industry turns our country into a themed park,” Sanchez said.
Another demonstrator, Andreu Martinez, admitted that it was “to worry a little tourists.”
Lawrence Shocker, a 46-year-old architect, said he did not shoot suspected tourists, but hoped that wearing a water gun would attract more attention to their cause.
“I don’t think tourists will receive it,” he said. “I think this is to send a message to the authorities.”
A stick can harm your feelings
The marches did not have monstrous, pumping water cannons, which most children use for battles in the backyard in the summer. They were the old school, cheap water rifles that send a thin stream of water not so far.
Some tourists who were sprayed took it in stride, even claimed to be refreshing in a day with temperatures pushing up to about 30 degrees Celsius (87 Fahrenheit).
But there were times of tension. When several marches made workers in a big hostel, the temperaments flared up and a worker plugged to his attackers as he struck the hostel door.
Nora Zai, who just arrived from Taiwan on a short visit, was among those who were raised on Sunday. She said she was a little scared and sad. “The tourist is coming home!” The chants did not help either.
“I still like Barcelona,” she said. “I met a lot of people who were nice.”