Barcelona may be known for liberal attitude in some respects, in part a reaction to the Franco regime’s authoritarian ways, but it also prides itself on its stylishness.
Some Catalans feel that things are getting just a little bit too casual out on the streets.
A new law now requires that everyone covers up in the city centre. With the beach so close to the main shopping and historical districts, there has been a rise in the number of people wandering through the streets in their swimsuits.
Now this might be OK if everyone wandering up Rambla de Catalunya in an unclothed state looked like Naomi Campbell or David Beckham, but, frankly, they don’t.
So the off-beach public exposure of beer bellies and unfortunate tattoos have now been legislated against. Forget to cover up the string bikini or budgie smugglers and you could be presented with a fine for €300.
There goes the spending money!
