In Barcelona we are hard-working and business-like, we really do not notice tourists, who, incidentally, are a nuisance in some areas of the city, which have been turned into a thematic park.

We Catalans are shy to strangers but once you make a friend here, it's for life.

I'm not sure where you went in Madrid that you found the people "unfriendly" (especially when you're from Sweden... sorry!). Obviously, only knowing Spanish is not going to be a problem for you because it's one of the official languages of Catalu?a and everyone is fluent...

They like to think they are better than people from Madrid and that they are a separate country because they speak a slightly different language. A bit like people from Truro in Cornwall0 just because their language is different it does not make them a separate country.

Well, you may find them challenging...intellectually.

From people or woman who live or have visited barcelona. Is barcelona a very laid back city? How are the men in barcelona different to other spainish cities? I am from sweden and i was bombarded with attention in madrid even though i find the people in madrid to be very unfriendly. Is barcelona any different? Are the men from barcelona rude?