farewell to Barcelona

Boy, am I glad to be gone! Let me start by saying (if you didn´t read it from earlier posts), you will be pick pocketed or have something stolen from you here. Everyone, and I mean everyone advises you about the rampant petty theft and professional bands of thieves. It still it seemed like every 3 hours I was meeting or hearing about someone victimized. An elderly couple at hotel had bag stolen at airport, then his wallet lifted, another guy had $750EUR taken from fanny pack, yet another had purse opened, objects stolen, and neatly zippered closed. GEEZ.
I took the city tour, the Gaudi tour and the Montserrat tour from the Barcelona Guide Bureau as recommended by hotel. These were all they offered and all were 3 or 4 hours. Only about an hour was actual guiding and the rest was time on own to explore. When we asked to do something like go into a museum, the guide explained there is not enough time. So, my suggestion to anyone going to Barcelona, dont bother with group tours available in city....... call POTHOS to book a private car & guide. Then, you can have as much time as you want and see more with explanations. Montserrat seemed awesome but after standing in queue for 45 minutes to see the monastery, all the time left was walking to bus. More than half of the site we did not have enough time to see. And if you are really adventurous, stay in one of the Benedictine Monk "cells" that they have set aside for travelers. Their Order requires them to give lodging to anyone who knocks the door and at $15EUR for the night, I think it would incredible to spend the night there.
My final thoughts; Las Ramblas heaves with throngs of people, Catalonia (the area Barcelona is) does not believe it should be part of Spain - 10% of the country population is here and about 50% of its tax base from tourists, going above & beyond is a hospitality sentiment not known, the food is flavorless and expensive and Gaudi´s works.... while a notable artist & architect, is not as earth shattering as they build it up to be.
So, not a must see/stop destination for me. I would rather not be on cat like alert 24/7 for the next attempted theft.