“Huelga” isn’t exactly the cry I was expecting to hear. But taxis are on strike across Spain protesting unfair labor practice of Uber and Cabify. They parked their vehicles on major thoroughfares, they’re camping in the streets and playing cards. They’ve shut down traffic since Saturday (today is Tuesday and there doesn’t seem to be an immediate resolution). In a couple of what we hope are isolated instances, they’ve kicked and spray painted Uber cars and pushed around Uber drivers as they protest the competition that was approved by a judge last week. In response to the violence, Uber has stopped operation, too.
We are one week away from our arrival in Barcelona and what I had hoped would be a taxi or Uber ride to our lodgings. A private trip from the airport to lodging in Barcelona just got a lot more complicated. A week from today we’ll arrive in Barcelona. Did I mention that I am an absolute baby about walking in the heat…with suitcases…in an unknown city where they speak a language I’m not completely fluent in? That sniveling, grumbling you heard last summer came from me all the way across the ocean as Luis and I trudged across 15 or so blocks in Florence, Italy, sleep deprived, hungry, hot and a little lost. Over the year I have worked to convince Luis that with jet lag, heat and hunger on our arrival, it’s best to grab a taxi or hail an Uber. That might not be an option.
The strike started in Barcelona and has spread to almost all major cities.
See: https://www.thelocal.es/20180726/in-pics-uber-cabify-barcelona-strike
Eight years ago we’ve arrived in a different major city when taxis could not drive us to our location. Miguel was with Luis and me when we arrived in Mexico City on the last day campaigning was allowed for the presidential elections. The huge rallies in the central zocalo (where our hotel was located) made all transportation impossible, including metro, taxi and private cars. We hung out in the airport, ate and bided our time. It all worked out.
Thank goodness for my friend Sharon Padilla’s Facebook post from Spain (she’s visiting Salamanca and the old residencia where we lived with the nuns almost 40 years ago). She posted about the strike paralyzing the city centers of Madrid and Barcelona two days ago. I wouldn’t have known if it were for her post. Luis and I are putting together Plans A, B, C and D for getting from the airport to the hotel. Wish us luck.
Rosana
Ordinary Gente 
Interesting about Uber AND taxis coming to a standstill in Spain. I had no idea either
(I wasn’t done posting) Is it possible the local buses or a train service would be available? I’m sure you’ve thought of the alternative methods of transportation. Who knows, the strike may be over by next Tues!
I’m trying to figure out the best work around now. TripAdvisor finally has some info. In general, it appears that surface street are a challenge. That’s a bummer because our Plan B is to go by airport shuttle called Aerobus. But if the streets are blocked, well, that’s not good. So Plan C is to go by metro but that’s a lot more complicated with a change of trains and with luggage. Plan D is that we figure out how to leave our luggage at a checked luggage place and walk in, getting our luggage later. Our travel agent today said that might just be our “El Camino” so to speak.