A bad start to Barcelona

(John) We decided to take the coastal road into Spain.  It was a lovely drive Sam likened it to the sea to sky highway to Whistler except a la Mediterranean.  The next part is not easy to write as we are still somewhat traumatized and embarrassed by what happened next.  We joined the motorway to Barcelona and were doing fine we were minutes from our junction to get off and head to find our beds when a seemingly nice Spanish couple urgently flagged us down, there was some problem with our tire.  NOT.  The next minute went by in a whirl.  Basically we were seriously conned.  The man got out of his car and got my attention on one side of the car while also distracting Lesley who stayed in the car with the children but was looking backward for the problem.  The next thing we knew Sam was yelling that they had taken the computer. The couple was not a couple but were 4 people, some had been hiding in the back seat ducked down.  As I got around to the drivers side, Sam was sprinting after the car and got to it just as it was screeching away.  I had somehow kept the keys in my hand and not in the ignition - just an old habit - which meant we at least were still in control of the vehicle.  We tried very briefly to follow to get a license plate but knew it was pointless.  We had lost the laptop computer.  By the time we had slowed down and pulled over to asses the damage we were well and truly lost and it took us a long time to find the hostel that we no longer had directions for, as we were using the map on the computer to get there.  We then realized that we had also lost a bag that had some of Lesley's personal effects (toiletries mainly).  We arrived and checked in and managed to get the staff person to call the police for us.  We were directed to go to the police station and give details.  We were given a map with direction and we set off into Barcelona by car to find it.  It took over two hours and by the time we got there we were hungry tired exhausted, upset and feeling very stupid.  We made our report and were told the crime was common.  We got back to the hostel where the hostel restaurant was just about still open and where the staff were very kind.  We spoke to a lovely Dutch man who helped make us feel better and eating didn't hurt either.  Unfortunately.  Lesley and I did not sleep a wink all night. We kept replaying the scene in our heads.   Today has been better but we feel jet lagged.  This morning we heard about then met a British couple who had just about the same thing happen a few days ago at the same junction on the same highway.  The only difference was their car was shunted by the criminals then they were urged to get out and check the damage.  The criminals drove off just as they noticed that their wallets and one bag was gone.  It was lovely to chat with them.  It helped made us feel more normal.  The fact is only good, decent people get conned like we did. 
(Lesley) Today we went into Barcelona despite not a lot of sleep and we had a decent day.  We saw lots of nice Spanish people enjoying their city.  It was good after our first experience.  We already miss the computer as today would have been a great day to Skype some folks back home.  Oh well, life goes on.  Bye Lesley