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You might as well try walking to the autoroute which is a very long but nonetheless very nice morning activity (for some). Just follow the signs for Barcelona. You'll probably walk for hours through many [[roundabout]]s, and at one point you even have to go on a sort of nature walk (hitchhiker [[User:Zac Stewart|Zac]] can't remember what prompted this but there was an obvious reason and a clearly cut trail through the woods that passed under a bridge), and eventually you'll get to a long, lonely but beautiful road with viniards on either side. Keep going, and eventually you'll get to the autoroute onramp situated on a bridge over the [[A9 (France)|A9]]. You can stop here if you want to try your luck, or you can go to the [[péage]] which is visible from the bridge. Just follow the road down there and cut into the woods to get around and come out on the south side of the péage. From there you can thumb a ride, and there's even a parking area big enough for a lorry to stop for you. Note: getting to the other side of the péage involves crossing a creek and jumping one or more fences! Attempt at your own peril (or pleasure!).
Another good spot to wait is a small roundabout 10 minutes north of the river on foot. Walk North on Cours Lazare Escarguel, cross the river, where CLE changes its name to Pont Arago. Just before the sidewalk ends, take the stairs (on the right) down to the street below. Continue walking north, parallel to Pont Arago for 5 - 10 minutes. The road will veer to the right and you will be able to see another roundabout. Cars going both North (Toulouse, Montpellier) and South (Barcelona) frequently pass by here. I've successfully hitched from here twice.[EDIT: August 2017. We were standing there for two hours under full sun and no luck. This spot is not good at all. Few cars and most of them heading North instead of South. Actually, people looked like they were from the area and they wouldn't cover much more than 10km. Don't use this spot! GO to the bottom of this page to find my personal recommendation.]
Yet another good spot, if you're travelling South, is a roundabout 15-20 minutes on foot south of the city centre. Walk down the Boulevard Felix Mercader until and continue when it changes name to Avenue du Général Guillaut - just follow the signs for Barcelona. It's the first roundabout you meet after the road changes name and there's lots of space for cars to stop.
Another handy thing to remember is that buses within the province only cost 1 euro no matter how far you go! That way you can get almost to [[Andorra]]'s border for only 1 euro.
==== How I got twice out from Perpignan and landed directly in Barcelona====
This is my personal advice and has nothing to do hitchhiking. But this is what has worked for me. Keep in mind I don't encourage anyone to break any state's laws. I just report what has been useful for me.
Method: wait until last minute INSIDE the train station for the train to Barcelona. Don't wait outside, on the platform. Once the train has arrived, don't go directly for it. You need to catch it last minute (or last seconds), when it is about to leave. Be sneaky, try to get in when nobody is looking. Inside the train, act normal, go to first class, leave your backpacks on the baggage shelves, and head for the train restaurant. At the restaurant, sit and enjoy the views. Or you can sit comfortably on your cozy first class armchair.
I have done this twice and has always proved to be the best technique. Once in Barcelona, you arrive at the main station Sants. If you need to go further South, go to the Rodalies (short-distance trains) platforms and take the one going to Sant Vincente de Calders, R4, and get off at Castell Bisbal (more info on the Barcelona page).
For those of you afraid of getting 'caught', I give you some facts: in France, they won't kick you out from the train. At least, this is not the common practice. You get a fine, but even if you live in France, if you don't get fined more than 10 times a year, nothing happens Now, if you don't live in France, you have it even easier. Myself, I have crossed the whole country twice and only got fined once each time I went across the whole of France. So you get an idea of your chances.
{{IsIn|Midi-Pyrénées}}
[[Category:France]]
