La Mercè has taken until Monday the Estació del Nord parklittle frequented by the main festival of Barcelona until now. Yes, the precedent of 2021 exists, when part of the performances The outdoor rehearsal of Mercè Arts de Carrer was moved to the esplanade adjacent to the large bus stop, although the rehearsal was not repeated last year. The Ciutadella had been the epicenter of the shows street maps that seasoned the program until 2022, but now it has moved a few meters, to a park with hardly any tourists and usually unloaded from large events. Judging by first impressions, the change raises a approved wide, although there are those who find it strange that it is relegated to the Ciutadella in the celebrations.
“Ah, but there is nothing in the Ciutadella? “We just came here to avoid it, we thought there would be a lot of people there,” Jordi confesses, as soon as he entered the premises with his children. Anna and Jesús have stood with their two creatures to unfold the picnic on the grass. “In the Ciutadella there were many agglomeration in recent years. It was difficult to pass… “We came here to avoid the crowd and we saw that there were activities, although we didn’t know there were so many,” applauds the couple.
The shows that raised the curtain were performed by several Ukrainian companies. It is worth remembering that Kyiv It is the guest city at La Mercè. They have started at noon, at the same time as the families They launched into the children’s games that fill the park promenade.
However, the meadow was already filling up before 12:00 p.m. Carme would prefer that the attractions They were early risers. “Everything starts at the same time and, then, there are already too many people. “You can hardly get through!” laments the woman, who has chosen to stay apart from her with her granddaughter’s stroller and avoid the platoon of families crowding in the area for minors. “I like Ciutadella better,” he added. It’s wider and we’re a little crowded here.”
“Maybe everything is packed together. and they are missing horses. But it is true that the Ciutadella was filled with tourists,” Míriam observes. “There are fewer people here, and it is appreciated,” Clara resolves. “Last year was impossible enjoy the Ciutadella with my daughter. The central hallway was crowded”, he adds. “It makes common sense to bring La Mercè here: it is a space with fewer tourists and the Ciutadella is left free for tourists. visitors You can see the park. Those of us who came from outside and those of us who went to see the shows gathered there; here, only those of us who come to see the program,” he distinguishes.
Noise and dogs
Other interviewees emphasize that the Estació del Nord park is usually busy with neighbors walking with their dogs. This is the case of Marta, who admits that she did not expect La Mercè to attract so much public to the esplanade, where he has not given up airing himself with his pet. “But maybe we’ll avoid it on Sunday and Monday and change places. “I didn’t find it very funny,” she attests. Lluís preferred not to come with the dog and, instead, see the shows. “Noise is not good for you,” he says.
“My dog is a little more self-conscious. He noise He doesn’t like it and this Friday it was already heard music… It’s only three days and I understand it, although maybe we won’t come as much,” Gabriel acknowledges. “It doesn’t matter to me, but now they prohibit us more than ever from taking pets through the parks. TO Colau he didn’t like them… I suppose that, in the afternoon and at night, there will be a bottle, with so many beach bars “as they said,” another neighbor grumbles.
“What’s up, but if it’s don’t worry“, answer Bilal and Isa. “Anyone who complains can go to Ciutadella, but it’s even better this way, with fewer dogs,” they say. “We can walk with the dogs in the same space as always. What there should not be are bikes and scooters while there is a party. That does bother me,” underlines Lluís. “It’s something sporadic and I find it very cheerful. “I will continue to bring him on time,” Paco assured, accompanied by his poodle.
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Carlo’s dog is larger, and he was hardly seen upset in the crowd. “Today there is no problem and, on top of that, they have cleaned the park for visitors to see. What I don’t like is that it is usually dirty. Many people sleep in here, it is an open-air hotel and there is insecurity… “Once I had to defend a woman who was going to be robbed,” she says. Miquel Jacob says that he usually avoids the station environment. “It’s the first time I’ve come with my daughter. She has a reputation for troubled”, he points out.
Esteve does not sense risk. “Here there are more spaces designed for children, while in Ciutadella they were combined with shows for adults. In the central space, the music was very loud… The coexistence it was difficult. It is well organized here, difference.