The residents of Pedralbes finally have a casual meeting point, a place where they can get to know each other in a relaxed atmosphere, in any way, touching each other. It is a simple traditional beach bar at the foot of the neighborhood monastery that opened its doors a few weeks ago. It is not a trivial question, nor is it an occurrence.
These rather informal spaces strengthen the cohesion and spirit of the neighborhood, of all neighborhoods. Circumstantial conversations while waiting for some olives at the bar with that person who is slightly familiar to you ultimately generate more complicity and bring neighbors closer than any community mediation program directed by the public administration.
Here, on this side of Barcelona, as a few members of the neighborhood's neighborhood association explain, most of the buildings lack commercial basements, the shops are somewhat separated from the homes, people tend to go out their properties and later enter again through the parking lot door, all the while getting into their private vehicle.
And so very few walk through the streets, it is very difficult for people to enjoy their immediate surroundings, those who walk the dog and those who go out to run around for a while barely meet - in fact, in these parts, walking through the streets often seem disturbing and suspicious – and on top of that there are not many public facilities... So the most frequented casual meeting points in these latitudes are the pipican, when people leave mass and especially the common areas green and private communities of owners.
What happens is that in these small gardens you only meet the neighbors on your staircase. The truth is that for some time now many wild boars have had more social life in these gardens, digging holes and things like that, than some lifelong tenants. And in this way it is very difficult for the neighborhood to shake off the adjective of bedroom and all the depersonalization that this entails. On weekends people usually go down to other neighborhoods or leave the city. Here, in Pedralbes, everything is very far away, for better and for worse.
“Actually, this beach bar was an old claim of the Pedralbes monastery,” continue the members of the neighborhood association, around a table at the beach bar in question, having a drink. The monastery always lacked a place where its visitors could have a drink after visiting it. Now more people will come at Christmas! In the end, finally, the City Council held a contest.”
“Let's see, in Pedralbes we also have good restaurants, like El Mató de Pedralbes, which reopened after a long time, which is also a meeting point.” “And Casa Cantabria is also very good.” “But in restaurants you interact above all with those you share the table.” “And we also have the Christmas market, of course it is very punctual.” “What happens is that in this neighborhood we are also lacking in equipment, we have no outpatient clinic, no library, no civic center, no day center....” “And if we make demands, many people look at us badly.” “And here in this beach bar the kids play petanque together. It's very nice".
That is why the beach bar in question is called La Petanca, because they lend balls to play with. “The response from the neighbors has been very good, especially on weekends at vermouth time,” says businessman David Corbó. It is clear that people really wanted to have a place like this close to home. Families, couples, neighbors of all ages come. It's not just kids who play petanque. This sport is increasingly fashionable among young people. But, come on, only we entered the contest in question. In reality, things were not so clear, but we have gotten along very well in the neighborhood.”
