No, don't shoot the pianist, please. The artist is not the origin of the resentment that burns us these days. In truth, the pianist is the one who provides us with comfort in these difficult moments. Few are fully aware of the sufferings that the most ordinary and popular Barcelonan suffers at this time, of the terrible conspiracy that destiny hangs over his heart. The beers served in the bars set up in the Estació del Nord park for the Mercè festivities cost three euros.
“Are we in a pub or what? On top of that you have to get a glass worth one euro.” “But then they give it back to you, right? when you return the glass..." “And meanwhile I have to be with the damn glass in my hand? And on top of that, the portion of patatas bravas at the food trucks costs five euros. So there is no way to..." Furthermore, the sun beats down hard on the main stage, the nines workshop for the little ones has all the seats occupied until the afternoon, there are no free benches on the stage located under the bridge, the queue for the video game sponsored by Vueling where they give you free yellow backpacks is longer than those at El Prat airport on August 1st. Ah, what times, the first of August!
But the German acrobat who apparently fools around on a bar that moves a gigantic mechanical arm reconciles you with the analog amusements that are taking place right under your nose in these times so given to virtual recreations. Seriously, he starts off apparently being silly... And don't think that you're going to have many more opportunities to see so many Ukrainian dancers giving it their all without going through the box office. Without going through the ticket office or waiting in line or... And the puppets and marionettes? One of the best things about La Mercè is its commitment to traditional proposals ingeniously renewed and updated.
What happens to the grumpy guy is that this weekend he couldn't go on a long weekend, take advantage of the last holiday weekend before the happy time changes and night falls at five in the afternoon. No, many couldn't score a getaway for you in the last throes of summer. Because we are two candles, charging as usual, with olive oil at the price of whiskey and the steep slope of September confirming that the good thing is over, that from now on you will have no choice but to face your own life without further ado. hot rags. La Mercè always has a bitter aftertaste, seasoned with anxiety and nostalgia. Years do not end on the last day of the calendar. The years end and begin with the patron saint festivities of Barcelona. Hence, these days the daily grunts multiply. The return to routine and business as usual confirms in a cruel way that, hopefully, we remain the same.
Fortunately we have here, in the Estació del Nord park, a lot of pianists giving it their all. Few municipal celebrations are prepared with the same care as Barcelona celebrations. And the artists are aware that they are in a privileged setting. This year this corner of the Fort Pienc neighborhood has the honor of hosting the bulk of the Mercè Arts de Carrer (MAC), the traditionally most surprising event in the programming of these patron saint festivities. Here we find up to eight stages, and in one corner the smallest nightclub in the world. These days, this decentralized MAC also has stages on the renovated Consell de Cent street and in the Joan Miró park. In total there will be more than 300 functions. Theatre, music, dance, circus... Family friendly and for all ages, Estació del Nord's proposal, as night falls and the little ones go to sleep, becomes more scoundrel and slut. Then the nightclub will open, the smallest nightclub in the world.
