"I imagined a hurricane": the wind empties Barcelona of cars and customers
The city is experiencing the restrictions as if it were a Sunday: there are children in the streets and some businesses are closed.
BarcelonaWhile arranging some bananas, a fruit vendor in Barcelona's Eixample district says it wasn't that bad. He imagined a "hurricane" when he saw the Generalitat's emergency warnings"It's windy," he remarks resignedly, because today he has far fewer customers and can't display as much fruit at the entrance of his shop for fear it will blow away. The owner of a nearby gym is also annoyed because a worker told him this morning that he wouldn't be coming in. That it was too windy to leave the house. He complains because the employee doesn't live far from the gym.
But the wind comes in unannounced and moves things very quickly. An elderly man walks with a cane along Consell de Cent street. The grandfather is walking towards Besòs and the wind attacks from the Llobregat. A sign advertising Neapolitan pizzas—a pineapple-shaped door—comes loose and flies away, under the watchful eye of a pizzaiolo He's rolling out dough and watches through the window as the banner approaches the elderly man dangerously close. Luckily, it passes him by just centimeters, and no one is hurt. A waiter rushes out and apologizes. He promises they won't hang it up again.
Barcelona experienced Thursday's windstorm as if it were a Sunday morning. There are fewer cars on the streets—about 100,000 fewer vehicles than usual entered the city—businesses are closed, and many offices—like the Generalitat's business management office—are empty. Construction work is halted as a precaution, and there's a silence, broken only by children—some in Carnival costumes—running through the streets, free from school and accompanied by their parents.
But the silence is also broken by the frequent sound of ambulances and fire trucks responding to emergencies. Barcelona also experienced this Thursday as if it were a Sunday, with litter accumulating in some areas, such as plastic bags and bottles, this time carried by the wind rather than by Saturday nightlife. Branches are scattered everywhere, and the air is thicker than usual due to dust and pollen.
A decaffeinated Fat Thursday
A girl runs along Consell de Cent street, looking up. She says that way she's watching to make sure nothing falls on her. Luckily, the wind isn't in her face. The workers at a bakery are also lamenting the significant drop in customers. It's midday and they've almost sold everything. They're worried about the pork rind cakes, in case they don't sell today, which is Fat Thursday. The same can't be said for the delicatessens, where there are queues to buy sausages and other cured meats. "The wind can't stop Fat Thursday," the shop assistant exclaims.
The terraces of the bars are empty, and some have opted to close them altogether. "A customer who comes every morning couldn't come because her caregiver had to stay home due to the wind," explains the owner of a vermouth bar on Muntaner street. The wind blows strongly at times and is especially noticeable on wide avenues, such as Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes. In other parts of the city, the wind ripped off roofs, knocked down walls, and uprooted trees, leaving at least two people seriously injured. Some traffic lights have stopped working, and several officers from the Guardia Urbana are directing traffic. "There's been a major power outage today too," says a resident ironically as he crosses the street when the policeman signals him to go by blowing his whistle.
