And this is how a small town becomes big: Prades shines for the eclipse

PradesWith a modest budget – that of a mountain village of only 644 inhabitants – organizing the arrival of thousands of visitors to see the eclipse was not easy at all. But Prades (Baix Camp) managed it. The Generalitat had committed to helping only those municipalities chosen as observation points that, among other requirements, had to have more than 3,000 inhabitants and more than 55 seconds of total eclipse. Prades, which enjoys the accreditation of one of the best skies in Catalonia, was left out. Not a single euro. "Nobody has helped us," lamented the mayoress, Lídia Bargas, this Thursday.

But for lack of money, the residents of Prades have put in their willingness and that is how this small village has become one of the epicenters this week to see the eclipse: Japanese, North Americans, French and Catalans were able to see how the Moon completely covered the Sun from the viewpoints adapted by the Town Hall. Specifically, they were able to see it from the land of the Guilleno family and Antonio's, who lent their fields free of charge for the occasion. "We asked the farmers if they could let us have their land and they all said yes," explains the mayoress. In total, two plots of land totaling about three hectares to watch the eclipse and four more to enable a thousand parking spaces.

"What we want is what's best for the town," explains Ramon Guilleno, who, along with his brother, ceded almost a hectare so that visitors would have enough space to watch the eclipse. On this land, the Guilleno family plants potatoes one year and mustard another year, which helps improve the soil and prevent pests from proliferating. This year it was time to plant mustard, but since they ceded the land, they haven't been able to do so and will only begin planting these days. Despite the generosity, Guilleno downplays his contribution: "In reality, it's very easy: you just have to want to do it... and if thanks are to be given, all the volunteers in the town and all the visitors, who have been very civic-minded, must also be taken into account," he says. Ramon recalls that his father already used to lend this space for the Senglar Rock festival to be held there.

Next to his land is that of Antonio Sosa and his wife, Marta Alabart, who also ceded it to the City Council so that visitors could look at the sky. "And of course we haven't charged anything. For us it is enough to know that we are doing good for the town," explains Antonio, who spent all Wednesday in his field helping tourists. When he wasn't spraying them with the hose because it was too hot, he was handing out stools so they would have somewhere to sit. He even gave out about fifty. He even consoled some attendees when, shortly before the eclipse, a cloud appeared right in the middle of the sky and it started to rain: "Don't worry, the sea breeze is coming now and it will take it away." And so it was.

Those who have not rested these days either have been the members of the Association of Women l'Abellera de Prades, who, in addition to organizing crochet and macrame workshops during the festival organized by the Prades Mountains Astronomical Park, were selling sandwiches and drinks until eleven at night. "There were not enough restaurants to serve so many people, so the City Council ceded us the Civic Center so we could sell sandwiches," explains Judit Serral, president of the association. "This is a town of 640 inhabitants and has about twenty associations... and ours always tries to participate in everything that happens in the town," she adds. As almost every year, she has dedicated her holidays to doing things for the association and for the town.

"Without all of them, we could not have done it," concludes the mayoress, who also highlights the role of the volunteer firefighters. Bargas acknowledges that they were a bit afraid that something would happen or that episodes of incivility would occur, but celebrates that everything went smoothly. "They even left in an orderly manner," she says. Before leaving, each of the visitors returned the turret-like structures that Antonio had left them.