Notice of a Rebirth

For the past two years, we were hearing that the Mercat de la Llibertat, in the neighborhood of GRÀCIA would be torn and rebuilt.

Since the Catalans are very laid back I sort of figured that a new market would never be built in my lifetime … that the stories we were hearing about were just rumors. How wrong I was!

Below is a photo of a notice posted in our entryway. It is written in Catalan, and translated by, who else,
ME!

(Email me if there are any mistakes.)



Dear Gentlemen and Ladies:

Notice is hereby given that because of the soon to be reconstructed Mercat de Llibertat and relocation of the market to la placa Gal-la Placidia the trees on Calle Besos will be removed.

These trees can not moved to another part of the park because presently there lies beneath the ground utilities that service the neighborhood, like water and electricity.

Also, emergency services of the city need the space to sufficiently assist in any crisis.

Excuse the bother. Thank you for your co-operation.

To accommodate the various merchants in the market place, a park called Gal.la Placidia, also in GRÀCIA, will house the transplanted businesses until the new market is finished.

How excited the people must have been in 1888 when the Mercat de la Llibertat More first opened. I figure I will have the same excited feeling for I will be a part of history.

Markets are vital to neighborhoods, from buying eggs, meat and fish to clothes and small appliances.

Many of the older folks I meet say they have never found it necessary to venture out of their neighborhoods, for these markets and the personality of their barrios provide for them what is necessary in their lives.

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