We discovered the lovely little seaside village of Castelldefels quite by accident. Because we were traveling with Toby, we needed a place for short-term living that would allow pets. Further, since this is the end of summer and our last chance at a long family vacation before school starts in September, we thought a location near the beach would be more gratifying. Typically, we would stay at an IBIS hotel chain since they are affordable, they are pet-friendly and we’ve had good experiences with them in the past. There is, in fact, an IBIS here in Castelldefels, although it is closer to the Olympic park area. While researching the local IBIS, we serendipitously discovered Hotel Ginosi. Unlike IBIS, these rooms are more similar to apartments and include a small kitchen and dining area for about the same nightly rate. Since we intend to stay here for nearly 3 weeks, it seemed more prudent to inhabit a space that afforded us gastronomic flexibility.
Hotel Ginosi has two locations in Castelldefels. We chose the one that is closest to the train station so that we could more easily and efficiently gain access to Barcelona while we search for a long-term residence and begin the process of familiarizing ourselves with the area. This choice was another happy twist of fate as it also placed us much closer to the center of the city, and, as we later discovered, the Plaza de l’Esglesia and the castle itself.
The streets are filled with tiny shops on the ground floor. Some shops contain fresh fruits and vegetables. Some are cobblers, cafes, tabac stores, bakeries, gelato or ice cream parlors, butchers, home repair, and bazars that my mother refers to as “Dollar Tree”.
This community is lovely. Every extra space contains a park of some format. Many include playgrounds, climbing structures or exercise equipment. Some are for skate boarders and some for bicyclists. It is clear that outdoor activity is encouraged and welcomed. Every time we wander these streets, Allita is certain to make use of all available recreational equipment.
For the most part, the streets are clean, there are regular park benches and trash receptacles along the sidewalks and cross walks at frequent intervals. Drivers are quick to stop and allow pedestrians to pass across the busy streets. People help each other with buggies, stroller or wheelchairs as needed. Although they are not loquacious extroverts, like me, the locals are nice, courteous and obliging.
On our second full day in Castelldefels, we walked around the center of the city of Castelldefels. Many of the shops were closed for siesta, however a number of street-side cafes and mercados were open and hosting a lively business. We visited the church and various squares and parks. The purpose of this walking tour was two-fold. First, I had already walked several miles in the process of returning the rental car and riding the train back from the airport, but Mom and Allita had done nothing much more than shop for groceries. Therefore, the family needed more exercise. Second, we were curious about our new temporary home. There is clearly a castle visible from the main square and we wanted to know more about other proximal sites that might be hiding behind the high-rise apartments in our foreground. Our goal for the day was to explore and, if we were lucky, find the tourist information office.
Mom was the first to notice the sign touting the large blue i – the international symbol for information. There is some cosmic justice in her discovery. When my mother was little, she allegedly knew everything. She would answer all questions and tell everyone what to do and how best to do it. She’s still pretty much the same way. However, in her youth, she was evidently more enthusiastic, therefore, her siblings dubbed her “Information”. In the course of the day, a brother or sister might ask her “Who dialed information?!” whenever she provided input. By the way, this fabulous trait is a genetic proclivity my mother shared with my child. Aren’t I the lucky one? In any case, as we approached the office, I explained the history of “Information” to Allita. It’s somewhat challenging to grasp the concept of “speaking to an operator” on the telephone when the entire planet is now nearly 100% automated. Oftentimes I can’t speak to a human being even if I want to. But that’s another topic.
Mom and I enjoyed the tourist office. We asked lots of questions and perused their supply of informative materials, several items of which we decided to bring with us upon departure. Allita mostly lounged in the chairs and studied the artwork which included a cartoon image of the city’s dragon. Every city in Spain has it’s own dragon apparently. The dragon for Castelldefels has two heads.
We were invited by the lady at the information office to attend the Festa Major which runs from August 14-18, 2019. Festa Major is a Catalan expression that translates into English as “big party”. Hello!! This sounds interesting. Apparently, these celebrations include many of the unique customs and traditions particular to Catalonia. Even better! The local lady who explained the festival also provided us with a schedule of events and details about specific ceremonies we might like to join or at least witness. We spent most of the rest of our day studying the map and learning about the festa. How lovely to be included by this little community in their special celebration. We can’t wait to party!!