Placa del Vi is a modestly sized town square found almost immediately upon entering Old Town, Girona from the Pont de Pedra. A small, one way road runs through it and on three sides it's surrounded by contemporary, stone-faced three to four story buildings. Small cafes, shops, and government offices make up the first floor while apartments occupy the floors above. Assigned to every apartment is a balcony window with a small enclosed ledge that overlooks the square. On some of these balconies sit potted plants. On others, a small table with chairs. Some remain empty. Most uniformly though, nearly all the balconies include a Catalan flag or yellow ribbon; symbols of the separatist movement that can be seen scattered throughout this region.
With no political skin in the game, I find myself more intrigued by the presence of this patriotic display than by its political meaning. I ponder how the flags have remained so bright despite being exposed to the elements. Maybe they're new? Do the colors mean anything? I wonder whether this whole thing is really the work of individual tenants each looking to proudly show off their political orientation or is it a more organized spectacle? Perhaps these buildings comprise a single HOA that requires them. If that's the case, I try to picture what a HOA meeting full of impassioned political activists must be like and spare a thought for the one dude who lives there but doesn't care much for autonomy from Spain. I assume he's the most disliked tenant in the building which is odd given he's actually a super nice guy who never bothers anyone. At least, that was the case until the HOA board rejected his request to put another potted plant on his balcony; citing some arbitrary, never enforced code about having hanging plants in view during the period of January to March. He replies by saying Beth in 2A has the same plant on her balcony and pleads to the powers-at-be extend him equal courtesy. They remain firm in their decision. Defiantly, the tenant places the plant outside anyway, a gesture which infuriates the board and causes them to try and forcibly enter his apartment to remove it. A small scuffle ensues before the tenant ejects the intruders, bolts the door shut and refuses to leave. Following a multi-week standoff all hope seems lost for a timely resolution among the two sides. Also lost on everyone is the irony of the whole thing.
At least, that's how I imagine it all went down.
As a stranger here, my lack of knowledge in all things Spanish gives even the smallest observations an air of curiosity. This inability to discern local norms from one-off events has left my imagination in charge of filling in gaps of my cultural ignorance. Sometimes that imagination gets carried away. For me, it's a harmless form of entertainment that helps pass the time; and I can't help but indulge while standing in the periphery of Placa Del Vi this morning.
Another possibility is this entire display of flags and ribbons and banners is the work of some sleepy bureaucrat; a single person who needed something to do with a surplus of flags acquired after a festival got canceled due to Covid. In all honesty, I'll probably never know why it's all here and in such concentration; but it looks nice and gives me a reason to gaze up after ten minutes of walking and staring at my feet. For me, that's good enough.
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