What (if anything) goes on in Barcelona after curfew?
Food delivery workers and cleaners among few out on quietest night in the capital since measure began
Since October 25, everyone has to be home from 10 pm to 6 am, with exceptions for force majeure, work, health reasons or emergencies, and the care of dependents. This will be in place until at least November 23.
But to what extent is this complied with? A Catalan News team spent four hours in Barcelona’s old town, tagging along with a local Guàrdia Urbana police unit. What our journalists witnessed is sure to please health authorities - but officers stress that every shift is a different story.
While last Saturday was full of action, including illegal parties and attempted thefts, on Friday, except for some distracted passers-by, calmness reigned.
10 pm: Deliverers still out in force
Several people could still be seen roaming the streets shortly after 10 pm - the number of people delivering food, for one, was remarkable. They are allowed to deliver meals until eleven, while bars can accept takeout orders until 10. Diners that pick up the food themselves have to return home quickly if it is already past curfew, and always with a receipt as proof.
As the evening progressed, delivery workers were replaced by garbage trucks and street cleaners, but hardly anyone else. Barcelona’s local police, the Guàrdia Urbana, was out patrolling in the old town - especially in places where younger folk gather to drink and skateboard.
11 pm: No more drinking in public
In Plaça dels Àngels, for instance, which is the square that is home to the MACBA museum, evidence of recent street drinking is glaring, but those who had left behind the empty cans and glasses had vanished. Yet, officers stopped and wrote up someone for breaking curfew for no justifiable reason.
This person claimed to not be aware of the regulation, although the officers doubted that could even be possible. Another passer-by who did not have his ID was also reported but others could easily prove they were returning home from work and were fine.
12 am: A few warnings issued, some people let off
At midnight, three youngsters were spotted quietly sitting on benches in a square for no justifiable reason, and made no effort to persuade the police otherwise. They were, luckily for them, let off and only warned in writing, but identified so as to receive fines in the future if they break curfew again.
The police continued patrolling the streets, with some groups of people spotted in Ciutat Vella’s narrow alleys. Some of these people, including a woman walking her dogs despite that only being permitted from 4 am, were required to show their ID - others, however, were not stopped.
At 2 am, and after being out on the streets for four hours, the sergeant claimed it had been “the quietest weekend night" since curfew began.