Valencia life reporter Daniel Hazelhoff spent Friday night around the recently pedestrianised Plaza Del Ayuntamiento, where festivities were in full swing. The ice skating rink is already set up, and Jose Berral, the owner, has a few things to say about his business…
As Valencian families stroll around the Ayuntamiento, street vendors show off colourful toys. Small LED-lit toy helicopters are flung into the air, and gracefully float down through the laughter of children and the chatter of friends and family.
The carousel spins as the dizzying lights blend together, and one can feel the ambience of the holidays swelling up before the grand finale.
The newly pedestrianised Ayuntamiento breathes a new life to this area, it’s always been festive around this time of the year, but this time around, there’s an atmosphere of togetherness that truly stands out.
As some kids skateboard on the new smooth surfaces and the adults have their vino and cañas, many of the younger couples head toward the ice skating rink.
For €8 one can spend 45 minutes with their friends and loved ones on this 700 sq m rink. The owner, Jose Berral, has been providing the city of Valencia’s Plaza del Ayuntamiento with his services for six years now, although he’s been in the business since 2006. The ice skating rink will be open until 9 January, says Berral.
“I’ve got a few rinks at the moment, this one, one by the Plaza De Toros in Alicante, and one in Torrevieja…” says Berral, with a smile on his face.
He’s quite busy, and “you’re lucky to have caught me here today, I was just on the phone being asked to come back to Alicante to help out with one of my other rinks,” he says. He confides, “there used to be another guy doing these rinks, but he apparently wasn’t behaving too well, so I took over six years ago.”
He explains how the system works. “The Ayuntamiento gets in touch with the Asociación de Comerciantes, and they, in turn, get hold of me”.
This and main picture © VISIT VALENCIA
Jose Berral has always been involved within fairground work, and events. You could say that ice is in his blood. The smiles on the faces of his clients say it all. The evident fear showing in the eyes of first-timers is priceless. One cannot help but smile at that millisecond when they lose balance and almost fall, their lives flashing before their eyes.
Even through the jolly atmosphere, the sound of laughter and joy, there is a hint of foreboding. “To be honest, I’m scared at the moment. I’m not sure how the new restrictions will affect my business,” says Berral. “I have no problem with the covid passports” he says. He frowns for a second. “That said, it will be a slight pain to have to check every client. I don’t know if I’ll have to shut down.”
If that is the case, Valencia Life suggests you hurry and check out the ice skating rink at least once this season. The sore bottom and cold hands are worth it. At least, to judge by the happy faces at the end of their session…