Barcelona has that certain something on Sant Jordi that makes even the most crowded car on Line 5 seem like the setting of a romantic comedy. It’s the day when the city forgets its rush and fills with petals, spines of brand-new books, and, it seems this year, a healthy dose ofunderground romance. Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) has decided that this April 23, its network will not only be a constant flow of people, but also the setting where Cupid’s arrows are fired.
The big news this year is the arrival of the T-estimo. Don’t try to validate it at the turnstile because the sensor won’t let you through, but it might just open a door you thought was closed. It’s a ticket designed with the look of classic transit cards, but repurposed as an official bookmark. The idea is that it serves to declare your intentions: it’s rechargeable with kisses and, according to the company, is fully valid for those looking to escape the dreaded friend zone.
Actually, the T-Estimo is a bookmark shaped like a transit card and colored in shades of red, pink, and love. You can use the bookmark in your new Sant Jordi book, and you can decide whether to use it as a sign that you’re looking for love or simply as one of the most beautiful (and Barcelona-style) bookmarks in the world.
To get the coveted T-estimo, you’ll have to keep an eye out for the representatives who will be stationed at various metro stations and bus lines throughout the day.
The return of Diagonal’s most romantic camera
For those who prefer public displays of affection, the day will have a clear epicenter. Diagonal station will once again be transformed into an impromptu film set with the return of the Love Cam. Following the success of previous years, this initiative aims to capture those moments of affection between passengers and display them on the network’s digital screens and social media. It is, essentially, Barcelona’s equivalent of the halftime camera during NBA games, but with fewer hot dogs and much more literary epicness.
This isn’t the first time public transportation has gone all out for the city. In past editions, we’ve seen everything from historic buses from the 1950s—like the legendary Chausson or the double-decker ACLO Regent models—decorating the Jardinets de Gràcia, to photo exhibitions chronicling the subway’s century-long history.
This year, the focus shifts away from nostalgia for the machines to focus on what happens inside them. Amid the scent of roses and the usual bustle, TMB wants the metro to be, for one day, the invisible thread that connects the thousands of people crossing the city to meet one another. So , if this Sant Jordi you happen to cross paths with someone special at the Passeig de Gràcia transfer station, maybe it’s time to pull out your T-estimo and see where the journey takes you.
