María Herrera is 102 years old and since she is “very old” and “I’m tired,” she had no intention of going to see the city’s Christmas lights by taxi. When he was persuaded to come to the parking lot of the Casa de Beneficencia residence in Valladolid, … I couldn’t imagine how much I was going to enjoy the tour. This made him “remember many things”, some of which belonged to a bygone era, but during the trip he was able to evoke certain images retained in his memory. “I know City Hall from start to finish,” he said after seeing the lighting that decorated City Hall, where he worked cleaning.
Surprises and allusive comments took place during the walk. “Look at the pattern of lights!”, “Oh how pretty!”, “Are you looking up?” exclaimed the taxi passengers. Classic Christmas carols playing in the background, humming in unison. “I sang a lot, at ten I was already in the choir,” Socorro Casado responded to a compliment. Socorro and María were two of the passengers in the solidarity parade that the Valladolid Taxi Group launches every year so that the elderly in the residences can enjoy the Christmas lighting. And as in any “parade”, there could be no shortage of candies, which is why Jesús Santander, one of the drivers, dedicated himself to distributing candies: some in the shape of Christmas trees; others were kept in bags so that adults themselves could throw them out of windows as they passed.
Carmen Gago was the one who most enjoyed interacting with passers-by and greeted everyone who approached the vehicle with a “pass it over, okay, huh!” » Back at the residence, he shared his impressions with ABC: “Just seeing the atmosphere we had at the parade was worth it.”
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In Salamanca
His greatest gratitude went to the driver when he learned that he was there voluntarily, like the rest of the Radio Taxi Valladolid workers involved.
This initiative is also reproduced altruistically in provinces like Salamanca, where this year is the fourth consecutive year in which the Rotary Club Salamanca Plaza Mayor participates. There, the organization is different, since they will have several departures from November 27 to January 2, instead of just one as in Valladolid. “Every day, five taxis go to a residence where they pick up the elderly, always accompanied by a caregiver, and take them to the Plaza Mayor,” explains the president of the aforementioned club, María Cordón. Among the main attractions of the initiative, the “video mapping” which takes place at 7 p.m. on the emblematic square, in addition to its own ornamentation, including the large tree. After this stop, the vehicles will take their special passengers through the city’s largest avenues before returning to their centers.
A total of 65 taxi drivers are involved in this solidarity proposal in the capital Salamanca. “And they’re not participating anymore because we don’t have more days, which I wish we could all open, but they’re not giving us more!” said María Cordón. In Valladolid, 61 drivers participated to teach lighting to 180 elderly people from twelve residences. This year’s route included Paseo de Zorrilla, at its intersection with Isabel La Católica; Doctor Quemada and Poniente squares; the Filipino march; Rinconada and Colón squares, Bajada de la Libertad and Gamazo streets; the Plazas de la Libertad, España and Portugalete; Duque de la Victoria, Arzobispo Gandasegui and Ferrari streets; the University and Mayor’s Squares; López Gómez, Pasión, María de Molina, Miguel Íscar and Doctrinos streets. Plaza Zorrilla put the finishing touches to the “obligatory” views of the parade.
Something to change? We ask the recipients. “I would have liked to see the illuminated nativity scene of San Pablo and, according to Carmen Gago, Zorrilla Square “was very lonely. This time I had few lights. Even with the “buts”, the tour, “with an escort and everything” from the Municipal Police, made the elderly people smile and filled with enthusiasm.
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