Flower delivery in Barakaldo

Cruces the hospital, in Barakaldo: each unit sets its own rules

Hospital Universitario Cruces is on Plaza de Cruces, in Barakaldo itself. Two of its units put their position on flowers in writing. The paediatric intensive care guide asks: “por favor no traiga comida, flores frescas o plantas (Se aceptan fotos y tarjetas)”, so no food, fresh flowers or plants, though photos and cards are accepted. The Recovery Unit guide is shorter: “Por motivos de higiene y asepsia las flores no están permitidas en la Unidad”, no flowers in the unit, for reasons of hygiene and asepsis. In the guides we could read, nothing covers the whole hospital; the general guide for patients and families is silent on flowers and says each floor has its own rules.

Those rules can change, so ask the unit first: only the people there can say whether a bouquet will be let in. The same question goes for San Eloy, Barakaldo’s other public hospital, on Avenida Antonio Miranda, where we found no published rule on flowers at all. If the answer is no, look at the home they will go back to, or at the person keeping them company.

Cruces the neighbourhood, in Barakaldo

The council writes it “Cruces/Gurutzeta”, Spanish and Basque side by side, and either name can point to the hospital as well as the neighbourhood, which is why it is worth asking. Basatxu, Tranviarios, La Dinamita and La Constancia are a different matter. The council counts them as part of this area, so those names tell you where someone lives. Even then, get the complete address: a neighbourhood name will not bring a bouquet to anyone’s door.

One Barakaldo street, in Spanish or in Basque

The council’s own fiesta programme calls one avenue both “Avenida de la Libertad” and “Askatasunaren etorbidea”, so an address may reach you in either language. Use the form the family gives you and leave it untranslated. The town’s name may also turn up with a c, as Baracaldo. It is the same place, and Barakaldo is what goes on the order.

A house out towards El Regato, away from central Barakaldo

Not every Barakaldo address is in the two urban areas. The municipality also takes in rural land and low-density housing, the Basque tourist board calls El Regato “algo alejado del centro urbano”, somewhat removed from the town centre, and the council groups it with Gorostiza. For a house out that way, copy the address exactly as the family writes it, add the house name if they use one for parcels, and give a phone number they answer: if nobody is home, the courier may call it.

For whoever is staying the night at Cruces: flowers to their Barakaldo home

Is someone in the family sleeping at the hospital so that a relative is not alone? It might be your sister-in-law, or your partner’s mother. She is the one who gets home with nothing left, and a bouquet on her own table says you noticed. Find out which day she will be back in Barakaldo, or whether someone else in the flat can take it in. Eternal, a bouquet made to brighten an ordinary day, is a cheerful way to say thank you.

“You’ve been there every night. These are for when you finally sleep in your own bed.”

A baby born at Cruces: flowers for the home in Barakaldo

New baby in the family? Flowers on the ward are a matter for the unit. The easy route is the home: ask the family which day they expect to be back, then pick that date in the cart calendar. Twelve white gerberas suit a boy or a girl.

“Now there’s one more of you at home. When you’re ready for visitors, dinner’s on me.”

A Carmen in Barakaldo, when the July fiestas come round

If your mother-in-law or an aunt is called Carmen, July gives you two good reasons to send something. The Spanish calendar of saints sets her name day on 16 July, and Barakaldo holds its patron-saint fiestas of El Carmen in mid-July. She may be out enjoying them, so check with someone close which day she will be in to receive the flowers, then pick it in the cart calendar. Flamingo, with pink roses, lilies and eucalyptus, is made for a birthday or a thank-you and suits a name day just as well.

“Happy name day, Carmen. May the fiestas find you dancing.”