As a budding photographer, when someone says the words "abandoned theme park", your ears prick up.
In 1992, Seville hosted the last World Expo' of the 20th century. It was huge. They celebrated "The Age of Discovery" with acres of pavilions, parks, giant space-rockets, a monorail and a cable car, representatives from 112 different countries, a giant sphere which threw out cool mist in the summer heat... This was the future. 6 months and 42 million visitors later, the Expo finished. The site was unceremoniously abandoned. They had a 25 year anniversary celebration recently, and congratulated one another on how good it was.
So I decided to visit this fascinating throwback to the 90s with my trusty nikon and my smartphone. (predict that, 1992)*.
I was baffled and delighted to have it all to myself. Have you ever been somewhere outdoors where you're completely alone (except for the zombies)? Add that to the strange, barren feeling of post-apocalyptic emptiness. Faded grandeur, whole structures just left to ruin, nothing commercial left. No-one claiming the land save for the feral kittens who were pouncing on tatty plastic bags, their mother eyeing me warily...
Half of the site has since been re-purposed by offices, businesses and the university, but much of it still lies there empty. Some parts look like they are currently being dragged into the 21st century, but at Sevillano speed it can be hard to tell if any work is in fact happening. The gardens will take some work if the local authority ever decides to reclaim it; the trees have somewhat outgrown their surroundings.
I intend to return when I have more energy. I was thwarted early on and had to drag myself home. I stopped by the river and shared a moment of quiet contemplation with this guy.
Perhaps I'll go back at sunset to try some 'golden hour' photography. Maybe some night-time photos too if the moon is out. But as a newcomer to the city, wandering it alone at night seems best saved for a later date...
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
*Fact of the day: did you know, the first prototype 'smartphone' was apparently developed in 1992?
In 1992, Seville hosted the last World Expo' of the 20th century. It was huge. They celebrated "The Age of Discovery" with acres of pavilions, parks, giant space-rockets, a monorail and a cable car, representatives from 112 different countries, a giant sphere which threw out cool mist in the summer heat... This was the future. 6 months and 42 million visitors later, the Expo finished. The site was unceremoniously abandoned. They had a 25 year anniversary celebration recently, and congratulated one another on how good it was.
So I decided to visit this fascinating throwback to the 90s with my trusty nikon and my smartphone. (predict that, 1992)*.
I was baffled and delighted to have it all to myself. Have you ever been somewhere outdoors where you're completely alone (except for the zombies)? Add that to the strange, barren feeling of post-apocalyptic emptiness. Faded grandeur, whole structures just left to ruin, nothing commercial left. No-one claiming the land save for the feral kittens who were pouncing on tatty plastic bags, their mother eyeing me warily...
Half of the site has since been re-purposed by offices, businesses and the university, but much of it still lies there empty. Some parts look like they are currently being dragged into the 21st century, but at Sevillano speed it can be hard to tell if any work is in fact happening. The gardens will take some work if the local authority ever decides to reclaim it; the trees have somewhat outgrown their surroundings.
Perhaps I'll go back at sunset to try some 'golden hour' photography. Maybe some night-time photos too if the moon is out. But as a newcomer to the city, wandering it alone at night seems best saved for a later date...
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
*Fact of the day: did you know, the first prototype 'smartphone' was apparently developed in 1992?
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