Sunday, August 9, 2009

Wot an electric Saxo?


Wot an electric Saxo?
Originally uploaded by MarquiBeck

Had I not gone to the "Feria" with a young Twitter friend, I'd probably have missed this beauty, namely an electric -or part electric- car resembling my first car in Spain, a white Citroen Saxo I had from 1999 to 2001. Just the sight if it and the hope that one day soon we might be using this in Oviedo normally, made my day.

The "Feria de Gijón" expert young guide insisted we go round and round visiting each and every building, except one that was not too inviting with a description that said: synthetic cement. Someone mentioned we might find a private collection of pictures in here, not informed by any signal or brochure, so we just went past it (the Twitter friend wasn't too tempted to go in, neither was I).

Other than the electric car novelty, the exhibit and theme voted by both of us as most attractive was "Living in Space" (cajAstur & INTA) where the hosts were charming. We also enjoyed the exhibits of "Montaña Central" and "Valle del Nalón". The rest was a mix of Petticoat Lane flea market and the snacks and drinks alleys you find in attraction parks. My friend had a big laugh with the Gijón City Web2.0 sports exhibit when they asked him if he'd like to participate in some video "virtual".

I thought it rather funny that most exhibits would close during Spanish lunch hours: 14:30 - 16:30hrs when most people are visiting. We went for a walk in the nearby gardens of an Asturias and its people thematic centre, after tasting Spanish sausage sandwich and homemade sweets followed by coffee from a brand you don't find in supermarkets, it tasted like the real thing.

Did I mention we saw an electric scooter? "cool people ride electric" says the brochure. The leaflet we got at the Gijón City Council building re-directs to a web of Fundación Prodintec that today informs: "Headlines, In these moments we have no(t) headlines". (somewhat perplexing)