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Cotillo – The Good, The Bad, And The Seriously Unattractive.
A damaged week lay scattered around me, seven debris days of
lost interviews and missed meetings, owed in part I suspect to
a cynical mistrust of this gringo periodista. Pieces of work
nearing completion, but not complete, half truths and half
stories, littering my hard drive, those satisfying full stops
just out of reach.
Thus I felt it time for a little introspection, not on a
personal level, as there had been quite enough of that
recently, but rather, an inward look at the village itself,
it’s aesthetic qualities, the areas where we could perhaps seek
improvement, and unfortunately parts of our adopted home where
we are a little too late to alter damage already done, in
effect, the good, the bad, and the seriously unattractive.
The good. There have been some thoughtful and very positive
design touches in our little community. Around the old harbour
is a lovely area, with lighting to complement the scene as each
day slips away, indeed there is no better place to watch the
famous Cotillo sunset when, right on cue, the heavens deliver a
fresh kaleidoscope of serene beauty.
The Bad. Not work in progress, nor new buildings, or pavements,
which have already received mention on these pages, but
refurbishing, where it appears to have stopped. And often the
sites around such work seem to serve as rubbish dumps,
attracting more detritus (and goodness knows what else) with
each passing day, such visual damage a real deterrent to
visitors.
And The Seriously Unattractive. What must be the largest
apartment block in the village sadly cannot be missed as it
serves to block the way to the lagoons. I looked at it from
across another building site the other day, and framed by
cranes, and other mechanical giants it reminded me of a scene
from War Of The Worlds.
Is this the worst architecture ever seen? Whomsoever dreamt
this up needs an appointment with the inquisition, perhaps they
can elicit the architect’s motives. Quite apart from the ugly
side, its size is incongruous with the rest of Cotillo, only
being matched in magnitude by the monopoly design hotel which
although, I understand has been completed and ready for some
time, has never opened.
But that is a story for another day. Maybe this week will allow
me to finish the unfinished, reach out and round up those full
stops, so this Scottish guy won’t himself feel quite so much,
like a work in progress.
With it’s many good points. The village quaintness, the
fabulous choice of activity, beach or lazy lagoons, and it is
suggested, the best fish restaurants on the island one could be
forgiven for thinking this is paradise found, but in the
interests of opinion balance we have taken a look at the down
side.
Let me know what you think. donaldinnesross@hotmail.co.uk
Talk again soon
Surf Bum
Donald Innes is a writer and photographer,
see more of his pictures on
http://donaldinnesross-aplaceforinnes.blogspot.com
If you are interested in buying any of his pictures just
call him on 662 529580
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