Restoring the castle

The mini-castle in Rodo Park is being restored.

Heck, we should have close elections more often. Look at the castle front now! It is clean! It also has a new door!

This was the old door - look at the writing above the entrance, it is a famous Artigas quote.

Somehow I feel that the older design had more class. The new one feels like Soviet Ministry of Works art, and the Artigas quote is gone. Maybe they will paint it later on, work is not finished yet.

The tower was also worked out, but the interior of the castle is not finished yet. I sneaked into the construction area, which was empty in a Sunday.

Some graffiti are still visible inside the pond,

The restoration was completed in the lake, and the little boats are back. You can rent one and pedal around the central isle for exercise..

.
A view of the castle, as intended by the designers more than 100 years ago.

Thanks for looking!  Pentax ME with 24-35 zoom, a tiny marvel. FP4+ in Beutler.

The neglected mill

The old Perez' watermill (Molino de Pérez) is a fixture of the Malvin area in the Rambla. It sits in a small park, next to a creek that is now almost dry because of drainage elsewhere and city sprawling. Some time ago, the mill area became a favorite venue for meetings supporting marijuana legalization, which did not help real estate values.
 

There are cyclical attempts to restore the building. Some work is done, but shortly afterwards maintenance and vigilance fall out, and the mill stubbornly goes back to a cozy neglect. Currently, the face of the building looking to the Rambla is clean enough. Unfortunately, every other wall shows the outcome of passionate, unsubtle graffiti competitions. Even the old wooden windows got it. I liked this one ("Love is not a signature").

Inside the building court, an old wagon was installed during the latest renewal cycle. One wheel is gone, so that the wagon cannot go easily as a souvenir. The shepherd knows the flock.

This area has some of the best aloe plants in the whole city. Fortunately the aloe has been kept during the cycles of restoration and neglect.  It is stronger than local government's will.

The waterwheel bearing still holds on proudly, although the wheel does not turn anymore.

Just across the Rambla from the mill, people go to the beach as they have ever done. A beach in summer is hard competition for an old, neglected watermill.

Technical: K-1000 with 24-35 zoom, FP4+ in Beutler. Thanks for looking!

Winter is over

I have not posted much lately, too much work and laziness, which is a bad combination.

Here are a few taken during our gray season, looking at our grayish water under gray skies.

Buceo harbor under a drizzle.

Near Sarandi wharf, an old couple enjoys the view in a Sunday morning.

Thanks for looking! First two 35mm with Nikon 35-105. last in 120 out of the Super-Isolette. Film was FP4+, developed in Beutler.

.