Taipei

Thanks go to Paco for his unfailing advice and tireless help throughout my stay. He is pioneering the spirit of flamenco in Taiwan, and his studio is going from strength to strength!

Here are images of a few noteworthy impressions.


A performer in action at the studio.

The studio has both a professional and an authentically Spanish atmosphere.



Skating under the bridge

Due to a lack of space in Taipei, public spaces are fully utilised. This area under a bridge is used for skating. On the opposite side (not shown) the same area is used for dancing.



Flat screens at the metro

Flat screens adorn the walls of metro stations, and passengers waiting for the train to arrive have the opportunity to watch ads on the far wall, or trailers and changing ads on the smaller screen nearby. Static advertising, good-bye! Of course, some Londoners may prefer to see the Da Vinci Code scrolled at a readable speed across the screen ... But perhaps another, shorter graphic literary form could be invented for this recurring non-space.



Taipei 101

Currently the tallest building in the world, Taipei 101 is undoubtedly impressive! Brand name department stores and classy restaurants fill the first few floors.



Diagonal crossings

Thank god for diagonal crossings ... now why didn't we think of that? Not to mention the large red counter accompanying the little green man at every traffic light, telling you how may seconds are left to cross - very useful!!



Night markets: A kind of night life.