It seems like yesterday, but it was about 3 years ago, during the Covid Quarantine, when we started talking about travelling without having to leave home. The idea was to visit original, exotic and, of course, colourful places around the globe. In other words, very “Fantastik” places…

We liked the initiative so much that we decided to continue… So here we go with the fifth blog entry. This time we’ll visit Japan, Bolivia and Italy.

The Shima Spain Village in Japan

Our first stop is a place we personally visited in 2008 and would return to today. It’s simply MIND BLOWING!

If you look at the pictures without paying much attention, you might think you are in Spain… But no, dear friends, this is Japan. More precisely, the prefecture of Mie, near Osaka or Kyoto, about 3 hours south of Tokyo.

The Japanese are very, very, very big fans of Spanish culture and our country is one of the favourites of Japanese visitors to Europe. According to the Ministry of Tourism, the number of Japanese tourists arriving in Spain in 2019 was around 680,000.

It is said that after returning from a trip to Spain for the 1992 Olympic Games, a Japanese businessman decided to build a theme park dedicated to Spanish history, culture and traditions. Opened in 1994, it now receives around 1.2 million visitors a year, the vast majority of them Japanese.

So much for the informative part… Because as soon as you enter the park, you realise that it is PURE FANTASY, from start to finish! If you think Spain is the land of kitsch, then you haven’t heard of Shima Spain Village. How wonderful it is to look at the statue of Cibeles, and just across the street is La Boquería and right next to it is the Palace of Aranjuez… Flamenco shows with bright colours and flowers everywhere. Street parades in honour of wine, with hostesses who look like “falleras” but in Barça colours. The water rollercoaster is called Splash Montserrat and the carousel is called La Tomatina. In the restaurants you can enjoy paellas, churros, different kinds of tapas and, of course, sangría…

As we said, we went there a few years ago, invited by a travel programme on Catalan television called Km33. Although we’re a little embarrassed, we’ll leave you with a clip from the programme. Watch around the 39 minute mark of the video.

La nueva arquitectura andina

Now let’s head to South America and enter the colourful world of Fred Mamani, a former Bolivian bricklayer turned engineer and builder. His work is known as ‘new Andean architecture’ and he has completed more than 70 projects in the Bolivian city of El Alto.

Born in a small indigenous Aymara community, he began working as a mason at the age of 14. Over the years he gained experience and some clients began to entrust him with the facades of their buildings. His first complete building project came in 2005, before he had even started his engineering studies. His clients were part of a new and prosperous group of merchants in El Alto who needed to live and work in the same space.

Mamani realised that there was no building that met this need and that the range of colours available was very limited. He sought a new architectural identity that would be recognised not only for its ornate and colourful decoration, but also for being a new typology of space that combined residential and commercial functions. Fred spontaneously introduced a picturesque style, with geometric patterns and vibrant colours. According to Fred himself, the aim was to innovate and rescue indigenous references to Andean culture, such as the traditional Andean textiles proudly worn by the communities of the Bolivian highlands. This is the origin of the term “cholets”, which mixes the words “chalet” and “chola” (a name that refers to indigenous women). However, some argue that the term “cholet” is derogatory, and Fred himself prefers the term “new Andean architecture”.

In any case, his work has spread to several cities in the country and beyond the Bolivian border, appearing in numerous international media such as the BBC and the New York Times. And the fact is that his work – with its colourful neo-baroque inspiration, not for the minimalist – leaves no one indifferent.

The island of coloured houses

Our last stop today is a town in the north of Italy, very close to Venice. It is a very small island called Burano and you can walk around it in a couple of hours.

The special thing about this place is that all the houses are painted in different colours, giving it a picturesque and happy feel. The streets are very well maintained and you get the impression that you are walking through the Rainbow Village.

It is said that painting the houses originated in the past because of the fog. Especially in winter, when this weather phenomenon covered Burano, the fishermen found it difficult to see their houses from the canals. So painting the façades in bright colours helped them to return to their homes more quickly.

Nowadays it is done out of tradition and to attract tourists. Residents are required to paint the facades of their houses from time to time. The Town Hall does not allow them to choose the colour, but tells them the specific shade according to where they live. The town has more than 4,000 inhabitants and is also known for its unique church. From afar you can see the famous leaning bell tower in shades of beige, which contrasts with the colourful houses.

Another reason why the island is particularly well known is for its lace. You can buy handmade lace of the highest quality.

Burano has become a very popular place to visit. Because of its proximity to Venice, of course, but also because it is one of the most colourful places in the world. Every corner is the perfect backdrop for the most avid Instagrammers.