We go rollerblading in Ghost Vendrell. The children named this area so beacause it has streets, cross walks, and parking spots, and even bus stops, but the streets are blocked so cars can't pass. People walk their dogs and bike here with their children. The buildings have been demolished, and the bus stops are torn and vandalized. They were demolished long enough ago for thorns to grow over the rubbish, and for rabbits to build burrows all over. However, it's clear there were once houses here with water, power, and even a school. The water and power is still in place. It's only been cut off.
On one of the former bus stops there is a drawing. It stands out. It has a heart surrounded by the thorny bushes that now cover the area. Does is symblolize the heart of the people who had once lived here? How much of their hearts did they leave behind? How did they lose their homes? Why did this happen?
Then on a nearby fence one can see the symbol of communism: the hammer and the sickle. This is not the only area with ruins in El Vendrell. There are several demolished areas. Some are downtown, and one is right at then end of my street. Those in the center are fenced up. However, this is the largest. It is so large it cannot be fenced off. Among the ruins there are olive trees and bushes. There are even some bits of structures left. One has a chair in front of it. It means somebody lives there now: a homeless person. One house has parts of a pool left, and as we passed James looked in, and somebody said "Ola!".
Most of the trash is in the areas where one can still drive right before the blocked part. The areas through which one can only walk are cleaner. What will the future bring? Will they build new buildings? or will the rabbits and olive trees remain? Will my street end up like this soon enough?
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