ZARAGOZA EXPO 2008:
June 14-September 14

The exhibition opened on 14 June with water and sustainability as the main themes of the show.  It was therefore disappointing to see hundreds of recently-planted flowers on the approaches dying because the irrigation system is not yet fully operational!  

Arriving at 10.30 we make our way to the press area to pick up accreditation.  We know, from experience during the America’s Cup, that acquiring a press badge doesn’t come easily and here in Zaragoza it’s no different.  The small, glass building is packed to capacity and, despite a numbering system, unabashed queue-barging is going on. After 40 minutes we give up and walk back to the entrance in the blistering heat;  

At the entrance there are long queues in the hot sun; 34º and rising.  Although 300km from Madrid, Zaragoza shares the same arid temperatures.  Add an exhibition area that consists of tiles, concrete, stainless steel stair rails and a minimum of shade and you become aware that you should have brought a hat, parasol and high-factor sun block.

The map of the area is adequate but gives no clear information regarding restaurants. Take some time to study it before setting-off - it’s a 30-minute walk to the other end - so no point in covering that distance too often in the heat (as we did!) 

There’s a lot to see and one day is not enough.  Each participating country has its own pavilion and some of them are quite opulent, some confusing and one or two not quite ready; which reflected a few of the outside areas. There are pools that should have been full of water but contained only muddy puddles, sections that aren’t finished and some that had clearly been abandoned altogether. The high temperature makes water essential and the show offered a reasonable 1€ for a 50cl bottle.

Entertainments throughout the day and night are what one might expect from Cirque du Soleil, Latin and African bands, Arab drummers, Argentinian gauchos, Caribbean steel drummers, et al.  Inspiraciones acuáticas, hombre vertiente, was interesting and innovative, depicting men on wires performing a balletic water spectacle which looked, and must have been exhausting, with six shows a day. Be careful to look where you sit. If you see a large black bucket-like affair over your seat, move, as it will drop a great deal of water on you.

At mid-day watch out for the Cabalgata: ‘El Despertar de la Serpiente’, in which a long, wooden serpent, accompanied by performers from Cirque du Soleil, winds its way around the site.  Music and dance: unmissable. 

Restaurants:
Go early or late! (12.30 or 16.30)
Every restaurant had long queues but if all you want is a coffee/beer/sandwich, there are several kiosks and the service is slick.
Most of the exhibitors boast a small restaurant and some are cheekily over-priced with the French being one of the main offenders.  A limited menu and a desgustación of 45€ per person, plus wine, IVA and a queue, was not attractive.
We decided to try some regional food from Galicia but the area (with 19 different regional counters from La Rioja to Extramadura to Euskedi) was heaving, noisy and chaotic. We decided to sample a taste of Ecuador (a recommendation from one of the Lithuanian representatives) but the queue was off-putting.  We ended up wandering about trying to get out of the sun and find a restaurant to our liking.  In desperation we headed for ‘India’.  The staff were borderline rude and when people who had come in behind us were served first we decided to leave. We queued for 40 minutes at the Italian restaurant and sat down in air-conditioned relief.  It was then that we saw credit cards could not be accepted, only cash, because of an ‘Expo’ problem.  With only 80€ between us, we looked at the 3 course menu with its eye-wateringly expensive wine list (the cheapest Sicilian was 24€) and chose 2 main courses (extremely meagre), a bottle of water, a bottle of wine (yes, the Sicilian which was really excellent), one coffee and one pudding. The bill came to 69€.
Of course, we went just 5 days after Expo opened and it may well be that, once the schools have had their day-trips and things have settled down, there will be fewer people competing for the facilities.
Toilets: Easily identifiable and clean facilities   

Expo staff
There are numerous volunteers to help with directions and advice
There are protocol staff (I’ll leave you to figure that one out)
There are operational staff (as above)  
Telecabina (cable car): The views across the Ebro and the show site are worth the 9€ return 

Opening Times: 09.30 – 03.00 

Getting there:
By plane: you’re on your own – Iberia seems to have cornered the market and if you can find a fare that costs less than 600€, go for it!
By train: see timetable on web
By car: the most simple and straightforward route. The drive from Valencia takes about four hours including a half hour break.  The Expo is well-signposted and the exhibition site can be entered from either side of the River Ebro, with car parks to the north and south.  Parking is 12€ per day.