This is my post with 6 entries for this week Photo Fun Contest, “Old & Abandoned” Photography.
I immediately thought of posting not one, but some photos of a magic and beautiful abandoned place here in East Timor. It's not an object, but a building. Or, better, some buildings in a complex.
This place is an old prison, from the time East Timor was a former Portuguese colony. Portugal sent some prisoners to its colonies, and East Timor, on the opposite side of the world, was the worst possible place to travel to, so the country sent the most "dangerous" prisoners to here.
They were almost all political prisoners who had somehow defied the country. Portugal lived in a dictatorship then, so those "dangerous" people were the ones who fought for freedom, like the clandestine union workers, the anarchists, and so on.
The worst about this prison was that, being located in the most wonderful place, by a beach, prisoners were half covered by water on the high tides. Many died while imprisoned there. And many that survived ended up being "forgotten" by the Portuguese government and lived the rest of theirs lives here, married Timorese women and started their families here. Families that still live in East Timor, generation after generation.
Although this building depicts sad stories, it's ruins are still beautiful today, as you can see. It is located in the North of East Timor, in the Liquiçá district, neighboring Díli, the capital. These ruins are located near the road that leads to the most popular places near Díli, Liquiçá and Maubara, with wonderful beaches and restaurants, as well as handicratft and fruit stalls along the way. People that live in Díli often drive there on the weekends to relax and, if lucky, enjoy the dolphins and whales crossing by on the sea. I've seen them several times!
Hope you have enjoyed the post!
Happy Weekend!
Photos: Ai Pelo prison, Liquiçá, East Timor.
Isabel
Hippiesoul
www.isabelnolasco.com
Proud to be a member of The Steemians Directory