Once completed, I grabbed the bits I needed (camera etc) and headed to Bristol Temple Meads Station. I caught an early train to Weston-Super-Mare and was pleasantly surprised to find myself queueing for Dismaland from 9am.
At 12pm, having been given an affectionate nickname by the surly ticket seller ('I don't sell tickets only wristbands'); he called me the 'Loner from London' after asking where I was from. The lady next door gave me the wristband and continued to call me the nickname. Her Mickey Mouse style ears and scowl brought out the best in her. Finally armed with my silver wristband for 1pm entry to Dismaland, I decided to wander around Weston-Super-Mare for an hour. The beach was beautiful, although charging 20p every time you want to use the loo is slightly disgusting.
At 1pm, I joined the 'final' queue for Dismaland. This queue had their bags searched. Oh yes, it was one of the security guard's birthdays, so earlier in the day we were all encouraged to sing happy birthday to him. I wished him happy birthday as he escorted us across the road to the best 'bemusement park' I have ever visited. We were led in past a very funny and authentic looking entrance, full of scanners, metal detectors and CCTV cameras. A cardboard customs for the intelligentsia (the staff were real but nothing else was and I subsequently heard that one of the customs' officers made one of the visitors stand in the corner for laughing too much for a short period, although it didn't happen to me, I was just told to 'move on as there is nothing to see here'). Stumbling though this space led to the delights of Dismaland. It really had everything. The souvenir brochure seller who glared at you and could be seen licking or throwing your programme, depending on his mood. He tortured me with my change, which he kept teasing me with then pulling it away.
The Dismaland staff wore distinctive uniforms. In the event of any trouble, you would steer well clear of them with their witty little put downs and abject depressive demeanours. The back of their uniforms read 'Dismal'.
There was so much to do and see. The Ferris wheel that kept breaking down. The National Trust guys (not real) who kept commenting how 'Alton Towers would be safer' as they pointed out the cracked concrete. The absolute highlight was the almost magic kingdom where you were persuaded to smile in the direction of the smiley face on the wall for your photo to be taken, only to later discover that they had superimposed your image on an installation depicting the death of Cinderella in her coach, so that you looked like a crazy voyeur with the rest of the paparazzi. The subsequent photograph that you could buy was a fiver and was money well spent! Once again, I was insulted by the Dismaland staff who commented on there being a moth behind them when I opened my wallet. Still that doesn't match the comment made by the photographer as I passed her, she advised me that she had 'tried her best'.
On a serious note, Banksy and the other artists were also making quite serious political points about a wide range of subjects including the refugee crisis and also the financial situation, with the growth in extortionate loan sharks capitalising on the depressed economic state.
I have to say that it was the best theme park I have ever attended. The joke still lingers as I contemplate how much the artists are making from the merchandising. T-shirts, posters, the aforementioned dodgy yet informative programme and even riot shields (apparently, although they had 'sold out').
After leaving the theme park, I walked around a bit, admiring the beach then back to Weston-Super-Mare station.
Back in Bristol, I crashed back at the hotel then went out and found an Indian restaurant. The Bombay Boulevard was very good and I felt especially privileged being the only diner.
Now back at the hotel to rest and reflect.
Barry Watt - 10th September 2015.
Photos.
A bird in Weston-Super-Mare.
Swings on the beach featuring the bird above in Weston-Super-Mare.
Ouch! Needless to say, I didn't go dancing on the mud.
Dismaland wristband. Needless to say, it was so tight that it removed hairs from wrist when it was removed.
Dismaland in all its beauty!
Yes, it was the security guard's birthday!
Can't you see the magic in this kingdom?
Ah, now you know!
Cinderella has seen better days.
A happy member of the Dismaland proudly carrying her 'I am an imbecile' balloon.
No comment is needed except I am sure that money could be saved on expensive dentistry work.
Afterword.
The Hilton chain is a well known group of hotels. Please take a look at the following website for further information:
http://www3.hilton.com/en/index.html?WT.mc_id=zMWWAAA0EA1WW2PSH3Search4DGGeneric7GW842004&WT.srch=1&utm_source=AdWords&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=paidsearch
Crunchy Nut Corn Flakes are a well known brand of Corn Flakes and are produced by Kellogg's. Their website is below:
http://www.kelloggs.co.uk/en_GB/home.html
Mickey Mouse is copyright to Disney and I can assure you that his ears bear only a slight resemblance to the ears worn by the Dismaland staff on their head. Disney have a website:
http://disney.co.uk/
Dismaland has its own website but the 'bemusement park' is only open for a couple more weeks, so if you want to see it get there quick:
http://dismaland.co.uk/
Alton Towers is a major theme park in the UK. Their website is as below:
https://www.altontowers.com/
The National Trust actually perform a very valuable task maintaining and protecting all sorts of properties including historical buildings and woodlands. Please see their website:
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/what-we-do/what-we-protect/
Bombay Boulevard also has a website if you want a decent meal and are in Bristol.
http://bombay-boulevard.co.uk/
BW
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