Sometimes I wake up in the morning and feel like going to Spain but I can't be bothered because it's too far.

So imagine my delight upon learning that there's another Spain! Even better, it's on the doorstep of the residents of Osaka! Welcome to Spain Village, full of Spanish buildngs, Spanish food, Spanish people (and some Italian things too).....


Hang on a minute, isn't that a copy of La Bocca della Verita, aka the Mouth of Truth? Found in Rome.......in Italy.......not Spain.......


Unlike the real Spain, you have to pay to get into this one. But once you're in, it's quite possibly more fun than the real thing.

To make it feel like you're really entering another country, you have to take your passport and go through immigration. Photographs and fingerprints are also taken.


The officials at Spain Village are much more cheerful than the real ones.


Take a leisurely stroll around the grounds of Spain Village and enjoy the ambience of Spain and the smell of a giant paella being cooked by Spanish chefs of Japanese origin.....


Tasty paella, with flying insects for extra flavour.


Entire authentic village squares were carefully imported direct from Spain - often without the permission or knowledge of the village residents who awoke the next morning to find only mud.....




Even Xavier Castle was brought over....





Spain, with Japan in the background.


The park is full of surprises - like this - a reconstruction of the deconstructed Roman Forum.....in.......ahem.......Rome......


Spain? Italy? It's all the same in'it?


Spanish hamburgers (with Spanish fries) can be bought at various spots throughout the village....




There's even a funfair where you can have a fair amount of fun, but not too much.....




Oh, the sheer joy.....




....and sheer horror.....


This boy has probably just soiled his trousers. Lord knows what his mother's just done in hers.


....and sheer terror....


This poor little lad now has a complex about Spain and all things Spanish.


After the rides, go and see the parade. It's full of Spanish people with Irish accents. Truly international!


A replica of the Spanish prime minister and his wife.



A performer takes a dislike to one of the kids, slapping him around the face.


Genital warts make a surprise appearance....


Genital warts - are they really necessary in a Spain-related parade?


These two tried to do a high-five but suddenly found they both had repelling magnets sewn into the palms of their hands. Ten minutes they were stuck in this position, trying to make contact, before finally giving up and moving on....




Some performers weren't afraid to scare the children with facial expressions resembling infamous Spanish psychopaths of yesteryear....


Spanish Eyes (and a bit of tongue, too).

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