Very Mild Alcohol Poisoning

Valparaiso, outside the square

In a well-known psychologist, a specialist in dealing with the best golfers in the world, likes to present to his pupils a famous drawing. There are nine dots in a square assembly. Does exercise? Connect the nine dots using only four lines lines, without lifting pencil from paper.
99% of those who try end up surrendering. "Can not" they say. Does your problem? Assume that their options are reduced to the universe represented by the square. If you accept these limitations, the puzzle is impossible. And what about the 1%? Parten, like many, by connecting the diagonal passing through the middle. Then fold the bottom. But when you reach the last dot, rather than double again, continue straight ahead until you see outside the square. From this perspective, they discover a new geometry. The nine points does not necessarily have to form a square. Why can not form two triangles? The solution appears. The message? When adversity ambushes you must learn to think outside the square.

In 1988, Australia turned 200 years old and held a great time with the World Expo in Brisbane. It claimed a vast wasteland of old warehouses and industries on the south bank of the Brisbane River. These were transformed into hotels, lofts, and restaurants. Between the river edge and the industrial heritage recovered, cleared an area of \u200b\u200b20 hectares for the installation of 102 flags.

But the Expo lasted only 6 months. Once completed, the exhibitions were dismantled, leaving a void in the hearts of "the South Bank."

rained offers. Housing? "Offices? "Trade? A college campus?

The answer came through the famous firm of architects, Denton Corker Marshall, Melbourne, specialists in "thinking outside the square." They presented an urban master plan was amazed by its simplicity, elegance and genius.

406 were sent to build sinuous tendrils of galvanized iron. Each post measured 4.5 meters and was a real sculpture itself. The posts were erected in two parallel columns of 203 earrings each. There were intervals of 5 meters between each post. At ground level, the two columns were separated by 7 meters. Up came together as earwigs. Overall, this monumental structure meandered one kilometer. From the air it looked like the skeleton of a giant python.

Once erected the town, joined the earrings with a set of wires. On these, planted thousands of fuchsia bougainvillea.

15 years later, the "Great Parrón of Brisbane" stands as a global benchmark of good urbanism. Seduces with its sculptural beauty. But most striking impact has been a glorious city. Articulates, defines, and integrates all life on the southern shore.

His sinuous curves are perforated by five straight streets. This combination makes urban spaces differently and nature, similar to the labyrinth of Valparaiso. In some areas, leaving parks, fountains, even a small pond with Japanese garden. Others boast cafés, libraries, galleries and restaurants. On weekends it is an organic product fair.

I'm not going to lie. The first day I walked beneath this wonderful sculpture had a single thought: "I want to bring me three to Valparaiso." Visualized one for the Avenida Argentina, one for the Avenida Brasil (zigzagging between the palm trees and monuments), and another in the "Esplanade of the Sea" contemplated by Puerto Barón. The three would be a great ride of three miles break in Valparaiso entry and culminate in the building of the Regional Government.

Ay ... Dreaming is free. But my point is another: 20 years ago that our authorities contingency contingency live. We close lifts, that dogs bite tourists. Every day, you have to put some fire. Valparaiso is a puzzle of nine points. If you take out the garbage from one place and reappears in another. The nine points can never be together as long as we live within our small square.

The Forum of Cultures have been the ideal setting to bring world-class teachers to teach us to dream beyond such limitations. But when the previous government launched the Forum let this historic opportunity became another fire more.

But all is not lost. I recommend that the Regional Government, in conjunction with the CNCA, invite five major global planners to Valparaiso on the scale of those who devised the Great Parrón of Brisbane. Maybe five major symposia, dictated by geniuses who live away from our stuffy world of prejudices and limitations, is just the need for savvy blow from the nightmare of our own little world where everything seems impossible.