I have just emerged from the first stretch of time which has proved to be an obstacle to my best blogging intentions.. Busy? Erm, just a bit. But for the first time in a few weeks I can breathe once again.

A while back I alluded to the possibility of a further post from my recent visit to Catalunya. Well, just so you know I wasn't making it up..

Once upon a time there was a hotel called Cap Sa Sal.

There is very little information out there on the history of this building but it was constructed in the late 1950s and early 60s during the reign of Franco as a large and swanky retreat for the rich and famous. Whilst it enjoyed a brief flourish of popularity, with actors and actresses of the time being seen to be seen, it was never quite as successful as intended and was eventually abandoned in the 1970s.

Yep. Abandoned. Lock, stock and barrel.

Through coincidence, luck and opportunity, myself and a friend were able to sneak in for a quick explore.

Woah. I wasn't expecting what we found..

Certain portions of the complex have been hived off as apartments and there IS a degree of human presence - Mail in a bank of pigeon holes, a janitor, CCTV. But large sections of the structure appear to have been untouched for forty years. Empty corridors and large chambers containing original furniture, fixtures and fittings. There is evidence of someone keeping the dust at bay but it was like stepping back in time onto a movie set reminiscent of a cross between The Shining and Dr No.

SHOT WITH THE FUJI X-T1 AND XF 27MM F2.8

I have no idea what the future holds for this weird place, but I felt privileged to see what I saw. Sure, a small number of artefacts make it to the safe havens of museums yet so many genuine pieces of history in this world have been lost forever to the twin gods of Progress and Capitalism. Very occasionally one stumbles across a thing preserved in its natural habitat, still free of contrived curation. It feels fragile and special.

May this, and the sprinkling of similar places around the world last as long as possible.