BUILD YOUR OWN WORLD Like what you see? Become the Master of your own Universe!

Buenavista

Just a couple of generations ago this was a farm town, but when the first hot spring was found, and tourists started arriving, both the local government and foreing companies noticed the potential.   One thing lead to another, and now Buenavista is an obligatory stop for anyone trying to explore the nature or history of the country, but even more for those who just want to have fun and party or relax on their vacations.   The growth in local tourism industry came with a price: the contamination and reduction in resources greatly hurt the farms' production, causing a lot of people to lose their sources of income. The solution for many of this people was to get a job at the hotels or follow same idea that others were following for more visionary or poetic reasons: they started offering services to the tourists, whether it was solving a need, or creating it.

Districts

The city isn't too big, and there is no official division on its territory, but any cab driver and tourist guide knows that a visitor will be interested in only one of two areas, and never in the third.


Hot Springs

The stores, lodgins and other establishments built around the several hot springs sites managed by the local government are the right place for those who had a short budget or a high interest in culture and history.   There is no luxury in the stores and the lodgings are small but cozy. Prices and quality are varied even in the same establishment. Buildings keep the historical design that attracted the people's interest in the first place. Even the streets are paved with stone.   There is no cinema, gaming or sports areas, but the access to parks is free, and many activities of relaxation, learning or organized fun are organized every week, or permanently available (usually for a fee, but not a big one).



Touristic complexes

Luxurious hotels and lodgings focused in relaxation and/or entertaintment, where small hot sprints had been turned into expensive spas owned by big outsider companies.   Shopping malls, restaurants, movie theathers, sport areas, toursitic visits, and even the hospital, everything is owned by those companies, and designed to be expensive and glamorous, while leaving space for people to work (as part of their program, or despite it).   Each of these complex follows its own design and purpose, some being quite varied, including anything from rest to gambling. Others focus on providing an escape from noise or responsibility, and many give the a chance to connect with nature, history, strangers, or their group.

Local population buildings

This is the smaller area of the city. Despite being the biggest part of the original town, most tourists never notice it and there aren't any tours in the area or to the river that made the founders pick the location or the farms that kept Buenavista alive for ages. The authorities don't even care much about protecting what's left of the forest and original architecture of the town.   The higher buildings were built by the foreign companies, for their foreigner employees to live, but now they rent them to anyone and the prices are quite low even for their somehow reduced space.   The spacious one-story houses belong to old families originary from the place. Next to them—usually a little too close—, are the smaller homes of their younger relatives and the occasional two-story yet diminutive house built over years by a hotel employee who fell in love with the town or was getting claustrophobia in their appartment.   Most streets in this area are gravel or dirt, and stores and entertaintment establishments lack in many aspects, but at least the school and hospital are in good conditions (not the best, though).   Almost all the locals live in this area, but the youngst spend as much time as possible on the Hot Springs and the elder constantly complaint about the effects of contamination on their farms, the loss of land next to their houses, and the change of career of their children.


Cover image: Original Image by Eduin

Comments

Please Login in order to comment!