Japanzine: Expo Mid-term report

In its July edition, Japanzine wrote an interesting "Expo Mid-term Report", in which Steven Kenworthy and Justine Bornstein present an "unscientific, incomplete, unabashed compilation of the best and worst from the big show east of Nagoya". Beer played clearly an important part in their judgement.

These are the main headlines:
-Best place to enter Expo: West Gate

-Worst transportation to Expo: Linimo
I totally agree, like I expressed myself before. But as they also mention, the alternatives are scarce...

-Best place to have a beer (indoors): Lithuanian Pavilion

-Best place to have a beer (outdoors): Asahi Panorama Restaurant and German Restaurant-Beer Hall

-Worst pavilion: Chad
"A great spot to see how Africans really snooze during siesta, or kibbitz with friends."

-Cheapest place to eat: African pavilion

-Worst daily show: In the evening at Koi Pond

-Best selection of beer: Belgium pavilion
Before we Belgians shout 'hurray hurray' about this, the writers also call our staff "surly" and about the beer: "this brew ain't cheap" (which is true!)
To understand why our staff can be rude from time to time, I suggest to read Manuel Derra's most recent Expo Essay, and certainly the piece where he talks about the "hassle of dealing with foreigners at a world exposition". I think our staff will surely recognize this story:

It doesn't surprise that these different points of view collide in the German pavilion and restaurant. We have had the situation a couple of times that impatient customers start waving or snapping their fingers to gain attention or poke a waiter from behind. In most of these cases, this leads to strong reactions from the German staff since this behaviour on part of the customer would not be tolerated in Germany and therefore isn't tolerated here.

-Best selection of wines: Pieroth's wine of the World

-Worst use of space: China pavilion

-Best location: Canada pavilion

-Longest lines: Tie: Toyota pavilion and global house

-Most likely spot to see spontaneous entertainment: African pavilion

-Best bit of corporate PR: Hitachi

-Most internationalized food item: The Soft cream

-Best summer job: Trash sorter

Overall, this is a very well written and amusing piece to read, but if I would have to criticise something, than it's the fact that there is a "Worst use of space" but no "Best use of space". I know, they covered their ass by starting the article saying that it's an incomplete report, but that's too easy... And "Best location" gives quickly the impression that it is also in their opinion the best pavilion.

So, if you allow me, my "Best use of space" is clearly the Croatian pavilion. And I don't say that because I like the guys/girls working in the pavilion - which is also true - but simply because the concept of "A drop of water: a grain of salt" is cool and well-elaborated, and they do it with only 1,5 module.

What do you have to add to this mid-term report? You can certainly share here your personal expo experiences...

[Japanzine: "Expo Mid-term Report"]