The Black Mug

Emptying the kitchen cupboard for the electricians' arrival, I found a black mug I had lost track of a long time ago. I smiled. It still looks brand new, even though it's 22 years old. Never used, always carefully kept, it has preserved its lettering in perfect "Movieland" style, a name that no longer exists today. Not the only one.

The park had opened a year earlier, and the visit was a coincidence: we drove past, noticed it, and it sparked our curiosity. It was small back then, but full of energy. Lara Croft, the Blues Brothers - I have photos with all of them - and the Back to the Future DeLorean. There were wonderful shows and distinctive attractions. The owners wandering around the park, studying their guests' expressions, and a general sense of novelty and growth. It was the high point of those days, and it gave me a sense of peace for a long time to come.

Two years ago, waking up in a hotel, we didn't know what to do. An advert in a leaflet and the idea struck: we could go to Movieland! Tickets bought online, into the car, and within minutes we were at the car park.

I remembered the entrance being different, and in general, the sense of familiarity was only present in specific areas. But the atmosphere was the same, the energy too, and the positivity at its highest.

At one point, we decided to try an attraction called Antares, without knowing what it was. A beautiful set design, an interesting story, and then into the spacecraft. The rotor principle, dated by now, but perfectly synchronised with music, video, and lights. Until our feet lifted off the ground, simulating weightlessness.

I closed my eyes and smiled. I could no longer feel my body, only a soul lifting from the weight of everything else. An infinite instant of peace.

At the end of the ride, we immediately went back inside. Nice - but normal. That sensation was gone, but the happiness of having experienced it remained.

I put the mug back in its place, after wrapping it in soft paper, with the same smile as before. I turned around and, walking away, I felt much lighter.