3-D pavement makes walkers fall over and feel uneasy-Spain

Watch your step: The crazy paving that's leaving holidaymakers all at sea

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 11:38 AM on 23rd March 2011

A gentle stroll along the promenade of a sunny seaside town is supposed to be a pleasant, bracing affair.

But council planners in Alicante, Spain have obviously decided the experience could do with a little livening up... installing these wacky, 3D effect paving stones throughout the town.

Looking like a series of squashed Rubik's Cubes and giving walkers the impression they are faced with a mountain of steps to climb, the 'crazy paving' has been met with a decidedly mixed reception. 

Crazy paving: 3D paving stones in Alicante, Spain are making holidaymakers nauseous

Many locals, including numerous British ex-pats, have complained the slabs make them feel rather queasy, especially after a glass of wine or two.

And in some extreme cases they've even caused holidaymakers to fall over and experience severe nausea as they amble back to their hotels from the beach.

These pictures, taken by 46-year-old British ex-pat Rich Poolton, show just one stretch of the paving design that is now commonplace throughout the Spanish coastal resort.  

He said: 'It's not the only place in the area that it's like this. It's all over the place in Alicante.

Walk this way: The flagstones have had a mixed reception among British ex-pats

'After you've had a few drinks, it definitely affects you. It confuses the eyes enough when you're sober. It can have quite a substantial effect on you. When you've been out it has, shall we say, a strong effect on your stomach.' 

The paving is set out in rows of diamonds at 90 degrees to each other. The pattern - which is similar to an M.C. Esher painting - creates a 3D shape that is like a pyramid of stairs stretching out as far as the eye can see.   

Alicante has long been popular with British holidaymakers attracted to the all-year-round sunshine and sandy beaches.

 

Mr Poolton, who has lived in Spain for two years since his wife, who works for the British Government, was posted to the Mediterranean, says he is not the only Brit who has experienced the negative effects.

He added: 'Alicante is really close to Benidorm, so, of course, you get a lot of British tourists and ex-pats coming here,' he said.

'You get stag parties and groups of young Brits out in the town every night. Every time you can guarantee to see at least one of them struggling to remain standing.   

'Many can't manage to stay vertical at all.

'It's probably a good thing that there are barriers along the side of the path really.' 

A place in the sun: Alicante is home to many British ex-pats

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1369076/Watch-step-The-crazy-paving-thats-leaving-holidaymakers-sea.html#ixzz1HQcNoBO3