The doll's head hanging on the pole would be enough to understand that things didn't go exactly as they should. If you then add the courteous but slightly strange Pakistani man, who comes out of a car with a covered license plate and smokes marijuana next to a crooked cat and a half-eaten sandwich, it is decidedly more evident that the great millionaire project destined to give a new face in via San Paolo, continues to remain at the stage of announcements and intentions; certainly appreciable, except that in this strip of land stuck between the tracks and the Santa Gilla lagoon, where there has always been degradation - and more -, the only thing that can be felt is a sense of abandonment .

Caddozzoni and boats

No matter where you look at it, the result is identical. Because - the sign of the municipal eco-centre aside - there is really nothing beautiful or new in this part of the city perpetually awaiting redemption. Construction sites with signs of work in progress that are actually at a standstill are not beautiful, nor are the caddozzoni vans that haven't sold any sandwiches for a while. With that writing "I'm still here", glued on the windshield of the red van, which if you put aside Vasco seems to certify it by even putting it in writing that everything is still. And then the Pakistani also confirms it, it is not clear whether he is more "stoned" or sleepy, as he exits the white Nissan Qashqai, placed among the phantom sandwich shops: after making sure that the interlocutors are not the police, he introduces himself as a guardian of we don't know exactly what and it says to charge 30 euros for the clearly messy order service. Next door is the recreational sector: dinghies and boats condemned to land are on display in the nearby area, sealed after the blitz in May. last year by local police and carabinieri from the investigative unit, which ended with the seizure of two private lands and a slew of complaints.

Faded green

“Project for the re-functionalisation of the San Paolo area, aimed at the creation of an equipped urban sports and educational park”, we read on the sign with the Municipality's logo. Where we also talk about demolition and reclamation. 2 million euro project, included in the extraordinary program for the redevelopment and safety of the Sant'Avendrace district. Delivery of works January 23rd, completion expected, and not yet arrived, on July 21st; which year is yet to be determined. A long wait is behind us, which began with the announcement of the former mayor Paolo Truzzu: «I am proud to be able to say that the project for the new urban park in Via San Paolo is finally ready to see the light»: it was December 2020. A series of setbacks followed, including expropriations, claims of adverse possession rights, disputes and obvious delays. The result is that the park has not yet been seen.

Couriers and garbage

In the middle of nowhere, the list of rules for couriers stuck on the wire fence seems almost paradoxical. They should, in order: wait outside, wait for the call after ringing, wear a mask, use gloves and follow the staff's instructions for delivery and collection of goods. It's not clear to whom, given that, apart from the latrine and enormous bags of rubbish with flies attached, there is not a trace of a living soul inside the perimeter where the jobs that aren't there should be. The only movement is that of the garbage disposal vehicles, with the annoying background of a Cagliari-Olbia bus stopped with the engine running on the side of the road, and the driver inside intent on resting. Those who have been promising the city a relaunch for years that are stuck at the intentions stage are also at rest.

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