<strong>Sad Christmas</strong>: Park Albanoel is an abandoned Santa-themed park in Itaguaí, Brazil.
Sad Christmas: Park Albanoel is an abandoned Santa-themed park in Itaguaí, Brazil.
Courtesy Christopher Jones
<strong>Santa-themed: </strong>The park was the brainchild of politician Antonio Albano Reis, who earned the nickname "Santa Claus of Quintino" because he dressed as Santa each Christmas.
Santa-themed: The park was the brainchild of politician Antonio Albano Reis, who earned the nickname "Santa Claus of Quintino" because he dressed as Santa each Christmas.
Courtesy Christopher Jones
<strong>Themed lands: </strong>The idea was the park would be a series of different themed lands over a large area, but only the Santa Park was completed.
Themed lands: The idea was the park would be a series of different themed lands over a large area, but only the Santa Park was completed.
Courtesy Christopher Jones
<strong>Abandoned area:</strong> Reis died in a road accident in 2004. Not long after, Park Albanoel closed and fell into disrepair. It's been abandoned ever since.
Abandoned area: Reis died in a road accident in 2004. Not long after, Park Albanoel closed and fell into disrepair. It's been abandoned ever since.
Courtesy Christopher Jones
<strong>Striking shots: </strong>British school teacher Christopher Jones, took photographs of Park Albanoel when he happened upon it on a road trip from Rio di Janiero to Paraty.
Striking shots: British school teacher Christopher Jones, took photographs of Park Albanoel when he happened upon it on a road trip from Rio di Janiero to Paraty.
Courtesy Christopher Jones
<strong>Big area: </strong>"It's this huge compound, completely open to the road," says Jones. "I think there was a very small wall, about a foot, two foot high and it's just it's completely abandoned. There's some sort of big house or residence behind it, but the sort of lawn area at the front is just completely open."
Big area: "It's this huge compound, completely open to the road," says Jones. "I think there was a very small wall, about a foot, two foot high and it's just it's completely abandoned. There's some sort of big house or residence behind it, but the sort of lawn area at the front is just completely open."
Courtesy Christopher Jones
<strong>Unsettling:</strong> Jones says the juxtaposition between our associations with Christmas and the abandoned park was unsettling. "[Christmas] is designed to be so happy, isn't it? And joyful," says Jones. "Yet these things are riddled with the cracks and mold."
Unsettling: Jones says the juxtaposition between our associations with Christmas and the abandoned park was unsettling. "[Christmas] is designed to be so happy, isn't it? And joyful," says Jones. "Yet these things are riddled with the cracks and mold."
Courtesy Christopher Jones
<strong>Natural setting</strong>: The fact that the park is situated in idyllic natural surroundings, Jones says, only added to the effect. "The actual site it's got quite a steep sort of valley side behind it and there's actually a beautiful waterfall in the background as well -- because it was quite faraway it's hard to get it in the same shot," he says.
Natural setting: The fact that the park is situated in idyllic natural surroundings, Jones says, only added to the effect. "The actual site it's got quite a steep sort of valley side behind it and there's actually a beautiful waterfall in the background as well -- because it was quite faraway it's hard to get it in the same shot," he says.
Courtesy Christopher Jones
<strong>Completely abandoned:</strong> "If you go look at some of the structures and you peer through the doorways or the open windows, there's sort of smashed up Christmas statues and things inside them, which are particularly eerie," says Jones.
Completely abandoned: "If you go look at some of the structures and you peer through the doorways or the open windows, there's sort of smashed up Christmas statues and things inside them, which are particularly eerie," says Jones.
Courtesy Christopher Jones
<strong>Crumbling Christmas:</strong> The site seems completely dilapidated. "It doesn't look like they've taken anything off site," says Jones. "Some bits have just crumbled to pieces and just been pushed inside."
Crumbling Christmas: The site seems completely dilapidated. "It doesn't look like they've taken anything off site," says Jones. "Some bits have just crumbled to pieces and just been pushed inside."
Courtesy Christopher Jones
<strong>Urban exploration:</strong> The group were also cautious about venturing too far into the park, not knowing what they'd find. "We didn't want to get too far into the site, just in case," says Jones. "We stayed by the periphery, really, but who knows what else is in there?"
Urban exploration: The group were also cautious about venturing too far into the park, not knowing what they'd find. "We didn't want to get too far into the site, just in case," says Jones. "We stayed by the periphery, really, but who knows what else is in there?"
Courtesy Christopher Jones
<strong>Eerie edits: </strong>Jones posted the photographs on his <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fchrisgj6%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Flickr page</a> -- he desaturated the shots and boosted the red color to emphasize the eerie effect.
Eerie edits: Jones posted the photographs on his Flickr page -- he desaturated the shots and boosted the red color to emphasize the eerie effect.
Courtesy Christopher Jones
<strong>Little-known spot</strong>: Internationally, the park doesn't seem to be as well known as other abandoned places around the world. "I think it's somewhere that not many people have actually know exists and have been in to actually photograph," says Jones.
Little-known spot: Internationally, the park doesn't seem to be as well known as other abandoned places around the world. "I think it's somewhere that not many people have actually know exists and have been in to actually photograph," says Jones.
Courtesy Christopher Jones
<strong>Haunting experience:</strong> Several years later, the visit to Albanoel still haunts Jones. "It's striking isn't it? It's just visually striking," he says.
Haunting experience: Several years later, the visit to Albanoel still haunts Jones. "It's striking isn't it? It's just visually striking," he says.
Courtesy Christopher Jones