'Second-tier' pavilions worth visit

Two months into the Expo 2010 Shanghai and many people are aware of the main highlights in Zone C of the Expo Garden. It is widely known that France offers a journey that delights the senses, that Italy emphasizes art, technology and design, and the Spain Pavilion has great audiovisuals and a giant baby dreaming about future cities.

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Now, it is time to start focusing on what the other pavilions have to offer.

Angola is a good pick to start with. This is the third Expo where the African nation has had an independent pavilion and it certainly keeps improving. The highlight in the pavilion is a 4D movie theater where you can explore the landscape of this country and discover its cities. There is also a representation of a building in the capital Luanda and a couple of sculptures. This pavilion is definitively should not be missed when visiting the Africa Joint Pavilion.

Two other pavilions to discover are Monaco and Portugal, both located next to the Lupu Bridge. Monaco has an animated movie about its history and other exhibits that introduce the principality in an illustrative way. As for Portugal, it combines audiovisuals with pieces of historical importance, such as the joint declaration for the administration of Macao and the first Portuguese-Chinese dictionary. Also be sure to take a picture with the pavilion's cork walls at night.

Another European country with attractive audiovisuals is Iceland. The pavilion is like a large movie theater, projecting onto the four walls and the ceiling. The experience is refreshing and the documentary is interesting. For the time you have to queue and the quality of the exhibits, the pavilion is one of the best at the Expo. If you're in the mood for some ice-cream, just go across the street to the Turkish Pavilion and try some of theirs - it's delicious.

Further south in Zone C, there is the corner of the Americas, where you can find the adjacent Colombia and Brazil pavilions. At Colombia, the enthusiasm of the pavilion hosts provides a lively experience. The Brazil Pavilion uses the latest audiovisuals, including one that projects into the floor and people feel as if they are flying above Brazilian cities.

Ecuador is the first pavilion you encounter as you enter the Central and South American Joint Pavilion. Make sure you don't miss its musical performances with the mystical sounds of the quena, an Ecuadorian flute.

In my experience of visiting six World Expos, I have realized that one of the keys for enjoying this kind of event is to visit the "second-tier" pavilions, as these places offer interesting experiences without hours of waiting. A country that has its own pavilion is usually more interesting, but that is by no means a rule. It can be a great opportunity and enhance your the visit to the Expo to see what rented and joint pavilions have to offer.

The author is a Mexican writer and expert on World Expos. The Expo 2010 Shanghai is the sixth he has visited and he just published Destination: Expo, a book that introduces Expos to Chinese readers.