There are a number of ways to get around the AC Port; there are bike paths, Trans-port, and the Aqua-bus among others, all of which are perfectly wonderful ways to navigate your way around. But the quirky and quick Endesa Segways are a distinctly less conventional option for scooting around the port.
Funny little machines indeed, Segways are electric standing scooters of sorts that are operated entirely by the operator´s body movement using a mechanism called a gyroscope. With just a slight bend at the waist the wheels carry the passenger swooping forward, leaning back (as you might imagine) does just the opposite, and with just a slight twist of the handlebar you can rotate a fully 360 degrees. That´s all there is to it, and once you get the hang of it (a task easily achieved during the 15 minute training session provided) operating the machines is really quite simple, and since they are powered by electricity, the ride is also surprisingly quiet. Most importantly though, Segways are just plain fun, and one can´t help but to chuckle as they hop on one of the slightly silly looking transporters and go tilting and swooping around as if they were a character on the Jetsons.
The activity includes a 45 minute guided tour of the Port with an Endesa guide. The activity is completely free, but is only open to those 18 or over. And do to the activity´s popularity, signing up ahead is essential. Your best bet is to go on a weekday when you just need to go in the morning and reserve a 1 hour slot – you can only reserve a slot the day of your tour, there are no day-ahead bookings. Getting a ride on the weekends, when the tour slots are given on a lottery basis, is slightly more complicated. On these days, visitors can go in the morning (or again at 4pm for evening slots) and put their name in to be drawn on the half hour for the coming hour´s tour (for example a drawing at 11:30 will determine the 1:00 slot). To get scooting, head to the Endesa Electric Visits building in the North Marina´s Sponsor Village next to the Maxi Screen.
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