Feb 2, 2009

Alleys From Around The World

When wandering the cities of the world the best voluntary detours are often alleys that beckon. You’ll regret walking by instead of wandering down one of them.

The medina of Essaouira will spoil you for choice with its Moroccan blue and whitewashed architecture, just as colorful people and treasure for sale.

In the Old City of Shanghai life spills onto the streets in its Longtang neighborhoods.

It is easy to get lost in the Old City of Varanasi. But eventually if you head downhill you’ll end up on one of the ghats along the holy Ganges River.

In Mexico, Guanajuato’s hilly cobblestone alleys are lined by colorful colonial architecture. It even has the Alley of the Kiss.

Previous Posts in this Series:
Markets
Hats
Shoes
Graffiti

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Love to wander the back alleys of great cities around the world. It's rather easy to get lost roaming around Varanasi at a few of the Ghat back-allies though.

Anonymous said...

You missed lanes/by-lanes of Chandni-Chowk.

Anonymous said...

Sometimes the greatest wonders a country has to offer can be found in the back alleys, but you still have to watch what's coming around the next corner.

Fly Girl said...

As a city girl, I've been trained to avoid walking down alleys but I've never seen any look like this! The last alley I ventured into was in Venice and it was not a good experience but I'll consider your advice if I'm in this places you mentioned!

Anonymous said...

Alleys always give you that certain sense of place, like you're peeping through a narrow viewfinder into the life of a city.

Lovely photos!

Wendy said...

Gennaro,
it's very easy to get lost there.

Hobo, I have plans to do a whole separate post on Chandi-Chowk

Lisa, very true

Fly Girl, I can relate, particularly in cities in the U.S.A. uh oh on Venice.

Lola, Exactly! and thank you

ceecee said...

I'll take little winding alleys and backstreets over a bustling boulevard anyday!!! Marvelous photographs!
Catherine

Catherine said...

That Guanajuato shot brings back a lot of wandering memories... remember how we tried for ages to find that red house that was up some alley or other??

Anonymous said...

Thanks for dropping by my blog and commenting.

In just 3 shots you captured the wanderer's mood perfectly.

Wendy said...

Catherine (of a thousand clapping hands) Same here! Thank you.

Catherine, I was editing photos of Guanajuato the other day and saw he red house in the hillside and chuckled.

Kalyan, Thanks for stopping by as well.

GMG said...

WOW! This is a great post in four shots!!!

Jen Laceda | Milk Guides said...

Great photo ideas!!!

Anonymous said...

Turning into back alleys whenever you're in a new city makes your travel experiences so much better. How fun would it be to only follow the known 'safe' way and never see what's around the corner?