Street-Wise Travel

At the mere mention of the name of the city that individuals have visited, we immediately form an involuntary mental construct of sights, smells, sounds, textures, tastes, emotions and memories. These virtual representations in the realities we previously encountered instantaneously 'package' these experiences for individuals. We recognize these places immediately and now we re-experience the things they supposed to us.

This, perhaps, is one from the reasons we travel: To be able to have as much of these mental compositions as you possibly can and also to enrich our minds in the process.

Each one of such 'mind-portraits' is exclusive. Hearing the name "London" causes us to feel totally different to hearing the name "Paris" and "Sao Paulo" produces a very different portrait to "Vancouver".

When we remember these places, we sometimes position ourselves, inside our minds eye, in a very specific location in that city. We have a picture of ourselves somewhere in New York when that name is mentioned. I may, by way of example, picture myself in Times Square while, for you personally, it might be elsewhere within the city. And one will then start your mental journey from that vividly remembered location.

These where-our-recollection-start places are the 'charismatic' ones - those locations that had a direct impact on us once we visited there. Travel marketers know this therefore, the idea of sightseeing attractions exists. The marketing people identify locations that we generally think are fascinating and compelling. Monuments, museums, buildings, theatres, prisons, markets and others forms of locations qualify as attractions worth visiting. And sometimes streets qualify too: The really charismatic streets from the world.

Personally, I usually picture myself in a very certain street when a city's name is mentioned. The portrait I see is often a view with the city as seen from that street. So, to me we now have underplayed the importance of streets in tourism. While monuments and museums, for instance, remind us of so what happened inside the past, streets are in what is happening now - and happening to the people. People live there, work there, play there, meet there and celebrate there. Real life happens there.

So, which streets are the most charismatic? There are many that qualify, but, then there are also the Cinderella streets and Ugly Duckling streets; the overlooked beauties and also the hidden graceful swans. To me the type of ugly duckling is Lower Main Rd, Observatory in Cape Town (South Africa - should you couldn't know).

The street includes a rich history despite very little of 'real' significance having happened there. Its particular claim they can fame is its steadfast refusal to conform. During the apartheid years, it absolutely was one of the few areas in South Africa to make a half-successful stand against the overwhelming might from the Group Areas laws. And, over time, it has been able to cling onto its belief that everybody is welcome there. It never really lost that non-conformist attitude. Each restaurant, bookshop, pub, hostel, theatre and other parts of this street is non-conformist. This can be a place where you can still feel the joy of discovery.

The best description for Lower Main Rd is probably 'bohemian'. The bohemian nature in the street is reflected inside business names that incorporate the phrase. But then, it is precisely what ugly ducklings streets are - unexpectedly beautiful

I am certain that that you have many similar streets around the world. Perhaps later on we need to promote each of them even more.