Back streets of Seville, Spain

Walking down the back streets of old towns in Europe is one of my favorite things. This one is near Calle de las Sierpes (Serpent Steet -- named for its shape) in Sevilla. Calle Sierpes is the commercial street and it is filled with stores, cafes and action at all hours. Try to walk down Calle Sierpes after dinner and expect your short walk to take at least a half hour as people window shop and chat with neighbors.

So imagine my surprise to see this street nearby which was relatively quiet. I was attracted to it for the ornate work on the buildings including the tile, the ironwork on the balcony and stone streets. When seeing a street like this, I always think about the people who have walked those very steps and the secrets the street is keeping from the past.

Shanghai, China

Affected by jet lag, I woke up early one morning. I realized the majority of my time was to be spent in meetings and decided to get up early and take a quick walk down to the Bund. I had been there the day before and the place was packed with locals and tourists alike. There were vendors selling their tchotchkes.

But around 5:00 in the morning and this is another place. It was quiet and serene. There were some people walking along the waterfront, but most people were cleaning and sweeping and preparing for the busy day ahead.

The sun had already risen, and the air made for a beautiful sunrise.