Courtesy Vince Alongi @ Flickr

You just arrived to your destination. First walk out of your quarters to explore the neighbourhood and this traditional fruit shop is the first thing to get your attention. More than a convenient shop for your immediate cravings it is an icon of the type of neighbourhood to which you’ve arrived. Things are going to be interesting. Now, how do you say ‘apple’ in Spanish? ‘Manzana’.

Courtesy Altamar @ Flickr

The peak in the background is known as “Peña de Bernal” and is the second-largest monolith in the world. However, the pace of life in the town of San Sebastian Bernal is indifferent to such landmark except for the celebration of Spring equinox, when people converge around the peak, dressed in white to receive the new season.

Courtesy of Hector Garcia @ Flickr

To support my last post about reinventing tourism in Mexico here is a shot of a small church in the south of the city. La Conchita is located in the Coyoacan area, but it is a few blocks away from the popular square, but it is a most sought-after location for weddings. This has me thinking about micro-tourism. More on that later.

Courtesy of Uriarte de Izpikua @ Flickr

At least a two hour drive away from the nearest city, Andorra la Vella may be able to teach us something about “disconnecting” from a world that is otherwise increasingly stressful. And that may be the reason why the average Andorran can expect to live to 85.

Courtesy Jaako @ Flickr

You don’t have to travel far to slow-down. Not even an hour away from Hong Kong, Tai-O is a little fishing village.

Courtesy New York Public Library @ Flickr Commons

Yes. Greenwich Village, Manhattan. Circa 1936.

Pick any little town or village you’ve visited in the past and try to imagine what it will be in 50 years. What are the right attributes that would make it burst with a live of its own and start playing a role in the global landscape?

Courtesy milachich @ Flickr

Montenegro continues to experience important growth in its tourism industry.

Once a small fishing village on a ridge by the sea shore which experienced an unbelievable transformation, it became during the seventies and eighties one of the Montenegro’s most famous tourist centers for the high paying clientèle’s.Sophia Loren, one of the most frequent visitors, bewitched by its beauty like everyone else, had once wanted to build a villa on a nearby deserted cliff. Then Sylvester Stallone and numerous other famous actors, artists, kings and princes from all over the world used to visit this magic place. Sveti Stefan is the place with the best pedigree in Montenegro, and fortunately is still well-preserved and one of the most attractive Montenegrin tourist destinations.

Courtesy nicola @ Flickr

Yountville, in the heart of Napa Valley, is not only a popular weekend destination for wine lovers, but also home to one of the best restaurants in the world.

Courtesy Sapphireblue @ Flickr

Have you noticed how every little corner of Switzerland looks like a postcard? No wonder they are ranked as one of the countries with the best tourism infrastructure.

Courtesy RobW @ Flickr

Hydra circa 1970. Mostly a tourist destination, this little Greek island has changed little thanks to a strict policy against motor vehicles. Everyone walks everywhere. Imagine that.