Canal Streets of the World.... Beautiful

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Dhara Shah

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Jul 29, 2013, 11:30:00 PM7/29/13

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Bruges, Belgium

The capital of West Flanders is lovely and underrated, and the well-preserved city centre of brick Gothic architecture was once the stomping ground of Flemish old master painters. Tour the canals that seem to make a moat around the old town: Dijver runs between antique shops and the Church of Our Lady; Groene Rei is tree-lined and tranquil; and Spinolarei has stepped gable houses.

Bangkok, Thailand

This go-go Asian metropolis is all bright lights and flashing signs, catcalling lady boys and honking tuk-tuks, and street vendors slinging pad see ew noodles to locals and backpackers. But sooner or later you will be confronted with a canal scene. Of the many khlong (canals) that looped around the city in the 1800s, only a fraction remain in the downtown Thonburi neighbourhood and in the outlying Green Lung area, where farmers and fishermen get around via canals and elevated walkways.

Annecy, France

When the light hits the canals of Annecy just right, they gleam startlingly green-blue like sea glass. Visit one of the canal-side restaurants and bars that fill up with locals swapping stories over plates of delicate lake fish and glasses of wine. On a triangular islet in the Thiou River, the Palais de Isle has been re-imagined as a residence, a courthouse, a jail and currently, a museum.