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Alleyways and opium

Daily writing prompt
How would you design the city of the future?

This is a real toughy, for a country girl like me. Although I haven’t lived in the country for years and years and the city I live in is small with a population of about 13,000 people, it’s still a city. Actually some people might consider it a town.

To me, a town is a place with a population of about 500-5000 people and anything larger than 10,000 is a city.

It’s all very subjective. When I say I lived in the country, I mean there are miles between yards or houses…or at least a mile. And your yard sits on say…35 acres at least.

Some people live on an acreage and a stone’s throw from one another but because it’s “out of town”, they call it the country. That’s not the country to me.

A city of the future is not something that interests me in the least. What I love about cities are the least futuristic parts.

The old narrow streets and alleyways with the little shops tucked into them.

The ancient architecture that makes you stop and wonder how on earth people created it one hundred years ago, without the technology or machinery of today. Those old banks, with the pillars and the concrete lion’s head perched above. Like how did they do that?

The residential streets with the old two and three story veranda wrapped homes, where you look down the street and you can’t see the sky for the canopy of tree branches. Is there anything more pleasing to the eye?!

Actual neighborhoods with convenience stores on the corner. A bakery just down from that.

And a mom and pop grocery store that is not part of a chain.

That’s the kind of futuristic city I’d bring back if I could.

My two boys Taz & Sid at Fan Tan Alley in Victoria, BC
Another view of it, it’s very popular as you can see
Screenshot
Near the entrance to Fan Tan Alley.

7 responses to “Alleyways and opium”

  1. Victoria, BC is now on my list of places to visit!

    Liked by 3 people

    1. It is beautiful, that was my first time there and I plan to go back as well.

      Liked by 2 people

  2. the way they make the city of the future sound like makes me not want it either. i think there’s areas where ppl can be all advanced but it should be relegated to there. in New York City, besides Grand Central Station we had Penn Station and it was a beautiful place before some knucklehead wanted to do a modernized theme to it and turned it into a stainless steel toilet. I like places that have a mix of modernism but a respect for the legacy architectures of the landscape. Mike

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Awe that’s too bad…but the stainless steel toilet comment made me laugh lol

      Liked by 1 person

  3. marvellousnightmare Avatar
    marvellousnightmare

    Sounds so nice, beautiful, and cozy 🙂
    Yes, it would be cool if the best features of the past were resurrected in the future 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Totally agree!

      Like

  4. That’s so charming! Would love to visit there. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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