People Watching Around the World

Some of the most beautiful sights in our travels are the people we see along the way.

If you haven’t noticed by now, I like taking pictures. I even recently shared my amateur photography tips.

But I haven’t previously posted many pictures of people not named Brent or Michael. Which is surprising, since some of my favorite photos are catching people going about their daily lives around the world.

Here are some of my favorites.

HOI AN, VIETNAM

This is from our second year of nomading, when we were living in Hoi An, Vietnam. The sight of this older couple sharing a bike inspired my interest in taking pictures of people — not just sunsets and ancient ruins.

To get this shot, I had to fish my phone out of my pocket, unlock it, open the camera, and snap the pic while all still pedaling my own bike.

I’m lucky I didn’t break my neck.

BELLAGIO, ITALY

In the gardens of the Villa di Melzi in Bellagio, Italy, I spotted an older couple, and the woman seemed to have a serious illness.

So when I spotted them trying to take a picture of themselves in this gorgeous garden, I volunteered to take it. I also captured my own shot of the pair.

Who’s more beautiful, them or the gardens? I say they are.

ISTANBUL, TÜRKIYE

This is Resul, who ran the bakery directly next door to our apartment, and his two children. He didn’t speak any English, and I spoke no Turkish, but he always insisted I taste something new every time I visited. We even had tea together a couple of times, our entire conversations taking place via Google translate!

BRAȘOV, ROMANIA

In Brașov, Romania, this forlorn clown seemed to pair well with the stormy weather.

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

Unlike the Romanian clown, this fellow is just relaxing a bit until business picks up.

SIBIU, ROMANIA

I especially love seeing grandparents with their grandchildren. The joy grandmothers take in their grandchildren has to be one of the loveliest things in the world to witness.

TREMEZZO, ITALY

Some of my favorite pictures are of people posing for someone else’s photo.

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

I was checking out the Ruin Bars in Budapest, Hungary, when I had the photographic tables turned on me, and I became the subject of this young photographer.

PRAGUE, CZECHIA

During our month in Prague, the Charles Bridge became one of my muses. I was most frequently there in the mornings trying to catch the mist rising off of the river. But I occasionally went there during the afternoon. Which was when I took this picture of a rather unusual busker.

SPLIT, CROATIA

For Carnival, Croatian kids dress up in costumes. According to tradition, but they’re supposed to sing a song or do a dance in exchange for money. But more often than not, adults just fork over a few kuna and send them on their way.

PRAGUE, CZECHIA

When Brent and I are out people-watching, no doubt other people are also watching us! Here we are in Prague with our Norwegian friend, Marianne.

While I’ve got another hundred pictures I could post, I’m afraid I’m out of space.

Michael Jensen is a novelist and editor. For more about Michael, visit him at MichaelJensen.com.