I have a soft spot for Stanley - that is, for the nice village I knew as a youngster, with good beaches and a quaint market. I could get there by bus and enjoy the spectacular scenery round the south side of Hong Kong Island.
Stanley is still there, but Hong Kong's planners have not made the best of what nature gave them to work with.
Visiting the small Spanish town of Sitges, south of Barcelona, last week, I felt a pang of pity for Stanley because the contrast was so stark.
Sitges and Stanley both have sand and sea, but the former is much cleaner. It has mainly residences at one end, and a church turned into a museum at the other.
The view from both ends of the long and narrow beach at Sitges was not dramatic; just very pleasant. The town restricts development along the beachfront, so that the view remains unspoiled.
As Sitges is a relatively small town with an old centre, its charm comes from small structures that fit the scale of the place. Spaniards go out of their way to pay visits, and foreign tourists make side trips from Barcelona. They all come to weave in and out of narrow, cobbled streets where old buildings are preserved and there is no shortage of interesting cafes, restaurants and shops. There is even an annual costume festival where the whole town dresses up for fun.
