When traveling to new destinations, it’s always nice to visit local attractions and landmarks, but sometimes, to really feel like you’ve discovered the essence of a place, you have to come in to contact with the unique people that add to its charm. Here are five living, breathing monuments you might stumble into on your travels:

The Naked Cowboy

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Possibly the world’s most famous busker, the Naked Cowboy performs all around Time Squares wearing nothing but a pair of briefs, a cowboy hat and boots. He started working his patch of New York back in 1998 and as soon as a friend suggested he lose the clothes he started making serious money and collecting tips from passers-by.

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Born as Robert John Burke, the Naked Cowboy has become a local celebrity in New York and has been making appearances on a series of TV shows, as well as in commercials and movies. Playing his guitar between 11 am and 2 pm the Naked Cowboy earns as much as $1,000 a day.

Angelyne

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Not much is known about this blond icon of Los Angeles and Hollywood. She rose to fame during the ‘80s, when billboards of Angelyne popped up across L.A. She made a few appearances on late night television shows, but didn’t reveal an awful lot about herself.

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Her age is probably the most mysterious thing about Angelyne, as she made sure she never revealed it to anyone, but people also wonder where she got the money for her billboard campaign and the hot pink Corvette she always drives around. An integral part of Los Angeles, Angelyne is also a good luck charm and people make a wish every time they spot her around town.

The Naked Man

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If you have a problem with nudity, you might want to cancel your next trip to Barcelona. Don’t get me wrong, it’s one of the most amazing cities on Earth, but you just might run into Esteban, a local legend who spends his days walking around dressed in nothing but his tattoos.

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Tourists often don’t know how to react when running into Esteban, some turn away in disgust while others stop him for a picture. Apparently he’s a really cool guy, always happy to help when he can, but talking to a totally naked old man, in the streets of Barcelona can be pretty strange.

Blanket Man

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One of the most controversial characters in Wellington, Ben Hara, commonly known as Blanket Man is also a symbol of the city. He is a homeless worshiper of the Maori sun god and spends most of his day soaking up the sun on the sidewalks. No matter the weather he always wears only a pair of underwear and a blanket.

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On some occasions Blanket Man removes all of his clothing, as a religious gesture, but that never stops the police from arresting him for indecent exposure. But he always comes back on the streets. Ben Hara is both a local and online celebrity, with several websites documenting his life.

Mata Amritanandamayi

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Unlike the other characters on our list, Mata Amritanandamayi, commonly known as Amma, is more than just a local celebrity. She gets actively involved in improving the life of the people around her. Revered as a saint by her Hindu devotees and internationally known for her humanitarian efforts, Amma is most famous as the “hugging saint of Kerala”.

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Amma allegedly hugs as many as 50,000 people every day and it’s believed she has hugged over 30 million people in the last 30 years. She hugs everyone that comes near her and shares her energy with them. There have been reports of people being healed as a result of her hugging, so if a peaceful looking woman simply puts her arms around you, don’t panic, it’s probably the “hugging mother”.

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