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What are your 10 favorite cities in the world?

post #1 of 247
11/24/04 at 4:55pm
Thread Starter 
For me: 1) Boston My top cities will likely be ones that I have spent a lot of time in, I suppose this is natural, I did my undergrad in the Boston area and really enjoy this city. Vibrant and somewhat diverse with a huge amount of colleges and universities, Boston retains some of the genteel qualities of the NE while still possessing a city atmosphere. IMO one of the more "european" cities in the US. 2) Vienna Still retaining some imperial flair while entering the 21st century with state of the art facilities like the Millenium tower, Vienna is a very comfortable city where the past and present blend rather fluidly. This is probably the most comfortable of European cities to me, and my six months here passed quickly. 3) London To me, London is one of the more comfortable cities as well, and also possesses an interesting dichotomy between past and present, with all of the new millenial construction and buildings such as the Tate modern posing a striking contrast to the Tower of London, just across the river. 4) Las Vegas Sin City is what it is, and doesn't try to hide it. Unabashed capitalism at its best, everything can be had for a price, and this city revels in it. Wonderful shopping and dining opportunities, an infinite selection of casinos and wonderful hotels, and a carnival atmosphere, what else could you ask for? (besides a safe city outside of the strip) 5) Rome Of the three largest European cities, Rome is the oldest, and this is clear from the emphasis on the past. You don't see the hypermodernity that is found in some areas of Paris and London, and sometimes the city can best be described as organized chaos, but Rome possesses a ephermal je non se quois that makes it special. 6) New York City I imagine many people here will put NYC as #1, and why not? Financial and fashion capital of the world, NYC certainly has the biggest and best of everything, I've never felt as comfortable there as in other places though, despite a couple years of living in the area. 7) Hong Kong This would probably be a bit higher before 1997, but Hong Kong is another bastion of capitalism in Asia that is interesting to analyze, the historical meeting point of East and West. Certainly culinarily, this may be worthy of a top three ranking. 8) Paris The City of Light is spectacular, and again, has almost everything imaginable in terms of shopping/dining, etc... I still found it a bit less livable than London and other cities. 9) San Francisco Lovely yet iconiclastic, SF is the modern US version of the past and present clashing, as much of the history of the Gold Rush is still visible in an area that is as technologically advanced as any in the world. 10) Tokyo Bustling, with the chararistic vibrance of Asian cities, Tokyo is certainly the pulse of Japan and is exciting, for a city dweller, I almost felt overcrowded here though. Waiting List: Montreal Vancouver Shanghai St. Petersburg Prague Budapest
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post #2 of 247
11/24/04 at 4:59pm
Thread Starter 
oh, a bit of description from your choices would be nice, I am always looking for travel info.
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post #3 of 247
11/24/04 at 5:27pm
Paris - The food and The D'orsay Prague- The women and the Beer London - Definitely not the food, but I enjoy the culture Rome - The food, the forum, Vatican, unbelievable place Florence - The beauty of the Tuscan sun, the sunflowers, the wine Nice- The rocky beaches and the wonderful Mediteranean Shannon - Guinness Amsterdam- Space Cakes Las Vegas - Gambling and what great food Bruge - The canals like Venice, the people Others below the top ten: Venice Brussels Berlin Salerno Glascow Budapest.
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post #4 of 247
11/24/04 at 6:41pm
1. Vienna - One of the few unbastardized European tourist spots left. Everything is gorgeous. I'll add Gratz and Salzburg as subordinates. My favourites. 2. Paris - In some ways I love it a lot, but the realities of the city, the gypsy pick pockets, the smells in some areas, the tourism... ruins a place that has literally everything I like (best museums, art galleries, food, shopping, my FAVOURITE hotel). 3. Cape Town - I've been on many a sunny holiday. Nothing to this day compares to my place of birth for natural beauty. 4. Montreal - The only remotely european city in North America. A big city in a small city. I have not seen this phenomenon anywhere else. 5. Florence - My favourite Italian location 6. Sorrento - Decent shopping, dazzling scenery. 7. Venice - Spoiled by tourism, incredible sights. I love the architecture and the elegance of the whole city. I never get tired of going back. 8. Toronto - A very comfortable city, Bleur street has all the shopping you'd need. Still needs to develop some homogeneity. The multi culturism it is heralded for somewhat makes it impossible to have a real "Toronto experience". Not a city for younger people who like to go out. Fantastic restaurants. 9. Abu Dabi - Basically a white collar white person's hang out. Everything is clean and new. An interesting visit. 10. Zurich - Very much overlooked.
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post #5 of 247
11/24/04 at 7:40pm
Thread Starter 
You don't consider Quebec city to be european? I would imagine it was more so than Montreal... My description of Boston as such had much to do with the attitudes of people there (many stores closed on Sunday, great mass transit system, fairly small city, almost all shopping districts in streets rather than concentrated areas)
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post #6 of 247
11/24/04 at 8:23pm
10. Manhattan - Vibrant and an epitomy of a culture. The partying scene leaves much to be desired. The food in terms of selection is simply amazing, but then again there is the quality, which is only just above average. Shopping is on a mamoth scale with Saks, Barneys, Bergdorf, etc. Individual botique shopping leaves much to be desired. 9. New Delhi - That is if you know people there, it can be the party capital of the world. It is quite a chill out city in the day, as for a man there is very little to do, rest some breathtaking sighteeing, but once you have done that, thats it, and in terms of shopping, pretty bad, unless you want to buy Zegna or Boss at 10 times the price, if you want to shop though, Stay away from Connaught Place, go to South Extention, Greater Kalish or 1 MG Road. Play a bit of golf, spend the day at the gym or spa at the Oberoi, but nothing you cannot do anywhere else, its the evening when the place comes alive at places like Fashion Bar, Float and Olive. 8. Birmingham - Although, after spending a few years there, in which I hated the place, I have realised that I was practialy the King of the City which cant be all bad. I would say, from a tourists perspective this place is appauling. There is a nice art gallery, some decent shopping at Selfridges and The Mailbox and a few nice idividual botiques in the Burlington Arcade, and Stephenson Street/Navigation Street. Some very nice restaraunts, especially if you take the ride out to Edgbaston to Jessica's , Malmasion Resteraunt and Paris in the Mailbox are also good, as for some of the most inovative oriental food, try Cafe Soya in the Arcadian. As for nightlife, forget it. It is pathetic. It's not the places that are bad, it's the croud, brummies are the most pathetic and boring people in the world. 7. Los Angelis/ Beverly Hills - Lifestyle I suppose, the arcitectre is appauling, but the shoppings pretty good, and the food has got a nice twist. 6. Milan - What a city, with the beautiful Dumo, and Michaleangelos works, and the food in Galereia Victoria Emanuel, oh and do not forget the shopping, oh the shopping on the golden triangle. Brera is very individual, and so quirky, a dirty canal, with painters and street vendors by its sides, and then wonderful small restaurants. The lakes Como and Garda and the Swiss border provide a nice bit of secenry as well as quaint towns. 5. Bombay/ Mumbai - Party to death, eat like a king, and have someone at your feet for your every whim and need. 4. Singapore - Amazingly vibrant, not the same charm it used to have though, greatly centralised on Orchard Road, so easy to get arround, a wide rage of things for all tastes. 3. Bangkok - Mosterous, paradise within an hour (costal towns) wide variey of shopping, excllent food. 2. Dubai - Arab party animals, alongside their South Asian and European counterparts. Good shopping, great deals on watches, amazing selection of food, pristine beach in the city, amazing hotels, amazingly well kept. Feel like you are in Manhattan one moment on Sheikh Zayed Road, then a couple of miles down you are on a beach in Jumeriah. 1. London - Need I go on...
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post #7 of 247
11/24/04 at 8:53pm
Thread Starter 
Hmm interesting, Milan over Rome, Florence, and Venice... most people don't mention Milan when they talk about Italy's most beautiful cities.
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post #8 of 247
11/24/04 at 8:57pm
it is very late where I am, so excuse the short post, maybe I will elaborate later London Budapest Prague Vienna Dussledorf Bankok Mumbai Tel Aviv Paris Palermo honorable mention - bratislava sofia Amman vancuver philidelphia berlin
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post #9 of 247
11/24/04 at 9:03pm
Thread Starter 
Hmm, globetrotter, I'm intrigued by your inclusion of Bratislava in your selections. While I thought it was charming in a quaint way, it still has quite a few reminders of the Soviet regime, and seems worlds less advanced than Vienna which is only 30 miles away, up the Danube... is that part of the charm for you?
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post #10 of 247
11/24/04 at 9:27pm
Quote:
Hmm interesting, Milan over Rome, Florence, and Venice... most people don't mention Milan when they talk about Italy's most beautiful cities.
Yes, well Rome and Florence certainly have their charm with the buildings and art. But when it comes to style and partying, Rome and Florence are pretty pathetic, unless of course you are older than 25, but I mean Milan has a Nobu, an Armani and a D&G bar, whereas Rome and Florence really don't cut it. EDIT: Oh and Venice would be beautiful, were it not for how touristy it is... simply horrible place, with all that tourist rubbish.
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post #11 of 247
11/24/04 at 9:32pm
Thread Starter 
If I was going somewhere in Europe for the partying, I would hit up the Greek Islands (in the summer) or Ibiza, Prague, Berlin, or London...
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post #12 of 247
11/24/04 at 9:37pm
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If I was going somewhere in Europe for the partying, I would hit up the Greek Islands (in the summer) or Ibiza, Prague, Berlin, or London...
Umm yes, they would be all quite different though.. Ibiza and Greek Islands - Drunken English and German low class people drinking beer and doing ecstasy, average age about 15. Prague - I don't know about its reputation in the US, but here in the UK I'm sure most would think you were up to something dodgy a la Charring Cross Berlin - Some deep dark, hard house techno nut head. London - Okay, if you go to Opium, Tantra, Tramps, whatever, yeah I suppose London is the place to party, hence one of the reasons for it being no 1
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post #13 of 247
11/24/04 at 9:41pm
If I was going from a partying perspective in Europe: 10. Paris 9. Helsinki 8. St. Petersberg 7. Copenhagen 6. Milan 5. Marbella 4. St. Tropez 3. Nice/Canne/Monte-Carlo 2. Moscow 1. London
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post #14 of 247
11/24/04 at 9:48pm
Quote:
If I was going from a partying perspective in Europe: 10. Paris 9. Helsinki 8. St. Petersberg 7. Copenhagen 6. Milan 5. Marbella 4. St. Tropez 3. Nice/Canne/Monte-Carlo 2. Moscow 1. London
Oh and the No. 1 places to go in these places: 10. Buddha Bar 9. Mother (back in the day) 8. So many to choose. I'd say Propaganda though 7. NASA 6. Nobu 5. Olivia Valerias 4. Nikki Beach or Caves Du Roy 3. Jimmy'z Monte Carlo 2. Propagnda 1. Sketch
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post #15 of 247
11/24/04 at 10:08pm
Thread Starter 
There are alot of new upscale places in Prague now, it's changing amazingly every time you go. As for Ibiza and the Greek Islands, it's all taste. I'm a huge fan of techno/trance, so my tastes will run accordingly. There are an awful lot of incredibly hot Scandanavians in the Greek Isles, last time I was there anyways. Ibiza had alot of dutch and spanish girls in addition to Germans and English (which I have no problem with, as long as they are attractive, ok... maybe that rules out most English girls )
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