I love cities. I would rather go to a city than see some beautiful forest. When I think about going to new countries it's the cities I'm wanting to see.
What countries have you visited, and how would you describe them?
- Thread starter Krisno
- Start date
- Status
I love cities. I would rather go to a city than see some beautiful forest. When I think about going to new countries it's the cities I'm wanting to see.
Where did you go? Surely not Krakow, the one city not bombed to the ground, which dates back a thousand years.
Beaches:
Worst - Canada (what beaches?)
Wasaga Beach. Sauble Beach. Canada (Ontario) has the world's longest fresh water beach.
Poland - Home country #1. I love it. Yes, terrible drivers. At any given hour, on any given day of the year, there is no place I would rather be than on the main square in Krakow (see here: http://popmusicology.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/krakow_rynek_01.jpg and here http://www.daaam.org/Gallery/06-DAAAM-1995_Krakow.jpg ), drinking a Zywiec. Love the cottage country.
Canada - Home country #2. I love it. It is shameful how little of it I have seen. Toronto is an amazingly metropolitan and multicultural city but I prefer the smaller cities of Southwestern Ontario. Great cottage country.
Japan - Cratooney (see here: http://trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=137186 ). I love those toilets, so much so that I bought one for my en-suite
Great transportation and infrastructure, love the food. I'm waiting for the company to bring back business class travel and then I'll start lobbying for another trip.
USA - A very diverse country but my experience is really limited to Kentucky and Indiana, and from that perspective its a very obese country headed for disaster. Everyone says that Canadians are friendly but I find Americans to be much more so, they will chat you up at the drop of a hat, Canadians never do that.
Cuba - Too hot and humid for my liking but it was nice for a few days. Great beaches, world's second larges reef so the snorkelling was awesome. Countryside is dirt poor, literally, many houses are made from dirt and nothing else. I would go back for another vacation.
Czech Republic - Only been to the Prague airport. As per someone above, the women are HOT!
France - Paris airport, crowded.
Canada - Home country #2. I love it. It is shameful how little of it I have seen. Toronto is an amazingly metropolitan and multicultural city but I prefer the smaller cities of Southwestern Ontario. Great cottage country.
Japan - Cratooney (see here: http://trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=137186 ). I love those toilets, so much so that I bought one for my en-suite
Great transportation and infrastructure, love the food. I'm waiting for the company to bring back business class travel and then I'll start lobbying for another trip.USA - A very diverse country but my experience is really limited to Kentucky and Indiana, and from that perspective its a very obese country headed for disaster. Everyone says that Canadians are friendly but I find Americans to be much more so, they will chat you up at the drop of a hat, Canadians never do that.
Cuba - Too hot and humid for my liking but it was nice for a few days. Great beaches, world's second larges reef so the snorkelling was awesome. Countryside is dirt poor, literally, many houses are made from dirt and nothing else. I would go back for another vacation.
Czech Republic - Only been to the Prague airport. As per someone above, the women are HOT!
France - Paris airport, crowded.
Yes. I have been to Krakow (did you see the comment about Auschwitz? It's very close) , and yes, I am aware that it was a free zone where they didn't bomb. But that is only one city. OTOH, Warsaw, for example, was 85% leveled by the Nazis..and rebuilt with some of that Stalinist architecture - to the point where Warsaw when I was there looked a lot like Moscow, only without the cool onion domes to redeem it. And 'Old Town' in Warsaw is completely fake - it was leveled by the Nazis and rebuilt from the ground up after the war. May as well be Epcot.
I know you like Old Town - I followed your link above to the square. But as pretty as it is....IT'S A FAAAAAKKKKKE! In every country, there is a variation between cities, and you have some beautiful places and some not-so-beautiful places. It's just that Poland has the great misfortune of being situated right smack dab between two countries (Germany and Russia) with a nasty habit of getting into wars... and destroying everything in their respective paths in the process. Which basically means Poland gets screwed from both ends. Poor Poland - it all goes back to the old saying: "Location, location, location".
Well, maybe it's cus I grew up in South Florida, but I do not count fresh water 'beaches' as Beach. Not in the same sense as I count Florida, California, Hawaii, The Bahamas, Jamaica, Thailand, The French & Italian Rivieras, etc.Wasaga Beach. Sauble Beach. Canada (Ontario) has the world's longest fresh water beach.Beaches:
Worst - Canada (what beaches?
Call me a Beach Snob....but the sort of beach I'm talking about requires an ocean (and a temperate ocean, at that - I have stood on the shore ('beach') of the Arctic Ocean in Barrow, Alaska before...but I hardly count it as a Top Beach Destination
)...or at least a monstrously large sea. And most of the salt water beach in Canada is way too cold/rocky/whatever to go up against the likes of the above. Don't be offended though..Alaska has crappy 'beaches' too...and IMO it is by far the most beautiful state in the US.Sorry. I love Canada and think it's a great country...but 'great beaches' are not high on my list of reasons why. Now....mountains are an entirely different matter! Some of the best in the world are in Canada. The Canadian Rockies utterly rule. Also, I have driven the Alcan from Anchorage to Vancouver, and particularly the northern Yukon and southern BC contain some of the most breathtaking scenery around.
In any case, all of my views are my own. Your mileage may vary - these were just my takes.
Last edited:
Canada: Not much different than the U.S. Friendly people, and great bike lanes if you're a cyclist. Beautiful hiking and scenery.
China: Hong Kong specifically. Extremely materialistic. Tons of goods. Also, the schools are incredibly competitive. Though it's so packed, the transportation system is more reliable in comparison to where I'm living at the moment. A train every two minutes? Excellent!
Taiwan: My favorite place. There's practically a bookstore and gym on every street in Taipei. I feel like people appreciate older works more here. This extends to literature, music (records, etc.) and the like. Great food, and somehow things are actually cheaper here than in Hong Kong. I love root vegetables and it's dirt cheap here. Everything here seemed to move at a pleasant, relaxed pace in comparison to Hong Kong. I'd seriously consider living here later.
Japan: Clean. Sterile, almost. I don't really remember much from my trip.
China: Hong Kong specifically. Extremely materialistic. Tons of goods. Also, the schools are incredibly competitive. Though it's so packed, the transportation system is more reliable in comparison to where I'm living at the moment. A train every two minutes? Excellent!
Taiwan: My favorite place. There's practically a bookstore and gym on every street in Taipei. I feel like people appreciate older works more here. This extends to literature, music (records, etc.) and the like. Great food, and somehow things are actually cheaper here than in Hong Kong. I love root vegetables and it's dirt cheap here. Everything here seemed to move at a pleasant, relaxed pace in comparison to Hong Kong. I'd seriously consider living here later.
Japan: Clean. Sterile, almost. I don't really remember much from my trip.
I haven't visited any other countries, but I went to Oregon once. I found the evening TV news absolutely fascinating in how the sorts of stories they tended to focus on contrasted to what TV in Southern California is all about. They were very concerned about endangered owls.
Yes. I have been to Krakow (did you see the comment about Auschwitz? It's very close) , and yes, I am aware that it was a free zone where they didn't bomb. But that is only one city. OTOH, Warsaw, for example, was 85% leveled by the Nazis..and rebuilt with some of that Stalinist architecture - to the point where Warsaw when I was there looked a lot like Moscow, only without the cool onion domes to redeem it. And 'Old Town' in Warsaw is completely fake - it was leveled by the Nazis and rebuilt from the ground up after the war. May as well be Epcot.
That "fake" argument doesn't really hold up imo. Many famous European cities burned down, were destroyed by earthquakes or marauding armies several times - and then built up again.
This is what the Dresden Frauenkirche looks like now vs 50 years ago, does that mean it's fake?
It used to be a fact of life that buildings were destroyed and rebuilt.
Agreed. I went to Oregon for the first time two months ago and it seems like it's part of a completely different country. Among other things, no sales tax AND they leave bowls of food for dogs? The good-neighborliness of it all was overwhelming. The boroughs of Portland were a trip, too.
Portugal - Wonderful beaches and sun. Typical Mediterrenean destination really.
Tenerife - Similar to Portugal, but a more isolated feel, and more fishy food.
Italy - Specifically, Florence, Rome, and later, Venice. Best food on earth, well, best pizzas on earth (Can't actually remember if I had anything else tbh), great architecture - Florence Cathedral, the Sistine Chapel, and the Venice canalways, and a different experience to my other Mediterreanean destinations. A lot of history there as well. Very friendly people too.
Germany - I've only been to Koln, but that was just before Christmas. The Christmas markets there were brilliant, and the food was good (Currywurst
). The buildings were a bit drab though, with the exception of the cathedral.
Austria - Brilliant views, down one valley in the Alps. Haven't been there for skiing, it was in the summer, but the alpine architecture is quaint, and the place has a really clean feel to it.
Belgium - Only driven through. Questionable service stations.
Ireland - Similar to my home in the UK, but slightly more isolated on the west coast.
France - Mostly only driven through, but I've had a holiday on the alpine end. Don't remember too much of that.
South Africa - A very different experience to all of the European destinations. Didn't see too much of classical African wildlife, but it was one of the best holidays I've had, because of all the different things, like Table Mountain, and the southern Cape Town beaches with penguins, and the people are very friendly out there.
Tenerife - Similar to Portugal, but a more isolated feel, and more fishy food.
Italy - Specifically, Florence, Rome, and later, Venice. Best food on earth, well, best pizzas on earth (Can't actually remember if I had anything else tbh), great architecture - Florence Cathedral, the Sistine Chapel, and the Venice canalways, and a different experience to my other Mediterreanean destinations. A lot of history there as well. Very friendly people too.
Germany - I've only been to Koln, but that was just before Christmas. The Christmas markets there were brilliant, and the food was good (Currywurst
). The buildings were a bit drab though, with the exception of the cathedral.Austria - Brilliant views, down one valley in the Alps. Haven't been there for skiing, it was in the summer, but the alpine architecture is quaint, and the place has a really clean feel to it.
Belgium - Only driven through. Questionable service stations.
Ireland - Similar to my home in the UK, but slightly more isolated on the west coast.
France - Mostly only driven through, but I've had a holiday on the alpine end. Don't remember too much of that.
South Africa - A very different experience to all of the European destinations. Didn't see too much of classical African wildlife, but it was one of the best holidays I've had, because of all the different things, like Table Mountain, and the southern Cape Town beaches with penguins, and the people are very friendly out there.
I'm sorry but....you don't travel much? Many stores in many cities have dog bowls out front. Even DC got them and DC isn't a dog friendly town.
England Home. Nation is becoming too strongly influenced by US/European/foreign cultures. It was better in the olden days.
Wales Not that different to England, except they have: Slate mines. Steep hills (1:4). Castles. Road signs written in two languages. S4C. Lava bread and rarebit.
Wales Not that different to England, except they have: Slate mines. Steep hills (1:4). Castles. Road signs written in two languages. S4C. Lava bread and rarebit.
This country went downhill ever since the Romans came.
Texas.
Italy: well, home. I can't have an accurate opinion about it, so I'll let other people comment on it.
France: Marseille: proud and full of life. Real people and real lives, all against the panorama of the Old Port. I have still to see Paris, a mistake I am willing to correct soon.
Spain: Barcellona. Awesome place, the most fun I ever had in my life. Culture, entertainment, history, arts, beaches, sex, whatever you want, it's there, and it's great. Love the people: you connect with them in an instant and you are best of friends in no time. It helps everybody is drunk most of the time.
England: Or more accurately, London. I loved every aspect of it, from Westminster's foggy history, to Fulham's multi-ethnic markets. Probably the only city outside of Italy I could see myself living in, and feel completely at home.
Scotland: Harsh, wet, rainy, cold, and smelly. I should have hated it, and I ended up loving it on a deep, instinctual level. Everything was so different from what I experienced in my life, and yet so strangely familiar and comforting.
Ireland: Dublin, mostly. Lovely and lively. I intend to take some time to visit the coast and the countryside some day.
Austria: Very nice and clean. Vienna, even if magnificent, left me unimpressed. Graz, on the other hand, was fun and with a wonderful atmosphere. The countryside was delightfully scenic, too.
Germany: Just an airport stop in Frankfurt unfortunately. Planning to visit Munich and Berlin in the near future.
Greece: Every step was a step into history. Athens is crowed, torrid, dirty and beautiful. The Sporades islands are jewels of white and green in the sea, and the people are incredibly friendly and welcoming. Probably the best food I ever had, too.
Belgium: Nice if a bit quaint. Bruxelles was better than expected. Really wanted to see Bruges, but I couldn't fit it in my schedule.
Netherlands: Amsterdam was not bad. Unimpressed with the Red-light District. The canals and relaxed atmosphere was nice, I wouldn't mind to go back and see more of it.
Czech Republic: Prague is, frankly, the most beautiful city I ever visited. It's simply magic. As far as melancholy goes, nothing beats the fog over Charles Bridge in the early morning. I left a piece of heart there.
Slovenia: I visited the Istrian coasts, and they were very nice and very scenic. Friendly people and great food everywhere.
Croatia: Again I only saw the Istrian coasts, it was about the same as Slovenia.
Brazil: Visiting Rio de Janeiro was like a feast for the eyes and the heart. So many different people, buildings, lifestyles and wildlife. The rich and the poor, the wonderful and the terrible. One of the most beautiful people I ever saw, too.
San Marino: What's not to love there?
Vatican City: Well, I felt more like a stranger there than in all other places in the world. More seriously, the building were literally breath-taking, and the beauty of the place was overwhelming. I still dislike the Catholic Church, tho.
France: Marseille: proud and full of life. Real people and real lives, all against the panorama of the Old Port. I have still to see Paris, a mistake I am willing to correct soon.
Spain: Barcellona. Awesome place, the most fun I ever had in my life. Culture, entertainment, history, arts, beaches, sex, whatever you want, it's there, and it's great. Love the people: you connect with them in an instant and you are best of friends in no time. It helps everybody is drunk most of the time.
England: Or more accurately, London. I loved every aspect of it, from Westminster's foggy history, to Fulham's multi-ethnic markets. Probably the only city outside of Italy I could see myself living in, and feel completely at home.
Scotland: Harsh, wet, rainy, cold, and smelly. I should have hated it, and I ended up loving it on a deep, instinctual level. Everything was so different from what I experienced in my life, and yet so strangely familiar and comforting.
Ireland: Dublin, mostly. Lovely and lively. I intend to take some time to visit the coast and the countryside some day.
Austria: Very nice and clean. Vienna, even if magnificent, left me unimpressed. Graz, on the other hand, was fun and with a wonderful atmosphere. The countryside was delightfully scenic, too.
Germany: Just an airport stop in Frankfurt unfortunately. Planning to visit Munich and Berlin in the near future.
Greece: Every step was a step into history. Athens is crowed, torrid, dirty and beautiful. The Sporades islands are jewels of white and green in the sea, and the people are incredibly friendly and welcoming. Probably the best food I ever had, too.
Belgium: Nice if a bit quaint. Bruxelles was better than expected. Really wanted to see Bruges, but I couldn't fit it in my schedule.
Netherlands: Amsterdam was not bad. Unimpressed with the Red-light District. The canals and relaxed atmosphere was nice, I wouldn't mind to go back and see more of it.
Czech Republic: Prague is, frankly, the most beautiful city I ever visited. It's simply magic. As far as melancholy goes, nothing beats the fog over Charles Bridge in the early morning. I left a piece of heart there.
Slovenia: I visited the Istrian coasts, and they were very nice and very scenic. Friendly people and great food everywhere.
Croatia: Again I only saw the Istrian coasts, it was about the same as Slovenia.
Brazil: Visiting Rio de Janeiro was like a feast for the eyes and the heart. So many different people, buildings, lifestyles and wildlife. The rich and the poor, the wonderful and the terrible. One of the most beautiful people I ever saw, too.
San Marino: What's not to love there?
Vatican City: Well, I felt more like a stranger there than in all other places in the world.
More seriously, the building were literally breath-taking, and the beauty of the place was overwhelming. I still dislike the Catholic Church, tho. 
This country went downhill ever since the Romans came.
ROMANES EUNT DOMUS
Danke schön, meine freundin.
US - My home, though I've been to more countries than I have states. Midwest is wonderful, nice people, great food but not much to see or do. Florida is very hot during the winter. Alaska is the most beautiful place I have ever been to with great people.
Canada - I live 3 hours from the border so it feels just like home to me.
Germany - I've only been in 2 airports there but I plan to study abroad either in Germany or Austria. Beautiful place, even when looking outside of the window in the airplane.
Spain - Madrid is lovely but the people can be rude. Same with Barcelona. It was always sunny when I was there, and the food is good. (I'm a terribly picky eater so I don't like most things.) They have nice hotels and it's a great country to go sight-seeing. Witnessed some pretty gross things in Spain.
France - Southern France around the Mediterranean is the most beautiful place with the nicest people and great food. Cannes, Nice and Marseille are places I definitely will go and visit again, and possibly live. The sights are breathtaking. Great weather. Southern France is so much different than Northern. Nicer people and not so dirty (though some cities in the south still are pretty nasty, especially the Metros.)
Italy - Everything good you hear about Italy is true. The food is fantastic, the people are beautiful and full of life and the country is full of fantastic history, museums, art, architecture, and the night life is AWESOME. Italy is probably my favorite country. The weather was great (but freakin' HOT in July) and the people were great. I would suggest to anyone a vacation there. Florence and Rome are great, you can never run out of things to do. Did I mention the gelato? TO DIE FOR. I, however, don't think I'll every ride another Metro in Rome again. -shudders-
Canada - I live 3 hours from the border so it feels just like home to me.
Germany - I've only been in 2 airports there but I plan to study abroad either in Germany or Austria. Beautiful place, even when looking outside of the window in the airplane.
Spain - Madrid is lovely but the people can be rude. Same with Barcelona. It was always sunny when I was there, and the food is good. (I'm a terribly picky eater so I don't like most things.) They have nice hotels and it's a great country to go sight-seeing. Witnessed some pretty gross things in Spain.
France - Southern France around the Mediterranean is the most beautiful place with the nicest people and great food. Cannes, Nice and Marseille are places I definitely will go and visit again, and possibly live. The sights are breathtaking. Great weather. Southern France is so much different than Northern. Nicer people and not so dirty (though some cities in the south still are pretty nasty, especially the Metros.)
Italy - Everything good you hear about Italy is true. The food is fantastic, the people are beautiful and full of life and the country is full of fantastic history, museums, art, architecture, and the night life is AWESOME. Italy is probably my favorite country. The weather was great (but freakin' HOT in July) and the people were great. I would suggest to anyone a vacation there. Florence and Rome are great, you can never run out of things to do. Did I mention the gelato? TO DIE FOR. I, however, don't think I'll every ride another Metro in Rome again. -shudders-
Yes. I have been to Krakow (did you see the comment about Auschwitz? It's very close) , and yes, I am aware that it was a free zone where they didn't bomb. But that is only one city. OTOH, Warsaw, for example, was 85% leveled by the Nazis..and rebuilt with some of that Stalinist architecture - to the point where Warsaw when I was there looked a lot like Moscow, only without the cool onion domes to redeem it. And 'Old Town' in Warsaw is completely fake - it was leveled by the Nazis and rebuilt from the ground up after the war. May as well be Epcot.
Yah, been to Auschwitz twice. Makes for a fun afternoon, eh...
The pics were of Krakow, not Warsaw, so IT'S REAAAAAL!!!
I know that Warsaw is all fake, its very, very unfortunate. Personally, I don't miss any onions or round towers.
To each his own, but I'll take a fresh water beach over an ocean any day. I was shocked, not in a good way, by the saltiness of the beaches in Cuba. The water was hot, the sand was white and clean, it was all great, but the saltiness of the water was a major turnoff. Parts of Wasaga and Sauble are just as nice and clean, just a few degrees cooler, but the fresh water more than makes up for that, to me anyway.
- Status
