What is your favourite city?
- Thread starter p_xavier
- Start date
ForAcademicPurposes
Member
I will contest that these cities were an incredible place to be 10 or 20 years ago.
Belgian infrastructure is balls though. It always has been. Maybe that is why they are one of the few European nations who are not in debt.
And as for Brugge, I can also confirm that it has been shagged by tourists.
Oberstein
Member
Belgium's debt is actually among the highest in Europe: fourth after Greece, Italy and France.
And yes, the Flemish cities have lost some of their charm, but it's nothing compared to the catastrophic state of most cities in the south.
At least up north, there's still a sense of order... even if the beauty's fading. God, this era sucked...
johnysands
Neo Member
Rome. I was there just once, but I can't wait to go there again.
I spent a few days there, explored a lot, and can say that there is something special about it.
I spent a few days there, explored a lot, and can say that there is something special about it.
ForAcademicPurposes
Member
Sorry, I didn't clarify.
I was thinking about changes in government dept to GDP ratio which puts Belgium at the tippy top of the scale and other countries like Greece, Italy, Cyprus at the bottom.
Last edited:
diffusionx
Gold Member
Most City Youtubers are bugmen who want everyone to live in the pod, eat the bugs, own nothing, and be happy. If it came out that the UN and WEF were funding them, I wouldn't be surprised, at all.The guy in the video loves condo towers and public transit/bikes, and hates houses and cars.
His ideal city is everyone live in 50 floor condo towers, everyone walk to work downtown, and never leave the downtown core.
He doesnt understand that the reason why cities have suburbs focused on roads and cars isnt because people have no choice as they all want to live within downtown's reach walking everywhere. It's because many of us prefer being far away from downtown, dont work downtown and dont care if it takes long to drive and park downtown because we only hang out there maybe a handful of times a year. We also want peace and quiet, yards and driveways. So it's not the end of the world if it's far away from trendy downtown patios and pro sports stadiums. Many of us prefer driving too as it's faster and its the best way to carry stuff like groceries or...... doing a Costco run! Nobody is walking or taking a bus to Costco.
That said Houston actually is a hellscape.
Last edited:
MidGenRefresh
*Refreshes biennially
Some good picks here. I will add Porto and Budapest to the list.
Nocty
Currently Steaming
In Europe, Dubrovnik Croatia.
In Japan, Kyoto.
In England, York.
In the America's, probably a tie between Mexico City and Cancun.
I've travelled the world with work over the years, been to probably 100+ cities. The magic of Kyoto is my favourite. The food situation is absolutely next level.
There are lots of honourable mentions, Helsinki is also another top favourite but it is absolutely cold as witches tit most of the year around. Aberdeen in Scotland is also a great city.
In Japan, Kyoto.
In England, York.
In the America's, probably a tie between Mexico City and Cancun.
I've travelled the world with work over the years, been to probably 100+ cities. The magic of Kyoto is my favourite. The food situation is absolutely next level.
There are lots of honourable mentions, Helsinki is also another top favourite but it is absolutely cold as witches tit most of the year around. Aberdeen in Scotland is also a great city.
Northeastmonk
Gold Member
I use to say my hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, which is where I called home since 97. It really is. I traveled to the Bahamas and a few states around me. I drive out of state a couple times a week for work. I enjoy visiting smaller towns and visiting with new people. One thing I kept having, was being home sick during each and every visit. Didn't matter what I was doing. Once I saw the interstate coming into town, that feeling of being home is euphoric. I'm flooded with memories of family, friends, and all the good times.
I don't live there anymore. I live right outside Omaha, but I know if I ever go out of town. Seeing Omaha's streets reminds me of who I am in a way.
I don't live there anymore. I live right outside Omaha, but I know if I ever go out of town. Seeing Omaha's streets reminds me of who I am in a way.
p_xavier
Authorized Fister
So a real Omahasexual?
I live in a small town of about 3000 people and I don't drive as many of people here. No cars is not about high towers but really a livable environment. I hate suburbs with a passion myself.
Northeastmonk
Gold Member
I always liked the idea of a "Greater Omaha" because it makes you feel like Omaha has what it takes to be a great city. A lot has changed over time. Places I use to go to like game stores or malls have all been demolished or shut down. It's my familiarity with the city and its points of interest. It's also its cultural differences between North, West, and South Omaha.
A lot of the places I visit for work are <3,000. The place I'm living in now has around 40,000. That's another thing about Omaha that I like. You cross a bridge and you're in Iowa. You have La Vista, Papillion, Elkhorn, Gretna and Bellevue surrounding the city. There are plenty of choices if you want to live in a smaller city, but be in driving distance of Omaha.
The smaller towns are nice. I work for a bunch of City Halls in and around Iowa and Nebraska. I like shopping or being able to shop. Those small towns may have 1 or 2 grocery stores. Speaking of suburbs, West Omaha can rub me the wrong way and I grew up in West Omaha. It's the middle to upper class part of town. It's night and day difference when driving from North and South to West. There's this sense of entitlement you just can't shake. I lived in West and North Omaha and it was like two different mentalities of life.
Last edited:
StreetsofBeige
Member
I like how the guy rags on Calgary having lots of people driving pick ups like it's a bad thing. There's a lot of blue collar workers in Alberta, it gets lots of snow, and because population density is low it means driving a bigger vehicle helps out with carrying lots of stuff as opposed to a cramped downtown walker carrying what he can hold in his hands (which the video skews heavy into liking). The narrator hates any kind of suburb or people living in a house with a yard and personal motor vehicles.
Here he is. Found him out by googling it. You can see the same Singapore posts in his YT and Linkedin. He's a young Turkish guy whose been doing urban planning for 5 years (including internship years).
Last edited:
Jinzo Prime
Member
Looking at Maps, Croatia seems underrated; lots of beautiful coastal cities with European charm. I want to visit one day.
Porcile
Member
Hong Kong was my favourite. Such a cool place at the time I visited. Endless eating spots, both local and more franchise type places. Lots of different neighbourhoods to explore with a wide variety of architecture. Specialist little import shops all over the place. Taking the Star Ferry across the harbour. Weird smells up the wazoo. Great public transport. You could get by with just English. Just a general good, lively buzz about the place and a very interesting mix of British and Chinese culture that created something totally unique.
I have no idea about it now though. It probably sucks.
I have no idea about it now though. It probably sucks.
Dr.Guru of Peru
played the long game
Eh, don't go there expecting a hidden gem. It's been completely overrun with tourists the last few years. Huge problem with over tourism.
It's different. Still worth visiting, but it doesn't have the same international capital energy anymore. Used to be the London of Asia. Now it's mainly a shopping mall for mainland Chinese.
Nocty
Currently Steaming
Croatia is a great vacation spot.
Dubrovnik is where the majority of the first few seasons of Game Of Thrones was filmed, the old town streets and ruins were used for the red keep and kings landing as well as the island of Lapad was where they filmed a lot of the scenes with the warlocks. You can get a small boat to the island and walk around its gardens and woodlands which takes about 5 minutes from the port. There is a nice lagoon to swim in on the island too
The place has become a bit touristy since the popularity of the series, when I first went in 2009 it was a lot less so but still a great place to visit. It has a similar vibe to Italy but half the cost.
Last edited:
dispensergoinup
Member
Decades ago as a little kid I lived in the Omaha area being in an Air Force family, that place is my nostalgia core. I loved it so much.
I find myself checking out google maps and looking at my old elementary school sometimes. My memories from that time are pure bliss.
Cyberpunkd
Member
If companies will not dramatically expand remote work then big cities will continue to be the focus if you want to advance in your career.
Lived there, visited many times. It's really ugly city - you either get derelict buildings in TST, or endless skyscrapers on HK island.
Bulletzen72
Member
Edinburgh Scotland (where I live) or Bogota Colombia.
ForAcademicPurposes
Member
A friend of mine went back to Ireland for holidays and said that the streets were loitered with junkies.
She could not believe her eyes and was so dissapointed. Maybe someone here with close affiliation to Ireland can corroborate her story.
She could not believe her eyes and was so dissapointed. Maybe someone here with close affiliation to Ireland can corroborate her story.
Last edited:
p_xavier
Authorized Fister
Roads are just awful in Alberta, I get the pick up vibe. Even highways feel like dirt roads most of the time.
NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt
Biggest Trails Stan
Chicago just for the food
Oberstein
Member
The argument applies everywhere. As soon as there are really nice spots, it ends up getting known sooner or later, and the flow of tourists comes and ruins the vibe. You just have to go off-season.
Recently, there's also Iceland — nobody used to visit it, and now there are hordes of tourists annoying the locals. And you really have to love wild, untamed nature, because there's nothing else there. You don't go for Reykjavík; it's a pretty ordinary city.
ConkerTheSquirrel.
Member
Mine is. Not saying which one, but the problems he's talking about regarding my city is mitigated by public transport service, which connects the rest of the suburbs to the city hub. A more efficient alternative from using cars, if you're willing to endure other people.
Last edited:
Dr.Guru of Peru
played the long game
It's been decades since nobody used to visit Iceland. I remember it being the hot new place to go before the 2008 financial crisis.
John Marston
GAF's very own treasure goblin
I love my Montreal hometown but NYC is a close second.
It's the perfect urban jungle.
Miyazaki’s Slave
Gold Member
Preach.
Getting some soup bao tonight at dumpling king on chimney rock...looking forward to it.
I've lived in 10 "big" cities here in the US and several extremely rural areas and I chose to move to Houston after I changed careers.
BadBurger
Many “Whelps”! Handle It!
Overall, Stratford-upon-Avon. I was only there once, for four days. A beautiful place, rich in history and scenery, the people were awesome, extremely chill even though it seemed like there were a lot of tourists and visitors - a very different vibe from the tourist town I hail from.
Domestically: I really enjoy visiting Fort Lauderdale, but I don't think I'd ever want to live there year round. One or two weeks a year is enough for me.
Domestically: I really enjoy visiting Fort Lauderdale, but I don't think I'd ever want to live there year round. One or two weeks a year is enough for me.
UltimaKilo
Gold Member
My favorite city is the city I grew up in and the fastest growing: Miami. Odd, because 20 years ago I was dying to get out (and I did) before it became the world's hottest city.
Singapore, Nashville, Buenos Aires, Perth, Melbourne, Copenhagen, Vienna, Madrid, Monaco, Tel Aviv, Scottsdale.
Been to Montreal... Women are certainly not the "hottest" or even close to Medellin, Miami, LA, Monaco, etc. Those Montreal guys come down here and their jaws always drops.
P:axMagellanic
Member
I loved Rome, York and Chester.
p_xavier
Authorized Fister
Well it's relative, Miami women are not natural in the slightest. While my clubbing years are a decade ago things might have changed.My favorite city is the city I grew up in and the fastest growing: Miami. Odd, because 20 years ago I was dying to get out (and I did) before it became the world's hottest city.
Singapore, Nashville, Buenos Aires, Perth, Melbourne, Copenhagen, Vienna, Madrid, Monaco, Tel Aviv, Scottsdale.
Been to Montreal... Women are certainly not the "hottest" or even close to Medellin, Miami, LA, Monaco, etc. Those Montreal guys come down here and their jaws always drops.
poodaddy
Member
I hated literally every city I stepped foot in when I lived in the south. I'm not exaggerating in the slightest, literally every city was just the anti me. I loved Seattle as a city but hate the people there enough that I had to move after twelve years, it just drove me crazy. Portland Oregon was a fuckin dump. Boston is a really fuckin cool city but it's annoying to navigate, particularly by driving, as everyone there drives like they've had four espressos and they're looking to try out for the destruction derby. Seriously, everyone in Boston drives like a pissed off teenager, it's insane.
Probably the best town I've been in thus far was either Rome, Maine or White Lake, South Dakota. These places wouldn't even rate as cities to most people, which is precisely why they're so incredible.
Edit: Of big cities, the answer is easily NYC and it's not remotely close. I haven't been to Montreal, really wanna go one day as it's only four hours away, but NYC is just, I don't even know honestly. There's something about that city man.
Probably the best town I've been in thus far was either Rome, Maine or White Lake, South Dakota. These places wouldn't even rate as cities to most people, which is precisely why they're so incredible.
Edit: Of big cities, the answer is easily NYC and it's not remotely close. I haven't been to Montreal, really wanna go one day as it's only four hours away, but NYC is just, I don't even know honestly. There's something about that city man.
Last edited:
Trogdor1123
Member
I'm very poorly traveled but for me it would be Quebec City or Whitehorse.
I live in a bigger city now and can't to move to the countryside so I'm probably not the best at this question.
I live in a bigger city now and can't to move to the countryside so I'm probably not the best at this question.
Jinxed
Member
I open the thread and see my childhood/least favorite city. God I hate Montreal
p_xavier
Authorized Fister
I guess you live in Toronto now.
Jinxed
Member
No, north shore of Montreal in a small town. I've grown to hate big cities
Last edited:
p_xavier
Authorized Fister
I used to live in Quartier International I loved it there. Was 2 minutes walk to work too. I had a view of the fire fountain from my living room. Though it's not affordable anymore, it's like 2000$ per sf nowadays.
Toots
Member
I was thinking quartier international was around Jean Talon because i remember when i was there (10 years ago) it was pretty multicultural (loved the latino fish restaurant that blasted bachata everyday around 6/7pm), compared to the rest of the city which was mostly english speakers, then french speakers.
I see it is around centre ville not so far from place des arts so absolutely not where i thought...
Anyway to stay on topic everyone's favorite city is Paris, where you can see and steal all the glorious french past and present (future is restricted to asylum seekers and illegal aliens/predators please understand).