Cities you'd never return to

uch · 22-04-2014 02:49PM

Barcelona, Dirty smelly shíthole

Frog Song · 22-04-2014 02:51PM

Was really disappointed with San Francisco. Thought I'd love it. American cities in general actually, their homeless situation is depressing and Americans are the most annoying creatures on this planet. Not all but a hell of a lot! Hated Las Vegas with a passion. Though I liked New York, I'd go back there again.

Cairo and Naples were dodgy.

The most unsafe I've ever felt was Nairobi. I couldn't wait to get out of there.

Sunny Beach in Bulgaria, anywhere that thinks it's entertainment to make a poor, half dead Bear dance for tourists is in my bad books. I know this isn't the only place that does it but it's the only place I've personally seen it. And it's meant to be illegal. Disgusting carry on.

In general I try to find the best in any place I go so I haven't really truly hated anywhere I've been. Except Bulgaria!

fricatus · 22-04-2014 02:58PM

Frog Song wrote: »

Sunny Beach in Bulgaria, anywhere that thinks it's entertainment to make a poor, half dead Bear dance for tourists is in my bad books. I know this isn't the only place that does it but it's the only place I've personally seen it. And it's meant to be illegal. Disgusting carry on.

:eek:

I was there and found it grand... I never would have gone if I thought that sort of thing went on. When were you there?

It's like something out of Borat... "we heff dencink bear show - you buy teecket???"

Tony EH · 22-04-2014 02:59PM

Yeh, agree on San Francisco.

It's just fake. Fake atmosphere, fake positivity, fake everything...except for their homeless problem.

It was utterly depressing to see the sheer amount of homeless people on the streets of San Francisco. Going to work in the morning, looking at people in 10,000 dollar suits on Market street strolling by old Chinese ladies searching bins for a bit of food.

It was absolutely disgusting, and a striking symbol of everything that wrong with American society.

The vast majority of the homeless are there because they're mentally handicapped, but without the ability to pay for their care, they end up on the streets, left to die.

The only thing worth seeing in San Francisco is the USS Pampanito.

smurgen · 22-04-2014 03:08PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I love these threads.

People from some godawful bog in Offaly or wherever telling the world they think Paris, Barcelona, Copenhagen(!?!), Venice, Amsterdam, Prague, San Francisco etc are 'kips'

I know it's all about opinions but all you are showing is your own ignorance.

Have any of those calling Glasgow a kip spent a sunny afternoon in the West End? Did people who don't like Amsterdam get out of the centre and spend time around the canals? three blocks west of the city centre I think Amsterdam is possibly the most beautiful city on the planet! Hamburg - boring? You are doing it wrong. Paris? LOL. Paris is a vast city. Its attractions are pretty much limitless and I've never found the people there particularly rude. Barcelona is an amazing city and fantastic fun if you don't spend all day walking up and down las ramblas.

Agree about Birmingham though.

Paris is a dump overall in my opinion.i''ve been there about 20 times as some of my friends are from there.it's very dirty in parts and can be very dangerous too.I also done all the touristy things there.so yeah in my opinion it's a dump.do not understand the romanticism associated with it.some good clubs there though.

Lollipops23 · 22-04-2014 03:16PM

Cairo would be top of list of "places I'll never go back to". Actually, all of Egypt.

I'm glad I saw Egypt, but would never see myself returning. The fact that all tourists get ill when visiting (in my case, pretty seriously) due to the lack of hygiene is suggestive of how they see their tourism industry. I full understand that it's a different world and there's a huge amount of poverty, but the assumption that we all came from a wealthy background got annoying VERY fast. Myself and my mate scrimped and saved to be able to travel there.

And the fact that men thought it was ok to perv on us openly made us uncomfortable from the off. Again, if much of your income comes from western tourists, learn what they deem to be inappropriate and upsetting.

Bogger77 · 22-04-2014 03:21PM

ElChe32 wrote: »

TBH while they are incredibly attractive they are a bit standoffish mainly because Swedish guys are utterly useless as picking them up unless they are beyond drunk.
Turn up there with the Irish accent and a bit of charm and it does wonders! WONDERS I TELL YE

there's my summer holidays sorted

Frog Song · 22-04-2014 03:22PM

fricatus wrote: »

:eek:

I was there and found it grand... I never would have gone if I thought that sort of thing went on. When were you there?

It's like something out of Borat... "we heff dencink bear show - you buy teecket???"

Must have been about 7 years ago now. I'm not sure if it still goes on or not but friends of mine were there more recently (maybe 3 years ago?) and saw it too. It really put me off the place, so upsetting, the bear had its teeth and claws removed too. I'd say the poor creature is dead by now, I hope he is to release him from that cruelty

When I came home I donated to a charity that helps the bears and were trying to stop it, it got to me so much. The British and Irish tourists clapping along with their kids was even more depressing

Maybe things have changed, I hope so. But I'll never have fond memories of it thanks to that.

Lollipops23 · 22-04-2014 03:23PM

Bogger77 wrote: »

there's my summer holidays sorted

It's true, I had a male mate living in Sweden and he was scoring like a Jedi.

Frog Song · 22-04-2014 03:24PM

Tony EH wrote: »

Yeh, agree on San Francisco.

It's just fake. Fake atmosphere, fake positivity, fake everything...except for their homeless problem.

It was utterly depressing to see the sheer amount of homeless people on the streets of San Francisco. Going to work in the morning, looking at people in 10,000 dollar suits on Market street strolling by old Chinese ladies searching bins for a bit of food.

It was absolutely disgusting, and a striking symbol of everything that wrong with American society.

The vast majority of the homeless are there because they're mentally handicapped, but without the ability to pay for their care, they end up on the streets, left to die.

The only thing worth seeing in San Francisco is the USS Pampanito.

Completely agree with every word of this! It's appalling. I don't know how people can enjoy the city when that's everywhere you turn! It's not something I could overlook.

bodice ripper · 22-04-2014 03:25PM

Barcelona and Orlando. I just hated being there.

thrashmetalfan · 22-04-2014 03:26PM

Tony EH wrote: »

Yeh, agree on San Francisco.

It's just fake. Fake atmosphere, fake positivity, fake everything...except for their homeless problem.

It was utterly depressing to see the sheer amount of homeless people on the streets of San Francisco. Going to work in the morning, looking at people in 10,000 dollar suits on Market street strolling by old Chinese ladies searching bins for a bit of food.

It was absolutely disgusting, and a striking symbol of everything that wrong with American society.

The vast majority of the homeless are there because they're mentally handicapped, but without the ability to pay for their care, they end up on the streets, left to die.

The only thing worth seeing in San Francisco is the USS Pampanito.

I saw all that too when I was in san fran. lots of poor homeless that need looking after because of course they are mentally ill. the only good thing was haight street. lots of cool record stores there at the time I was there in 1998, amoeba music is mental what with the amount of stock they have. to be quite blunt after reading all the horror stories, a nice weekend in Termonfeckin would do me grand!!

fricatus · 22-04-2014 03:36PM

Frog Song wrote: »

The British and Irish tourists clapping along with their kids was even more depressing

Jeez, you'd have thought ourselves and the Brits would be fairly turned off by that sort of thing in this day and age! :mad:

Frog Song · 22-04-2014 03:38PM

fricatus wrote: »

Jeez, you'd have thought ourselves and the Brits would be fairly turned off by that sort of thing in this day and age! :mad:

Afraid not. If they were the guy wouldn't be doing it.

Bogger77 · 22-04-2014 03:49PM

Olive8585 wrote: »

Really? I found it quite nice. Boring as fcuk though.

Nice and boring, but train station area smells of wee, and was one of the few places I didn't feel safe in.

City center was ok, again not ultra exciting. I don't plan to go back, but I wouldn't avoid it either. it's less than 90mins by train from Vienna/Wien, and a 2 day return ticket with public transport in Bratislava included was less than 16e last summer.

Bogger77 · 22-04-2014 03:58PM

purplecow1977 wrote: »

Prague, Krakow, Budapest (Yes I know they appeared!) Ljubljana, Zadar, Split, Mostar, Sarajevo, Dubrovnik

been to the first 3, if you're travelling on the night train between Krakow and Prague/Praha, I found that to be a brutal trip

bring water, and your own pillow and sheet, if you can pay an agency to book you a cabin, the couchettes are brutal, very soviet.

Fred Swanson · 22-04-2014 04:10PM

This post has been deleted.

whackjob · 22-04-2014 04:17PM

Anywhere in Croatia, riga, blenheim NZ( not a city) derby,vittoria ....belfast
I will surely think of a few more !!

Mensch Maschine · 22-04-2014 04:22PM

Borderfox wrote: »

Prague, beautiful city but the people in it are wan**r's!!

That's funny you say that because I was bought a shot by some guy in a bar. Turns out they were criminals (according to a friend who was local), smartly dressed, rough looking dudes. Anyway, I said "why?" and he just said that he wants us to gave a good memory of Prague and Czech people.

Happened again in another club but it was enough for a joint. Guy collecting his gf at a club overheard me talking about smoking. He came back and said "here, have this." I was skeptical again. I asked "how much" but he just said "no, take it" and said something along the lines of wanting us to have a good memory of Prague.

But then again, I'm friendly and people talk to me all the time and vice versa.

So, you know I do the same when I come across tourists. I go out of the way to give them directions, take them to a bar they'd like and just generally make them feel welcome. You can be in a **** city but if the people are nice, you'll go back.

dj jarvis · 22-04-2014 04:24PM

Spring Onion wrote: »

Your exact line was "you think Dublin city has a junkie problem ??? go to ANY major German city , go to the main train station of that city , and sit back and enjoy the zombie show"

I am not disputing any other German cities, I am saying Leipzig is a huge train station and has no junkie problem in it or around it. A simple apology will suffice.

LOL , will it now !!! an apology you say

So you are asking us to believe that ONE city has managed to wipe out the zombie and drunk infestation ? HALLELUJAH !!!
but , why dont the rest of the German city's just copy this panacea that Leipzig has managed , or maybe the reality is your talking out the top of your hat.

and really , even if ONE city did manage it , that makes your point more valid and mine less? ????

RRRIGGGHHHHTTTT BOSCO !!!!!

pedants - dont you just LOVE them , missing the bigger picture since forever

Frank Lee Midere · 22-04-2014 04:34PM

eisenberg1 wrote: »

To be fair, its people giving their opinion, based on their experience, of a city they did not like and will not be returning to.....

Venturing off the beaten track a little......mmmm, that's an idea. I am sure most would not have thought of that;)

Seriously though, a lot of the opinions may be based on a 2-3 day weekend, in which case, most veer towards the tourist traps, unless you have been before. If you have more time, you will probably find some redeeming feature in a lot of places (maybe not Birmingham :eek:)

By the by, I enjoyed Las Ramblas.....................

The problem seems to me that people are not even giving the "tourist traps" a visit. It's worthwhile swallowing your pride and being a tourist. I recommend the "red buses" in all cities. In fact I've been on some more than once.

Frank Lee Midere · 22-04-2014 04:37PM

Tony EH wrote: »

Yeh, agree on San Francisco.

It's just fake. Fake atmosphere, fake positivity, fake everything...except for their homeless problem.

It was utterly depressing to see the sheer amount of homeless people on the streets of San Francisco. Going to work in the morning, looking at people in 10,000 dollar suits on Market street strolling by old Chinese ladies searching bins for a bit of food.

It was absolutely disgusting, and a striking symbol of everything that wrong with American society.

The vast majority of the homeless are there because they're mentally handicapped, but without the ability to pay for their care, they end up on the streets, left to die.

The only thing worth seeing in San Francisco is the USS Pampanito.

Oh For ****'s sake. Firstly San Francisco has a homeless problem because it is liberal towards the homeless, they are not moved on and/ or locked up. Unlike Texas. So you are blaming San Fran for the problems of harsher cities. Secondly of course there is more to see in San Francisco than a boat.

Captain Farrell · 22-04-2014 04:43PM

Dublin. After over a decade of living in Ireland, i have to say that now i live elsewhere the only city i would never visit again is Dublin. I have had the displeasure of working there, entertaining clients there and going to weddings etc there for ten years, in which time it has degenerated into a scum-filled hellhole, its soul ripped out by beggars, junkies and D4 arsëholes.

it is possibly the only city in Europe where i don't feel safe.

22-04-2014 04:49PM

fricatus wrote: »

... are not entitled to an opinion?

If their opinion is that Copenhagen is a kip, or that Berlin is boring - then no.

Of course different people can like different things but it's an odd habit in this country that we LOVE calling other cities and countries 'kips'. imo that is just insulting.

Particularly because objectively speaking we have one of the worst built environments you could imagine and the usual anglo-saxon 'nightlife' of an allotted 6 hours skulling pints on a Friday night before a fight and a taxi home.

I love Dublin but nobody who lives here should be calling Paris, Prague or Venice a 'kip', it's just laughable.

If you don't like somewhere then fine - nothing wrong with the posters above making valid points about San Francisco (a city I love), but the idiotic blanket dismissals just come across as ignorance.

whackjob · 22-04-2014 04:52PM

Captain Farrell I am not being a w...ker here but is it because you can realise a scumbag, i have probably drank and walked through real dodgy areas around the world but you just know a scumbag in Ireland, I live near Limerick and you just know them and cross the road and avoid eye contact, around the train station is lethal..worst places for signs of hard drugs Zurich and Copenhagen, surprisingly..it was a long time ago..Dublin is just too expensive to enjoy..

Tony EH · 22-04-2014 04:58PM

Frank Lee Midere wrote: »

Oh For ****'s sake. Firstly San Francisco has a homeless problem because it is liberal towards the homeless, they are not moved on and/ or locked up. Unlike Texas. So you are blaming San Fran for the problems of harsher cities. Secondly of course there is more to see in San Francisco than a boat.

Yeh. There's also Alcatraz. :pac:

Eponymous · 22-04-2014 04:59PM

Saarbrucken. If you can even call it a city. Shantytown is being kind.

I wasn't massively impressed by Rome. Don't know if I'd never return, but I find it highly unlikely that I'd feel any sort of desire to.

Birroc · 22-04-2014 05:13PM

dj jarvis wrote: »

LOL , will it now !!! an apology you say

So you are asking us to believe that ONE city has managed to wipe out the zombie and drunk infestation ? HALLELUJAH !!!
but , why dont the rest of the German city's just copy this panacea that Leipzig has managed , or maybe the reality is your talking out the top of your hat.

and really , even if ONE city did manage it , that makes your point more valid and mine less? ????

RRRIGGGHHHHTTTT BOSCO !!!!!

pedants - dont you just LOVE them , missing the bigger picture since forever

You asked for one example, SpringOnion gave you one, just admit it and stop spoofing. Unless you can prove that Leipsig is no different to every other major train station in Germany.

22-04-2014 05:13PM

Eponymous wrote: »

Saarbrucken. If you can even call it a city. Shantytown is being kind.

lol?
I thought it was nice

I am pie · 22-04-2014 05:21PM

"it is possibly the only city in Europe where i don't feel safe...."

Either you haven't travelled so much despite your claims or you are prone to wild hyperbole.

Cities you'd never return to

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