Cities you'd never return to

Olive8585 wrote: »

Why is Athens so bad? I've started to think about going there recently but keep reading that it's a sh1thole.

Athens would have been one of the most beautiful cities in the world, only for the planning decisions of past governments and the greed of the Greeks themselves. The old buildings are simply amazing and the city must have looked beautiful in the 50s. Alas now it is overbuilt, dirty and full of grafitti. Service levels are non-existant and it is damned expensive. Over half the city is closed and what is open even if brand new, normally ends up covered in painted slogans.

Alas my vast experience of Athens leaves me cold. The only thing good about Athens is the weather. The islands are better, but it also depends on where you are going. Shame, could be heaven on earth, if it were not for the Greeks...(Cue abuse)..;)

Olive8585 wrote: »

Why is Athens so bad? I've started to think about going there recently but keep reading that it's a sh1thole.

There are grotty areas and the pollution can be stifling if you're living there but from a tourist point of view it's an interesting experience. The food and drink is delicious. The Acropolis is stunning during the day when you can visit the site and at night when it's lit up. There is also a new museum attached to the site. There are a lot of other interesting museums art, archaeological, byzantine. At night you can walk through the plaka old quarter and soak up the atmosphere. There are also a lot of hills that you can trek up for lovely views if the weather isn't too hot. The flea market has beautiful jewelry and knock off football shirts. If all this isn't your cup of tea you can just sit in a taverna and drink Hellas Beer, Mythos, retsina, raki and enjoy the sights and sounds and listen to the people bitch about the economic crisis and the government which is a favorite Irish past-time.

I quite liked Amsterdam. Not so keen on the Hague . Rotterdam was ok but my favourite was Arnhem.

Would like to go to Belguim though - it seems much more interesting. Only ever been to Spa there and passed through the German speaking areas of that country.

Ive always had favourable thoughts about most places Ive gone to except Greece and thats because I got sick.

tobybinns wrote: »

If you go to Belgium, you gotta visit Oostend! It is paradise with it's lovely city scenery and beautiful beach! :cool:

Dont like Oostenders!

was thinking more about Liege and the WW1 Battlefields etc. Oh and the Beer.

losthorizon wrote: »

Dont like Oostenders!

was thinking more about Liege and the WW1 Battlefields etc. Oh and the Beer.

What exactly don't you like about the place?

Olive8585 wrote: »

Why use the French terms? Antwerp is Anvers in French anyway, not Antwerp.

Well aware of it,I used to live 50 km from Antwerp, the reason I used those terms is because English speakers use the french terms for 3 of the cities and we use neither the french nor flemish name when talking about Antwerpen/anvers.

Leuven,brugge and Genk would not be so easily recognized in English speaking countries,hope this clarifies your obscure question.

the blunder years wrote: »

I've seen LA mentioned quite a few times, and I know it has a rep for being notorious shallow and hollow town and gets a lot of hate, my sister went on her J1 to LA and hated the place. Does it have any redeeming qualities, I'd love to visit places like Laurel Canyon and Silver lake or is it just a miserable place.

I don't know if it would be worth it. There's nicer places to see that kind of thing. Even in California. You could swing up to Yosemite. Also, Washington State is absolutely beautiful! I've heard Oregon is amazing, I plan to go there in November. I also hope to see Maine...that's meant to be incredible too. I'd love to see Nova Scotia at some point.

Arizona has some pretty great hiking trails if that Canyon is any indication of what you're into

Hollywood, such a let down

Manky, full of tacky souvenir shops, junkies and sex shops. The poxy stars on the pavement certainly dont make it worthwhile

tobybinns wrote: »

What exactly don't you like about the place?

Its a joke. Think of the BBC

the blunder years wrote: »

Yeah I love to go to the West coast of America, also some Southern states as well. Just on a side note seen as you mentioned better places in California, my sister liked San Diego.

I'm not a huge fan of San Diego. Some of the beaches are nice and the Zoo is cool but the city itself is a whole lot of MEH. It's on the water so that's cool but meh.

I was in Louisiana recently. That was different! It had a different vibe to it than the rest of America. San Francisco, New York and New Orleans are cities I've been to in the states where it actually does feel historic. Most of the rest are just so modern they don't have any feel to them at all

retalivity wrote: »

I must be in the minority by thinking paris was not expensive at all. Was able to get fabulous food every night for 10-15euro, along with a cheap bottle of plonk.
Niagara falls is a dump, a mini sleazy vegas. And I didnt get across to the american side bit heard it was worse. Detroit is also exactly what you expect. - a crumbling hole

I agree, Detroit is like the day after a nuclear explosion. Chicago is like a battle zone on the south and west sides and everything closes so damned early.

Take a trip outside the cities to the countryside of the Midwest and there are some amazing places. The people are genuine and innocent and it is completely safe. Out by Iowa, Illinois border through Wisconsin is stunning.

The west coast for me is pretty awful. California while it is lovely, I personally didn't like the people or the atmosphere. Up to Seattle is beautiful. The drive is spectacular. If you want beautiful scenery Colorado.... WOW!!!!!

Florida on the east coast is too "wanna be"ish.... the west coast if different. It has a different vibe and is much more laid back. Sanabel area is beautiful and no one on the beaches.

America is such a vast country, there are simply too many places to see and things to do. Most cities are similar (vast track shopping malls) New York for me is the most magical city in the world. I love it. The energy the fun the rudeness combined with the utter ability of New Yorkers to surprise you constantly.

Seattle is nothing like I was expecting. Downtown is simply full of junkies and drop outs. Yet there are these massive rich areas.... talk about a city that has an identity crisis (much like LA)

Funnily enough Ive spent the last few years going from Liverpool in England south down to Gibraltar and now heading north again so passed through a lot of French cities. But I didnt go through Paris as I thought there would be too much to do. I didnt want to get bogged down. Plus I thought there would be too many tourists there.

Well I started in Dungarvan and made my way up through Waterford to Dublin and across to the Isle of Man to Liverpool.

Olive8585 wrote: »

Hardly an obscure question. I've never met an English speaker who didn't know Leuven as Leuven. Anytime I heard it referred to as Louvain, the person was talking about Louvain-la-Neuve.

That you have never met one who calls the Place Louvain is not a great arguement tbf.I have never Heard of the city being called Leuven until I lived in relative proximity to it.

Whenever it was mentioned in Ireland,it was referred to as Louvain,and as it had/has the Irish College,it was mentioned frequently,especially in Irish History and in the history of Irish(the language).

I mentioned 4 cities,3 of them by their french name,as they are better known by their French names here,and Antwerpen by the English "Antwerp".

I just don't know what the Point of you quoting me was

If you are Flemish or something.......Well....Congratulations.