Cities you'd never return to

I am pie · 06-05-2014 08:12PM

Olive8585 wrote: »

Be thankful you weren't stopped by the police, then, because it's ILLEGAL not to carry your passport in Spain.

None of the people I know who had bad experiences in Barcelona are anything like that.

Illegal not to carry your passport in Spain? I'm calling that out as nonsense. It's a schengen country, you don't even need a passport to enter it if you are an EU national (outside of Ire/UK). If you are suggesting the police are stopping tourists and asking for passports, you're wrong/lying/exagerrating wildly.

Again, not my favourite place but beyond the threat of pickpocketing (which can be guarded against to a certain extent) it is not a particularly dangerous city.

Seaneh · 06-05-2014 08:16PM

I am pie wrote: »

I didn't say any of that, but nice try putting words in my mouth so you could have a pop. You've knocked together a nice boozy strawman based on nothing I've said, bit precious, but sure that's your own perogative.

The words uncultured never featured in my post, neither did pissup.

If you think it's self righteous to say that perhaps when travelling to other cities around Europe it is worth investing time in enjoying the culinary and cultural offerings native to that place, then I'm lost for words.

I think it's a shame to travel and head to an Irish bar, why not stay at home and enjoy..err, Irish bars. Certainly get drunk whilst visiting somewher, try and do it in a local bar perhaps? Maybe with some local food and wine though? Maybe even with a bit of local music in the back ground. Revolutionary.

You're the one who implied that people who don't like places don't have any interest in museums, local food or local people (the culture of an area) and are only being interested in visiting a certain type of bar.

I don't like Barcelona for many reasons and funnily enough one of them is the over abundance of crap bars full of nothing but northern Europeans getting hammered on cheap san miguel.
Hablo español, I have been all over spain and Barcelona (actually, the east coast in general) is my least favourite part of the country because it's the area with the most tourists and the worst tourist culture.

Duck's hoop · 06-05-2014 08:18PM

Olive8585 wrote: »

I haven't been to many other places where the above mentioned things were that much in your face. Most people I know who have been to Barcelona have been affected by one or more of them. Kind of ruins your holiday when you get violently mugged and end up with a broken cheekbone, can't fly home because your passport was stolen or worse. Yes, nowhere is safe, but I've been to few other first world cities with as sketchy a vibe as Barcelona. I don't think the craic is that great either, it's way overpriced and the locals are stuck up. If I ever somehow ended up there again, I'd be on the first bus down to Valencia.

Been all over it. Everywhere. Many times. All times of the day and night. Alone and with friends. Underground, overground, parks, plazas, boardwalks, marinas, docks, beachside, hillside. Met all sorts, immigrants and migrants and Catalan and grockle.

Never once had a scintilla of hassle. Just lots of great encounters.

My pal was turned upside down in Madrid outside a shisha joint but I'd still go back in a second. And have done.

But then maybe I'm observant and know when to steer clear. I've never been the victim of a crime in any part of the world.

Seaneh · 06-05-2014 08:18PM

I am pie wrote: »

Illegal not to carry your passport in Spain? I'm calling that out as nonsense. It's a schengen country, you don't even need a passport to enter it if you are an EU national (outside of Ire/UK). If you are suggesting the police are stopping tourists and asking for passports, you're wrong/lying/exagerrating wildly.

Everyone in Spain must carry government issued identification. Spanish nationals carry a Documento Nacional de Identidad, non nationals are required to carry a passport.

http://www.rondatoday.com/1180/carrying-id-when-living-in-spain

Olive8585 · 06-05-2014 08:22PM

I am pie wrote: »

Illegal not to carry your passport in Spain? I'm calling that out as nonsense. It's a schengen country, you don't even need a passport to enter it if you are an EU national (outside of Ire/UK). If you are suggesting the police are stopping tourists and asking for passports, you're wrong/lying/exagerrating wildly.

Again, not my favourite place but beyond the threat of pickpocketing (which can be guarded against to a certain extent) it is not a particularly dangerous city.

Wow, a know-it-all. I have lived in Spain, I think I know what the rules are. I have known several people who have been asked for passports. If you are fortunate enough to look white and European, you'll probably be fine, but yes, it is illegal not to carry your ID. So there's nothing 'stupid' about having it on you at all times.

Duck's hoop · 06-05-2014 08:22PM

Seaneh wrote: »

Hablo español, I have been all over spain and Barcelona (actually, the east coast in general) is my least favourite part of the country because it's the area with the most tourists and the worst tourist culture.

Ah now. Whatever about Barcelona, the Costa Brava is undeniably magnificent.

Seaneh · 06-05-2014 08:24PM

Duck's hoop wrote: »

Ah now. Whatever about Barcelona, the Costa Brava is undeniably magnificent.

It is, it's beautiful, as are many other parts of the east of the country like, but, in general, the East coast is a bit of a tourist trap and has a ridiculous amount of resort towns. But you have problems like that all over the med, not just in Spain in fairness.

Balmed Out · 06-05-2014 08:48PM

ArnoldJRimmer wrote: »

Valencia is a pleasant little city

Little city? its a fair bit bigger then Dublin

Olive8585 · 06-05-2014 08:52PM

Balmed Out wrote: »

Little city? its a fair bit bigger then Dublin

Valencia is really walkable, though. You can walk around all the touristy bits easily, walk to the beach, etc.

Daveysil15 · 06-05-2014 09:05PM

I am pie wrote: »

I think it's a shame to travel and head to an Irish bar, why not stay at home and enjoy..err, Irish bars. Certainly get drunk whilst visiting somewher, try and do it in a local bar perhaps? Maybe with some local food and wine though? Maybe even with a bit of local music in the back ground. Revolutionary.

It's always nice to explore different cultures and try the local cuisine etc, but there's nothing wrong with hitting the Irish bars either. Some of the best nights out I've ever had were in Irish bars. Each to their own.

MW2FAN · 06-05-2014 09:07PM

Florida=old peoples home

Paris= dirty kip

Naples=nasty,dangerous, dirty kip

Daveysil15 · 06-05-2014 09:08PM

MW2FAN wrote: »

Florida=old peoples home

Paris= dirty kip

Naples=nasty,dangerous, dirty kip

Really? The entire state?

MW2FAN · 06-05-2014 09:10PM

Daveysil15 wrote: »

Really? The entire state?

Mainly Orlando but international drive was horrible and also the north isn't too great. Miami is alright unless getting shot is what you consider 'nice'

C14N · 06-05-2014 09:13PM

Daveysil15 wrote: »

Who in their right mind would want to go to Lagos?

I assume it's like Dubai where people go for business since Lagos is one of the biggest cities in Africa. I'd go under circumstances like those, it doesn't sound very nice but it would be interesting at least.

MW2FAN wrote: »

Florida=old peoples home

Naples=nasty,dangerous, dirty kip

Funnily enough there is a town in Florida called Naples which is lovely.

Daveysil15 · 06-05-2014 09:19PM

MW2FAN wrote: »

Mainly Orlando but international drive was horrible and also the north isn't too great. Miami is alright unless getting shot is what you consider 'nice'

I haven't been to Miami but I was in Orlando years ago. It's seems to be a fairly mixed demographic same as most cities no?

ElizaT33 · 06-05-2014 09:34PM

Ive lived in Sydney, New York, San Francisco and Dublin - now I live in a cottage in Meath .... never happier!:). It's what you make of your surroundings, I think!

BuilderPlumber · 06-05-2014 09:58PM

Daveysil15 wrote: »

Who in their right mind would want to go to Lagos?

The simple answer is nobody. I was not in my right mind when I decided to go there. Other parts of West Africa I found to be normal and decent but not Lagos: a sesspit of the worst scammers on the planet, full of pick pockets and a place where even the train station personnel and police seem to be in on the scammer act too. Other parts of Nigeria are fine (other than the northern Boko Haram ruled states of course) and Lagos gives Southern Nigeria a bad name.

Dermighty · 06-05-2014 09:59PM

Barcelona

Venice

Seville

Hull

BuilderPlumber · 06-05-2014 10:03PM

C14N wrote: »

I assume it's like Dubai where people go for business since Lagos is one of the biggest cities in Africa. I'd go under circumstances like those, it doesn't sound very nice but it would be interesting at least.

I would not advise doing business in Lagos!! Unless you really do know the people you are dealing with. It is full of scammers and unfortunately these are the most visible and are the main problem about the place. There are many many decent people there too but unfortunately corruption has taken over and is even in local authorities there and visitors are seen as people to extort money from. Scammers make people feel uneasy and unsafe and then convince people to pay up to avoid whatever worries they have.

BlatentCheek · 06-05-2014 10:03PM

Naples is a kip: streets full of skinny mangy dogs and their ****, police in ski masks with sub-machineguns pulling cars over and your liable to get boxed for wearing a football jersey the locals don't like (maybe its changed in the ten years or so since I was there)

Kilkenny is vastly overrated for a session: people confuse chronic overcrowding for atmosphere and every pub is just jam-packed with yahoos (Westport fulfills a similar market niche in a much nicer way)

Hipster areas of Brooklyn like Williamsburg: overpriced, quite kippy (because some hipster cachet attaches to things being run-down), and actually full of very boring and derivative people.

Also: Lagos a dump? Never!

Tsipras · 06-05-2014 10:03PM

Dermighty wrote: »

Barcelona

Venice

Seville

Hull

Spot the odd one out:)

daRobot · 06-05-2014 10:39PM

BlatentCheek wrote: »

your liable to get boxed for wearing a football jersey the locals don't like (maybe its changed in the ten years or so since I was there)

Wouldn't fancy ones chances wearing a Rangers jersey in many parts of Dublin, or many other parts of the country for that matter.

Frank Lee Midere · 06-05-2014 10:51PM

The whole Paris is a kip thing is fairly mind blowing. You guys were in the one in France, right?

C14N · 07-05-2014 01:23AM

BuilderPlumber wrote: »

I would not advise doing business in Lagos!! Unless you really do know the people you are dealing with. It is full of scammers and unfortunately these are the most visible and are the main problem about the place. There are many many decent people there too but unfortunately corruption has taken over and is even in local authorities there and visitors are seen as people to extort money from. Scammers make people feel uneasy and unsafe and then convince people to pay up to avoid whatever worries they have.

Maybe so but with 20 million people, there are going to be a good few multi-nationals in the city so it's easy to see how people could end up there for work. My dad has been in plenty of similarly impoverished cities for his own work and a friend of my uncle's has found himself in various parts of Africa and the middle east for the same reason.

Reiketsu · 07-05-2014 01:33AM

Frank Lee Midere wrote: »

The whole Paris is a kip thing is fairly mind blowing. You guys were in the one in France, right?

Yes. Where you in the one in France? :P

whatsthetime · 07-05-2014 01:52AM

lufties wrote: »

Having been in a good few places around the world, I would have to say Budapest is a beautiful one with regard to history and architecture, but it is definately to most unfriendly place I've been, the people I encountered were rude and unhelpful consistantly, hence I will not be returning. Other than that I'd say stuttgart in germany(yawn), or varanassi in India, an interesting place but a nightmare to get around.

London

Dermighty · 07-05-2014 02:13AM

Tsipras wrote: »

Spot the odd one out:)

Hull wasnt as bad as Barcelona!

Frank Lee Midere · 07-05-2014 08:14AM

Reiketsu wrote: »

Yes. Where you in the one in France? :P

5 times. It's easily the most spectacular city on earth. I just randomly dropped the little man from google street view on it and my suspicions are confirmed: it hasn't turned into Hull. Or Talbot street.

Nor is it "dirty". The streets are clean for the most part.

I think it's an inability to properly travel, the weekenders looking for pubs won't see much of a city.

Reiketsu · 07-05-2014 01:27PM

Frank Lee Midere wrote: »

5 times. It's easily the most spectacular city on earth. I just randomly dropped the little man from google street view on it and my suspicions are confirmed: it hasn't turned into Hull. Or Talbot street.

Nor is it "dirty". The streets are clean for the most part.

I think it's an inability to properly travel, the weekenders looking for pubs won't see much of a city.

There was sewage running onto the streets when I was there. Metro was stinking. My friend had her passport stolen and had to waste a day at the embassy. Another friend was spat in the face for absolutely no reason. I was refused service in a shop because they thought I was English. A friend I was with is allergic to nuts and I moved nuts sitting on a table in a bar onto the bar itself, explained why and the barman tutted and rolled eyes...great customer service. I was there and went around the city, so I experienced plenty of it. It was not a good experience for any of us.

CrabRevolution · 07-05-2014 02:45PM

Reiketsu wrote: »

There was sewage running onto the streets when I was there. Metro was stinking. My friend had her passport stolen and had to waste a day at the embassy. Another friend was spat in the face for absolutely no reason. I was refused service in a shop because they thought I was English. A friend I was with is allergic to nuts and I moved nuts sitting on a table in a bar onto the bar itself, explained why and the barman tutted and rolled eyes...great customer service. I was there and went around the city, so I experienced plenty of it. It was not a good experience for any of us.

While not as extreme an experience, I found Paris similarly awful. The rest of France is fine, especially Brittany (maybe my Celtic blood fit in more), but I wouldnt go back to Paris for love nor money.

Madrid was the opposite of Paris for me, I went expecting little, but found a wonderful city. I'm surprised its not up there and mentioned more often as a place to go. Maybe with big name competition like Barcelona and Paris its difficult to get a look in.

Cities you'd never return to

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