What with today being Valentine’s Day and all, Lonely Planet ran an article on their website today on the cities they’d make out with.
Never having felt the compulsion to make out with a city – or a town or a village for that matter – I thought I’d simply list five cities that I love. And ask which five cities you love.
In a platonic, non-freaky-anthropomorphic way, of course.
1. Sydney
My hometown. Grab a kilo of prawns from the Fish Markets, pull up a pew somewhere down on the harbour and you’ll be smitten too.
2. Tokyo
I spent a year living here after I finished university. Full on culture shock but strangely comforting at the same time. My abiding memory is being invited to share a sake or two under a flowering cherry blossom tree on the way home from work. Lovely.
3. Istanbul
I was hooked on my first night there. Ripped off by a taxi driver, dumped outside the Blue Mosque just before dawn, spent an hour watching swallows darting around the minarets as the call went out for prayer. Magic!
4. Livorno
Not everyone’s cup of tea (or ponce) but my favourite place in Italy. It’s not always the cities themselves that endear you to a place but rather the people that live there.
5. Cape Town
The biggest mistake I made travelling from Cape Town to Cairo was starting in Cape Town. I never wanted to leave! Everything conspired against me – good friends, cold beer and surprisingly good weather for July. Thank God it wasn’t summer.
Honourable Mention – Stockholm
My first visit was a week or two before Christmas and I thought I’d walked into a Christmas Card. It was exactly what I imagined a city in Scandinavia to be like during Yuletide – and I loved the way shopkeepers lay pine tree branches at the door for your to wipe your boots on. Very effective at cleaning off slush – and the aroma released from the crushed pine needles was extremely evocative.
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Picking a favourite city for me is like being asked to choose my favourite song or film- so much depends on context, memories evoked etc and the form I am in when the question is asked!
But today my answers would have to be:
1 Windhoek- simply because it marked the culmination of a three month expedition in 2001 and marked my re-emergence into a bustling world after being in some of the most isolated parts of Namibia.
2. Barcelona- my “go to city”- basically if I need a few days away not feeling the need to be a tourist- somewhere I know well enough not to have to worry about getting around but still have plenty of options I will go to Barca- plus the fact it was were I proposed to my now-wife (as this is Valentine’s Day maybe I should have pushed that to no 1!)
3 Bratislava- Despite the no-go area that was the toilets in the hostel, the lovely square (only partially uglified by the large concrete security wall in front of the US embassy!) and a disco held on a boat on the river helped make this a great wee place.
4 Calgary- Possibly not just down to the city and the great people who live there, but also its location (I’m kind of cheating here since it was my base that allowed me to explore Banff, Jasper and Edmonton)- the friendliest people I have ever met even down to the poor waiter who spent ages regaling me with his skills at pouring a Guinness and putting a shamrock on top to then be told I don’t actually drink- his look of confusion and bewilderment that an Irishman would say such a thing will stick with me to my dying day!
5. Rijeka- My enduring memory was sitting on the train ready to leave when an old gentleman with three fingers missing came in and tried to start a conversation with us. He obvioulsy had many tales to tell and as he switched from Croatian to German to Italian in an attempt to chat with us, we felt very ill educated indeed (the only phrase I knew inCroatian at this stage was “I am single” and I don’t think that would have worked too well!) But despite language difficulties we did find out he had lost a son around our age but really we knew he had more tales to tell- really ashamed of our ignorance but glad to have made his acquaintence nontheless.
Oh and my memorable mention would be Rome since that is where I actually got married!
1. Salzburg, Austria.
Small, old and that architecture is amazing. Great little city to explore. I’d love to live here.
2. Stockholm, Sweden
Great vibe, good mix of modern & old.
3. Kiev, Ukraine
Interesting place. Appears to be a smart old city, but scratch the surface & there’s a bit of scruffy post soviet grime there.
4. Vienna, Austria
Beautiful old city. The Xmas markets are great and the Rathaus is worth the visit alone.
5. Madrid, Spain
Great to explore, stunning food, relaxed atmosphere and a brilliant nightlife.
Might as well throw in my 2p worth..
1. Napoli. Stroll around for hours in the maze that is the old city and just watch life pass you by. In the north of Italy they look down on the south, it being too African. I’d take that as a compliment.
2. Buenos Aires. Culture, music, great atmosphere, best food, fitting capital for one of the nicest countries I have visited.
3. Guanajato. Hidden treasure in Mexico. No traffic in town center, many steps, many small alleys, another town to walk around for days in a row. And then sit down in a park in the evening when the town comes alive.
4. San Sebastian. Forget the horror stories about Basque country. This city has it all. Beaches, mountains all in walking distance. In the old town every other building is a bar or restaurant where the best pinchos (known as tapas everywhere else in the world) are impossible to just walk by.
5. Amsterdam. Not chauvinistic, but I just love the international ambience, where travelers and locals mingle as if there are no borders. Where soft drugs are tolerated (not legal, though many seem to think so), but crime is still not an important factor. Where you do not transport to see the other part of town as in many metropole. Amsterdam is the smallest metropole in the world.
Honorable mention: Sydney. Having worked there as an Olympic volunteer, the city will always remain part of me.
1. Sydney. Will never forget the first time I saw the Iconic Harbour Bridge & Opera House. It was my first time on the other side of the world and it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up when I caught my first glimpse. And it has continued to do so on each visit thereafter. I love Circular Quay..and Coogee, and fish & chips at Watsons Bay. I had the best day of my life there – new Years 2001 – with my whole family. I cant wait to visit again in December this year.
2. Cape Town. Africa is my favourite continent and Cape town was like being back in the real world again after months of 3rd world Africa…which dont get me wrong I loved as well. Cape town, gorgeous beaches, the stunning views of table mountain from the loo window (fitted with binoculars) in Ashanti Lodge backpackers, even more stunning views from the topof the Mountain itsself. Seeing Robben Island and where Mandela was held for so long was special & really makes you appreciate what you have. Oh & getting plentiful fresh dairy again after weeks & weeks of UHT & plastic cheese!!
3. Vancouver, what a stunning multicultural city. What a stunning backdrop over the water with the mountains in the background. I couldnt believe there was snow on Grouse mountain In June. I didnt believe it was real & thought it had been put there for the tourist!! Oh & the nightlife…. (was a bit younger then!!) Pot capital of North America…am I allowed to say that??
4. Beunos Aires, The Paris of South America. Big wide beautiful boulevards, Parisian architecture, salsa & tango in the streets, lovely & very cheap beer & the best steaks in the world!! (sorry Australia)
5. Istanbul. OMG what a metropolis. The bazzars, the mosques, the food, the palaces, the tea, the Bospherous, the people trying to sell you stuff everywhere….and I will never forget the hangover after meeting up with my friend from Melbourne there after almost 3 years!
Honourable mention(s)
But those are just the cities, the world is more than cities…..
Favourite Continent – Africa, it takes over your soul and I defy anyone not to go there and be changed forever, It is almost biblical in its simple & very poor existance. It will occupy a place in your heart forever.
Favourite Country – New Zealand. I live in a beautiful county – Scotland. New Zealand is like Scotland but on a much grander scale….and with a lot better weather. The diversity of the landscape between coromandel & Bay of Islands to the north, to the Geothermal areas of Rotorua and then to the stunning Southern Alps & Glaciers & then the Fjordland in the South Island. I love love love middle earth….The people are incredibly generous – I was even invited to stay with a lady I met on the bus in Wellington one day when she heard my accent & found out I had nowhere booked to stay that night. Queenstown is my favourite wee town in the world. Adventure playground ans stunning scenery to boot. And hey…New Zealand , Marlborough Sauvingon Blanc…..best wine in the world. (sorry again Australia)
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