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Writer's Block: Cool places
Nov. 23rd, 2010 03:20 pm[Error: unknown template qotd]
There are around five cities I've visited in the world that I love so much that I think I could live in them long term (not including US cities on this list). They are, in order of least to most favorite;
5. Taipei - I love Taipei with all my heart. It's a great place full of tradition and magic. Chinese culture is so vibrant there, without the tone of censorship. However it's definitely not a very pretty city, and the heat and humidity definitely bring it lower on my list.
4. Paris - What to say about Paris? I was there for only a few days, but I utterly fell in love. The small city streets, the food, the ambiance.... It was all perfect. However it lacks something for me. I'm not exactly sure what...
3. Seoul - Seoul reminds me SO MUCH of home it's insane. It's on the same basic latitude as where I live, so the weather and scenery as fairly similar (except Seoul has more mountains). Add in the ease of getting around, and the benefits of being in a first class city, and it's great. However I can't say I find Koreans to be the most... accepting of outsiders. Add in the misogyny, and yeaaah.
2. Florence - I knew as soon as I arrived in Florence that I would love it forever. It's actually not my favorite place in Italy - Venice is - but it's the place I felt like I could live and enjoy my life. The Italian lifestyle fascinates me, as an American who's life is measured by achievement and business, not pleasure and happiness. Florence was the place I felt the most happiness. Even the air was amazing, perfumed by flowers. The one major drawback to Florence - not speaking Italian. I didn't encounter more than a handful of Italians who spoke English. So, communications = important.
1. Munich - Munich was the first place I ever visited abroad. I was 19, and was traveling alone for the first time. I remember, VERY vividly, being on an escalator, coming out from the U-Bahn into the Marienplatz. I looked behind me, and what do I see? The Neue Rathaus looming above me. From that moment on, I was in love. I spent a lot of time wandering the streets, sitting in the Frauenkirche (one of the most spiritual places I ever been), and just enjoying everything about life there. I can't really explain why I love it so much, but I do. I could live there very very easily, and be so happy.
Honorable Mention - Cesky Krumlov. The best little Bohemian city in the world. It's worth the visit if only for the Bear Moat. Yes, a moat of bears. Also, it's amazingly old European there. It feels like you've stepped back in time.
There are around five cities I've visited in the world that I love so much that I think I could live in them long term (not including US cities on this list). They are, in order of least to most favorite;
5. Taipei - I love Taipei with all my heart. It's a great place full of tradition and magic. Chinese culture is so vibrant there, without the tone of censorship. However it's definitely not a very pretty city, and the heat and humidity definitely bring it lower on my list.
4. Paris - What to say about Paris? I was there for only a few days, but I utterly fell in love. The small city streets, the food, the ambiance.... It was all perfect. However it lacks something for me. I'm not exactly sure what...
3. Seoul - Seoul reminds me SO MUCH of home it's insane. It's on the same basic latitude as where I live, so the weather and scenery as fairly similar (except Seoul has more mountains). Add in the ease of getting around, and the benefits of being in a first class city, and it's great. However I can't say I find Koreans to be the most... accepting of outsiders. Add in the misogyny, and yeaaah.
2. Florence - I knew as soon as I arrived in Florence that I would love it forever. It's actually not my favorite place in Italy - Venice is - but it's the place I felt like I could live and enjoy my life. The Italian lifestyle fascinates me, as an American who's life is measured by achievement and business, not pleasure and happiness. Florence was the place I felt the most happiness. Even the air was amazing, perfumed by flowers. The one major drawback to Florence - not speaking Italian. I didn't encounter more than a handful of Italians who spoke English. So, communications = important.
1. Munich - Munich was the first place I ever visited abroad. I was 19, and was traveling alone for the first time. I remember, VERY vividly, being on an escalator, coming out from the U-Bahn into the Marienplatz. I looked behind me, and what do I see? The Neue Rathaus looming above me. From that moment on, I was in love. I spent a lot of time wandering the streets, sitting in the Frauenkirche (one of the most spiritual places I ever been), and just enjoying everything about life there. I can't really explain why I love it so much, but I do. I could live there very very easily, and be so happy.
Honorable Mention - Cesky Krumlov. The best little Bohemian city in the world. It's worth the visit if only for the Bear Moat. Yes, a moat of bears. Also, it's amazingly old European there. It feels like you've stepped back in time.
