test 4

reply 20708/24/2015
OFGS, [R182]; how far did you have to search? MOST of the initial images come up as gorgeous imperial buildings and gardens. But if you are under the impression that to be "over-rated" as a city is to have a business center, you must not get out much.

—Anonymous

reply 20808/24/2015

[R194] You are very incorrect. The Luftwaffe were merciless in their UK bombings not to mention their occupation of most of Europe. Ask Greeks why they hate Germans so much. It is not only because of the current situation but because of the brutal occupation during WW 2. The Germans were absolutely wicked in their zeal to ethnically cleanse and turn Europe into a Nazi-land. It is a great thing that they failed.

As per Italy and the war you are wrong. The directive to not bomb Italian cities came from Eisenhower himself. They knew about the historical buildings and art treasures that were there. In addition, The Italians were not the warmongering,genocidal component of the Axis,Germany was. Their occupation in Greece was relatively benign compared to the sinister presence of The Germans.

—Anonymous

reply 20908/24/2015
Sirmione, [R190]. Stunning, actually.

—Anonymous

reply 21008/24/2015
Interestingly, many Germans were planning a "spontan" trip to Greece this summer. Very curious as to how they were received there.

—Anonymous

reply 21108/24/2015
I have mentioned Oslo, Glasgow, Stockholm, Lisbon earlier in this thread. Been to those cities twice -- about 12 years between visits. I always found the people there charming, friendly, helpful --on both visits. I also was surprised at how friendly the German people were --I admit I expected them to be cold, dismissive but both in Berlin and once when I was passing through Southern Germany and stopped in smaller out-of-the-way towns and the people were just delightful. As for Spain, no one has mentioned Salamanca --not too far from Madrid. I only got to spend an afternoon there on way to Madrid but I remember it being full of nice people and vaguely remember one of the most spectacular public plazas I ever saw in Southern Europe. Any one know Salamanca well?

—Anonymous

reply 21208/24/2015
Yeah, Germany is interesting that way. I think politeness and social structure are big parts of their culture so they tend to be far more friendly than you might expect. Never saw a truly nasty German in a work situation, anyway, certainly not like you get in America.

It may be like Italy and Japan; all our former enemies adore us, all our allies like France and England hate our guts (or find us low rent at the very least). The Germans even liked having the military there, by all accounts.

—Anonymous

reply 21308/24/2015
I can't say I have met any nasty Germans either. I think these stereotypes are bullshit and many times people are just responding to rude or entitled behavior. Except maybe for Czechs? I have heard they are miserable. Don't know from experience though.

—Anonymous

reply 21408/24/2015
I lived in Germany for 8 years and there are plenty of miserable & rude Germans working in service jobs. It's just not a culture where "the customer is always right," as we have in the US. And anyone who ever had to deal with the bureaucracy there knows how dreadful the civil servants are. A lot of Germans, but particularly "Ossies" (former East Germans), have the mentality that they are only going to do the bare minimum required for the job - no more. Why should they, when it's so difficult to get fired from a job there?

That's not to say there aren't a lot of friendly Germans as well...but stereotypes exist for a reason.

—Anonymous

reply 21508/24/2015
Newsflash: one can find polite, helpful and kind people all around the world.

—Anonymous

reply 21608/25/2015
Newsflash: one can find assholes as well.

—Anonymous

reply 217Last Sunday at 3:33 AM
Overrated: Paris: a mausoleum of a city which has priced out the middle class and shoved the immigrant working class into its outer nooks and crannies en masse; the wealthy are embittered, nouveau-riche right wingers. Geneva: the country has no soul. Sour residents. I was mugged by two French-German (yes, they straddled both ancestries) teens. Copenhagen: sterile, full of menacing alcoholics, quite the white pride movement.

Underrated: Glasgow: dirty, bohemian, lively people, surprising fantastic food. Athens: seriously, it's a fun city. Avoid the Intercontinental hotel (lazy, belligerent, racist, comically inept staff) and go for mid priced independents. Frankfurt: [R50] is correct.

—Anonymous

reply 218Last Sunday at 3:52 AM
I'm sad to hear about Copenhagen. Denmark's been on the top of my list for a while (I can't even remember why, I picked it years and years ago), but if it's full of homophobic racists I'll not make going there a priority.

Next on the list was Ireland. I do still want to go there, regardless.

—Anonymous

reply 219Last Sunday at 4:21 AM
[R219], go to Stockholm instead. It's expensive, but well worth it.

—Anonymous

reply 220Last Sunday at 4:25 AM
Fuck, [R218]'s description of Paris is uncanny: that's exactly it. I now need to check out Glasgow and [R50].

Seconded on Geneva. Spent about 2 hours there some ten years ago and I was never so bored. Locarno, on the other hand, was very nice (during the film festival in August).

I might add that I'm one of those empoverished middle-classers priced out of Paris. I live in a shithole, but Paris has become a shithole, and at least mine isn't overpriced.

—Anonymous

reply 221Last Sunday at 4:33 AM
Please don't come to Glasgow. This perfect city doesn't need to be invaded by entitled tourists.

—Anonymous

reply 222Last Sunday at 4:39 AM
I'm sad to hear about Copenhagen. Denmark's been on the top of my list for a while (I can't even remember why, I picked it years and years ago), but if it's full of homophobic racists I'll not make going there a priority.
You have an odd "take-away" on things, [R219]. It rather seems like you're easily dissuaded from the most fragmentary bits of information which you inflate to suit your purposes. No one said anything about homophobes in Copenhagen; a couple people posts mentioned rudeness and one had "Copenhagen: sterile, full of menacing alcoholics, quite the white pride movement."

Next on the list was Ireland. I do still want to go there, regardless.
Regardless of what? That Ireland isn't a city? That of four very brief mentions of Dublin, three posters thought it underrated and one thought it overrated? Or was it the remark about the McDonald's fries being good in Ireland?

—Anonymous

reply 223Last Sunday at 5:08 AM
[R233] I thought I read up post someone mentioning homophobia in Copenhagen. I may have misread it. But, yes, if people seem to think it's overrated and not gay friendly, I would go somewhere else.

Ireland is on my list because that's where my family is from. I do want to see where my grandparents grew up. I should have said Dublin, not Ireland, apologies. I have no interest in their McDonalds.

What city would you say is underrated?

What kitsch Americana, American imagery and destinations do you love?
What sometimes kitschy and earnest Americana imagery and destinations do you love? What Americana secretly makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside, even if you'd be embarrassed to admit it?

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202 replies08/16/2015
Pink plastic flamingos.


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