Your Ideal City

[brian032]

Probably Istanbul. It's a bit run-down in some parts, but I really like the grittiness to it. I've been spent a while in a few cities in Western Europe, all major cities on the east coast and in California, and a handful of countries in Asia, but there's really no place I've visited that can top Istanbul.

The food's great, the mix between east and west is neat, the discrepancy between poor and rich is eye-opening, the people are friendly (invites to dinner and free food), the streets around Taksim and Beyoglu are always packed, the women are gorgeous, and the place is just oozing energy. It's a place you might hate at first, but it warms up to you real fast.

Nice shots boo7382. I'm visiting Madrid this spring for a week (before I work through the ex-eastern bloc), so I definitely can't wait to check it out. I'm thinking about skipping it for Seville and the Andalucian region though.

[Davis83]

Spain is cool. I lived outside of madrid for 4 years (Torrejon). But Tormelinas would be better than Madrid for permanent residence.

However, my personal favorite would be Seoul ROK.

[Mr. Scot]

Simpli City

(much better place than Dupli City)

[TheSaint]

Not a city, but an island. Secluded to the point where most tourist know nothing about it, but not so secluded you couldn't get basic supplies. One bar where the locals and visitors hang out, no airport (must arrive by boat), and a well protected harbor from the weather where most of the island activity is located.

And I've been there. And no, I won't tell anyone the name of it.

Lil Jost, BVI

[TheSaint]

I have always wanted to do a WWII tour of Europe.

last time the wife and I went, that got the kybosh in favor of romantical type stuff.

didnt we all..

we should get a married dude to europe trip to do poo dudes want to do in Europe.

of course, i need to take the current wife to Europe before i do that.

[TheSaint]

Probably Istanbul. It's a bit run-down in some parts, but I really like the grittiness to it. I've been spent a while in a few cities in Western Europe, all major cities on the east coast and in California, and a handful of countries in Asia, but there's really no place I've visited that can top Istanbul.

The food's great, the mix between east and west is neat, the discrepancy between poor and rich is eye-opening, the people are friendly (invites to dinner and free food), the streets around Taksim and Beyoglu are always packed, the women are gorgeous, and the place is just oozing energy. It's a place you might hate at first, but it warms up to you real fast.

Nice shots boo7382. I'm visiting Madrid this spring for a week (before I work through the ex-eastern bloc), so I definitely can't wait to check it out. I'm thinking about skipping it for Seville and the Andalucian region though.

very interested in Turkey. I have an Egyptian friend that went, and he felt everyone was ripping him off...of course, i have a more American perspective and expect to be ripped off to an extent. How difficult is the language barrier to navigate?

[Davidson Deac II]

As far as foreign cities, my favorite was definitely Trondheim Norway. What a beautiful place (and a lot of beautiful women )

[Davidson Deac II]

very interested in Turkey. I have an Egyptian friend that went, and he felt everyone was ripping him off...of course, i have a more American perspective and expect to be ripped off to an extent. How difficult is the language barrier to navigate?

Many people there speak passable enough english. At least enough to get by, order food, take a cab ride, and get ripped off for a rug. Interesting thing about shopping there was that while you might get ripped off by Turkish standards, you are still paying a lot less for leather goods and rugs than you would in the US.

[Davidson Deac II]

Probably with Skew on this one.

One or two bars, no judgement, scuba diving, lots of fish, not many tourists, safe harbor, hot weather but with ocean breazes.

Never been, nor found my place yet, but I will continue to hunt.

Two places to suggest. St. Johns in the Virgin Islands, and the Big Island of Hawaii. St Johns would have the fewest people, and cost the least to get to. But it has started to attract more tourist lately. The Big Island has many spots that are sparsely populated, and the weather is fantastic.

[Skew]

Lil Jost, BVI

Haven't been on Lil Jost. Always hit Jost for a few days when sailing there. Soggy Dollar bar is the poo. But not the island I was talking about.

Two places to suggest. St. Johns in the Virgin Islands, and the Big Island of Hawaii. St Johns would have the fewest people, and cost the least to get to. But it has started to attract more tourist lately. The Big Island has many spots that are sparsely populated, and the weather is fantastic.

We also always hit St. Johns when sailing the BVI. We usually rent a car and hit the East side of the island away from the tourist (it's better on that side). Again, not the island I was thinking of, but definately one of my favs.

Actually picking up my mother & stepfather at the airport tomorrow. They just spent the week on St. Thomas.

[TheSaint]

Haven't been on Lil Jost. Always hit Jost for a few days when sailing there. Soggy Dollar bar is the poo. But not the island I was talking about.

.

am i close?

[Skew]

am i close?

What's your definition of "close"?

[brian032]

very interested in Turkey. I have an Egyptian friend that went, and he felt everyone was ripping him off...of course, i have a more American perspective and expect to be ripped off to an extent. How difficult is the language barrier to navigate?

Just to echo D.Deac, nearly everyone speaks English--especially if you're in Istanbul or the touristy towns (Selcuk, Goreme, Ankara). Some are passable, but a lot of the people I met were conversational. As for getting ripped off, the only things you have to worry about are Russian girls asking you out for drinks, guys who seem friendly and wanna' take you out to for drinks too, and bad taxi drivers. Like anywhere else on the planet, being street-smart and having some common-sense will go a long way.

[Cat]

I'd love to live in California. Long Beach or somewhere near by. That would be ideal but with house prices in Cali it's just not happening.

I always figured I'd move to a beach but more realistically I could see us moving in condo in a mid size city and doing the city life thing.