European Capitals

**~~Svarog~~** · 10-08-2009, 11:07 AM

Lysander, Athens definitely IS special and even tho this is not a competition, it can equally stand with any other town in the world, personally I prefer Thessaloniki much more but still, and beside, it is never NEVER boring in Athens for a tourist LOL I got lost, spent 9 hours trying to find my way, cab driver took almost all of my cash driving me from one part of the town to the other and I got pissed cause I don't know the town but I am not a moron, was roaming the streets for few hours myself thinking I'll find where I should go - guess I am a moron after all. Been in part of town with no white people, then on some huge market where some kind older lady gave me food for cheap, then I finished in some part of town where all buildings are the same, so in the end some guy told me Piraeus is *that way*so I was walking approximately in the direction he showed, took 5 hours, oh, there were also some protests I joined, I had no idea what was it about but screaming with an angry mod sure was fun - quite a day!!

And yeah - Prague is definitely one of the most beautiful towns in the world!!

**Absinthe** · 10-08-2009, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by Svarog

Lysander, Athens definitely IS special and even tho this is not a competition, it can equally stand with any other town in the world,

Do not get us wrong here;

of course Athens has major historical significance, I still recommend it as a tourist attraction to everyone because of that.

We're talking about how unfriendly and hideous it is for people who live there; of course your experience as a tourist cannot compare with the experience of someone who has to deal with the chaos and the adversities everyday...

Even if it was not dirty, architecturally hideous (except for the historical center) and polluted, it is so overcrowded, to the extent of human dignity being violated in every aspect of civilian life.

I personally think that space (public open spaces and skylines as well as space between buildings) is the most important factor in a city in order for one to have a tolerable life.

Moreover it is extremely dysfunctional because of the terrible shape that the roads are in (all bumpy and poorly constructed), the pavements are also too narrow, too dirty, too broken, too dangerous, making it impossible for people to walk - hence we Athenians are not used to walking at all.

Add to that a million cars stuck in the traffic everyday, the noise, the smog...the traffic violations, the road ragers, and of course lest we forget the metro and bus strikes, plus an average of two demonstrations per day (frequently resulting in riots), whereby some 50-60 demonstrators are blocking the roads and shutting out the center of Athens for a few hours, making it impossible for people to go to and return from work...

Add to that a huge number of illegal immigrants who have taken over certain areas and turned them into ghettos, prostitution and drug trafficking right there for everyone to see, criminality rates that have skyrocketed during the last years...

I assure you, living in Athens is a challenge, the stress levels one experiences are enough to drive even the strongest person crazy within just a few months

personally I prefer Thessaloniki much more but still,

It is definitely more beautiful and humane than Athens, it is also smaller and cosier and there is a view to the sea to calm the eye when one is stressed.

There is also the possibility to walk in Thessaloniki because it is less polluted and more spacious than Athens.

and beside, it is never NEVER boring in Athens for a tourist LOL

That is true, it is NEVER boring for anyone!

That's the only thing that Athens could never become, boring.

Like I said, every day is a new challenge.

cab driver took almost all of my cash driving me from one part of the town to the other and I got pissed cause I don't know the town but I am not a moron,

Another of those things that I hate about Athens, stupid cab drivers taking advantage of the chaotic road network and ripping off the tourists by driving them in circles.

Hell, they even do it to the Greeks: it's happened to me quite a few times in my lifetime.

was roaming the streets for few hours myself thinking I'll find where I should go - guess I am a moron after all.

Been in part of town with no white people, then on some huge market where some kind older lady gave me food for cheap, then I finished in some part of town where all buildings are the same, so in the end some guy told me Piraeus is *that way*so I was walking approximately in the direction he showed, took 5 hours, oh, there were also some protests I joined, I had no idea what was it about but screaming with an angry mod sure was fun - quite a day!!

If I get this right you must have walked all the way from the central food market downtown Athens (Athinas Str.) to Piraeus....lol it took you only five hours to walk there?
It would have taken me a whole day

And yeah - Prague is definitely one of the most beautiful towns in the world!!

On my list of to-do things in the near future.

**Inese** · 10-08-2009, 12:19 PM

Capital of Latvia is RIGA!!

Here photos:

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**Absinthe** · 10-08-2009, 12:20 PM

This is where I stayed (right behind those buildings)

**~~Tony~~** · 10-08-2009, 05:08 PM

Absinthe I can understand what you mean , the modern Athens is a shithole , like many cities here , especially in the south e most cities in the Med area , no or very little urbanistic plans , poor transportations , some subway lines , no decent green areas , a lot of cars but no parkings , little privacy , it's a anarchic hell , the chaos rule over Athens Naples and Cairo , it would take a bombardment and then rebuild the city from zero.

**Lars** · 10-08-2009, 06:09 PM

Copenhagen - the city without life destroying skyscrapers

**Comte Arnau** · 10-08-2009, 07:59 PM

Andorra la Vella, capital of Andorra

**Graham** · 10-11-2009, 09:08 PM

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Edinburgh (pronounced /ˈɛdɪnb(ə)rə/ ( listen), ED-in-brə or ED-in-bə-rə; Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Èideann) is the capital city of Scotland. It is the second largest Scottish city, after Glasgow[1],

Edinburgh is the seat of the Scottish Parliament. The city was one of the major centres of the Enlightenment, led by the University of Edinburgh, earning it the nickname Athens of the North. The Old Town and New Town districts of Edinburgh were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. There are over 4,500 listed buildings within the city.[2] In the 2008 mid year population estimates, Edinburgh had a total resident population of 471,650.[3] Edinburgh is well-known for the annual Edinburgh Festival, a collection of official and independent festivals held annually over about four weeks from early August. The number of visitors attracted to Edinburgh for the Festival is roughly equal to the settled population of the city. The most famous of these events are the Edinburgh Fringe (the largest performing arts festival in the world), the Edinburgh International Festival, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, and the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Other notable events include the Hogmanay street party (31 December), Burns Night (25 January), St. Andrew's Day (30 November), and the Beltane Fire Festival (30 April).

The city attracts 1 million overseas visitors a year, making it the second most visited tourist destination in the United Kingdom, after London.[4]

In a 2009 YouGov poll, Edinburgh was voted the "most desirable city to live in the UK".

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