Travel and Leisure magazine recently revealed a list of travelers' favorites cities, reprinted here. Because this was a survey of Travel and Leisure readers, who probably have a lot more disposable time and income than I do, the qualities of the top picks tended to be either having a great luxury hotel right next to a historic monument, building or district -- or, having great high-end shopping.
Shopping and sleeping for the wealthy are not usually what I look for in a city, or what has made visiting memorable for me.
But, the article made me think - why have some places been particularly special.
Here are some attributes of the favorite cities I've visited:
1. Located at a crossroads of several cultures, societies or religions.
2. It has a complex history, visible in the architecture, markets, people, local lifestyle etc.
3. It hasn't been taken over by generic global brands (they can be there, but not in a dominant way -- blend in, or maybe in a suburb or one neighbourhood and not everywhere).
4. In traveling there, you have to (or easily can and want to) adapt to local customs, language, food, ways of getting around. That is, you experience life differently while there.
What have been my favorite cities to visit?
In no particular order (too hard to rank them)
- Mexico City
- Puebla (& Cholula), Mexico
- Krakow, Poland
- Istanbul, Turkey
- Kashgar, "China" -- and Turpan in the same region.
- Havana, Cuba
Please post your favorite places to visit or criteria for what makes a great city to visit...
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