Thursday, January 30, 2025

Re-Post: Rafa Climbing the Mountain

**It's been three years since Nadal won his 21st major, putting him at the moment on top of tennis's ladder. It was also his long awaited 2nd Australian Open, and the first time he came back from 0-2 sets down in a Final. It was mesmerizing, it was tense, it was ectasy, and it is everything that is great about sport and following Nadal. We'll never get those moments back, but so glad we got them.**

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What's interesting for me is the last time I felt the urge to write about Nadal was after he beat Daniil Medvedev in a 5-set, grueling final in a major. It was his 19th, his 4th US Open, and put him squarely in line for the race to be best ever. Then Covid hit, Novak ascended to another level, guys in the Next Gen won major titles finally, and Nadal had a flare up of a foot injury he first had in 2006, one that was scary enough at the time it many times over the years became a nightmare memory.

And then there was Sunday, and all of that went aside, the injuries, the prospect of Novak, the next gen, and Rafa was Rafa, in ways that he hasn't done before (coming back from 0-2 sets down in a final) and ways he has (general ridiculousness and audaciousness of his shots). And when it was, I found myself both in shock that he pulled it off -- I entered the day fairly sure he was going to lose to his younger, more in-form, foe, and even more assured of this after those first two sets -- but a bit stunned at the sudden revelation that Rafa has done it - he stands alone at 21. I have many thoughts on this, on the match, on the record, on my life as a Rafa fan.

Rafa remains one of the least conceited all time greats in basically any sport, but even he very bluntly said in his press conference after the match that "[he] knows the significance of this number 21". He knows the history he made, he knows it was staring him in the face. Nadal will never engage directly in GOAT discussions, at least while he's an active player, but it was cool for him to so clearly speak to, and show in his reaction and presence, the momentous achievement that this was.

I started following Nadal basically from day-1 of his main breakthrough in winning the 2005 French Open. I was fairly anti-Federer back then, for no real reason, and really the only connection I had with Nadal was that he owned Federer on clay. For the first three years of that rivalry from 2005-2007, Nadal was the only thing keeping the sport's balance somewhat equal - the only person that stood between Federer and 10 straight slams from 2005-2007. 

Well, nearly seventeen years later, Rafael Nadal is the athlete I've followed as a fan longer than anyone. Manning was 12 years (2003-2015), Brodeur for about the same (2000-2012). Oswalt was a decade. No one is really close. I was 14 when Nadal won his first title, during a tournament where he turned 19. We are still similarly 4-5 years apart in age, but a gap that stood as massive, watching this teen/adult jack-rabbit around a court, has turned to something else, watching someone adapt to changes, to getting older and remaining just as good.

I don't know when was the first time I seriously considered the chance that Nadal would one day take the lead in slams. I'm sure the first time I thought it, the idea that he would break a tie with both Federer and Djokovic would've seemed absurd. I was confident enough in 2014 to bet my friend $200 that he would end up with more than Federer (the count was 17-14 at the time). But it probably started before that.

It probably, coincidentally, was when he won his first Australian Open in 2009, in a brilliant 5-set win over Federer. To that point, he had never seriously threatened in a hardcourt major, turned aside easily in two prior Semifinals. He had won Wimbledon and made two other Finals, and of course was peerless on clay, but to make a case of best ever he had to do better on hard courts. Then in 2009, he flattened his backhand a bit, got more aggressive, and won the Australian Open. The count was 13-6 at that point, but Nadal was significantly younger and we seem poised to enter the Reign of Rafa. And then he got hurt.

Getting hurt was always supposed to be part of the plan - from nearly day one everyone questioned Rafa's longevity given the bruising way he played. I remember people back then thinking he couldn't make it to 28, let alone 30. To be fair, at the time no one played well in their 30s, but it is still hilarious to think a man we all thought would not last ends up winning 7 (and counting) majors in his 30s.

But anyway, when Nadal first (1) lost a match at the French Open and then (2) pulled out of Wimbledon with a knee injury, and finally (3) lost meekly in the US Open and Australian Open after that, it seemed like things would never be the same - well then Rafa pulled off the still unprecedented since Rod Laver run of winning the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open back-to-back-to-back - completing his career slam in he process, and bringing the gap to 16-9.

For the second time we were in the reign of Rafa, but a funny thing happened right after that: Novak Djokovic took off. It was 16-9-1 at that moment the 2010 US Open ended. It is 4-12-19 since. Djokovic's rise was unpredicted and sudden, but let's not lose sight that Rafa still did add in 12 more slams,

The road to the top had a few more twists. The first major one was in 2012, when he lost in the 2nd round of Wimbledon and basically didn't play again until the next Spring. He returned by winning the French Open, sweeping the US Summer and getting a 2nd US Open and reclaiming the #1 ranking. 

The most serious one was soon after I made that bet, when he got hurt later in 2014 and returned in 2015 a changed, seemingly broken man. The year-by-year chart of Nadal's slam results are wondrous to look at, but that period from 2015-2016 is a huge black hole. Two quarterfinal defeats to start it to Berdych and Djokovic (at the French) were the high points, followed by six slams of losing early, not once making the quarters. And that leads us to the final rebirth - ironically for Federer as well.

I wrote about the 2017 Australian Open Final at the time, calling it one of my 'Acceptable Losses' because it was just great to see Nadal play in a major final again, something that seemed so far away in that 2015-16 period where Djokovic fully took over (before ironically having his own two-year malaise) and when he entered that dreading '30' age where tennis players normally fall off. I wrote in that piece I was ok if he didn't win again, if he never caught Federer, because we had that comeback.

Well, now we have a far better comeback. I truly put that match on Sunday morning with low expectations. Nadal had played well in the two weeks but Medvedev was on a roll, was on track for a #1 ranking, was ten years Nadal's junior, and showed all of those advantages in those first two sets. And then Nadal fought back.

And fought back, and fought back some more. It was probably as he won that 4th set that I finally started to believe, and maybe more worryingly for my own sanity, started to hope. I was very calm as he was seemingly on the way to getting rolled in the Australian Open final - at least this time it wouldn't be to Djokovic as it was three years back in Melbourne. But by the time Nadal forced a fifth and especially as he took a break lead and served for the match, I was all in.

And then he threw away a 30-0 lead. We've been here before, us Rafa fans. Maybe just behind winning the 21st slam, for us Rafa fans, him getting his 2nd Australian Open was just as important and just as meaningful. This was the site of his first hardcourt major, but also the biggest site of heartbreaks. 

Whether it was pulling his hamstring and losing to Ferrer in 2011 in the quarters after rolling through that tournament to that point when he was going for his 'Rafa Slam'. To pulling his back in warmups in the 2014 Final against Wawrinka. To of course the dual 5-set losses in 2012 to Djokovic and 2017 to Federer, each time by and large being the lesser player that day, but both times finding himself up a break in the 5th set only to see it slip away.

Nadal himself admitted that he had these thoughts in his head. Not about losing a chance at #21, but just having to relive those two terrible moments, but for whatever reason he was able to block it out and immediately break back with some inspired tennis given we were 5:20 into the match at that point. When he got a second chance to serve it out, he saved us all some tension and won the game easily.

Rafa's reaction when winning said it all - pure joy, relief and contentness, with that giant wide grin, a celebration that seemed so different than his usual fall to the ground in exultation that he had done for so many of the prior twenty. For us Rafa fans too it was the same, for seeing him finally getting his 2nd Aussie after so much heartbreak, and seeing that graphic flash up on ESPN that put him at 21 slams and Federer and Djokovic at 20.

Unlike Rafa, I do want to dwell a bit on just the feeling of seeing him get there. And I think the best part is we know the same things that Rafa does, that he isn't retiring and Novak isn't retiring, and there might be some random five year old wonderkid to win 25 or something. But for this moment, the record is his. There's a non-zero chance he doesn't have it at the end of the year (more and more unlikely given of course the Vaccine-question of it all with Novak). There's a pretty decent chance he doesn't hold this record if we fast forward to 2024. But he holds it now.

For however long he has it, this man who was questioned as a clay court specialist while also clearly being the 2nd best player in the world, is now a man with more major wins than anyone else, including eight (as many as Jimmy Connors and Andre Agassi for their careers) outside of clay. This man is the target, the guy at the top of the mountain after for years staring up at that Swiss legend. He got him, he passed him, and did it before Novak did so he gets his time as the all time leader.

Maybe I shouldn't be that petty -- as stated, Rafa isn't. But I can't help it. You invest 17 years of your life as a sports fan watching him grow, improve, win, fall, get hurt, win more, get hurt again, and win more and more at ages you didn't expect him to even play at. It was an incredible ride and incredible climb, and he's there, conquering his personal house of horrors, in the most unexpected, incredible way possible, taking his place on top of that mountain.



Tuesday, January 28, 2025

2024 Playoffs: Championship Sunday Review

Player of the Week: Steve Spagnuolo  (DC, KC)

Sure, we can all talk about the now famous 4th and 5 corner blitz with cover-3 behind it. That was just a perfect play call. Spags is great at those - see his blitz on 3rd and 2 in the Super Bowl last year, which forced an incomplete and allowed the Chiefs to get the ball back. If the 49ers got those two yards, they could've essentially run out the clock and kick a field goal for the win. Here, the Bills still had 50 yards to go but I think they would've. But beyond that 4th and 5, there was his team being expertly coached on how to stop the Bills short-yardage Allen runs, which until this game were nigh impossible to stop. They also repeatedly got free or pressure rushes attacking the few weak spots on the line. They spooked Allen early. Down to down, the Chiefs defense won (yes, that's how good the Allen offense is that this game was indeed a poor performance for them). Spags is pretty much clearly the best big game defensive coordinator of all time.

Runner-Up: Saquon Barkley  (RB, PHI)

I'll talk about the Hurts of it all in a bit, as it was fun to see the Eagles remember taht they can pass the ball pretty effectively. But when Saquon broke off that 62-yard TD on the first play, we all had the same reaction: just laugh in glee. It is amazing he is doing this this late into the season. There have been other 2,000 yard seasons in the last 20 years, but almost all of them ended with a thud - a poor playoff performance. I geuss that can still happen, but even if he has a less than stellar Super Bowl, he also has three 50+ yard TDs in the playoffs. He is absurd.


Goat of the Week: Kaiir Elam  (CB, BUF)

I feel bad putting him here - there's a reason he's a backup. But the second he got put into the game, adn the Chiefs figured out how to almost force the Bills to play man, they just abused him repeatedly. The Chiefs do this type of thing - see them going after Treylon Burks who replaced Dre Greenlaw in the Super Bowl last year. The Chiefs are ruthless, and they embarrassed the former first round pick. Elam wasn't the main reason the Bills lost - admittedly they nearly still won, but man was his awfulness just so on display.

Runner-Up: Dalton Kincaid  (TE, BUF)

It feels weird picking two Bills here given they barely lost and the Commanders gave up a record number of points, but the Commanders loss was a team-wide downfall. The Bills also had their first round pick the year after Elam show up in the worst way. It turns out Kincaid was hurt, which makes sense since the Bills went away from 2TE formations that they did well with in the regular season. But when Kincaid needed to make a huge play, he had a huge drop.


Surprise of the Week: Eagles Passing Game

Hey, who would ahve guessed that the team with a fairly accurate QB, and two great receivers, and a nice TE option, can actually throw the ball well!? Sure, maybe it is just the ease of playing that Commanders defense, but that is a real jumping off point for what they probably need to do more of in the Super Bowl. Sure, Hurts still escaped the pocket a beat too early too often, but when he did throw he was decisive, accurate and was able to push it deep. A really nice day for the Eagles oft most critiqued unit.

Runner-Up: Chiefs DL aside from Chris Jones

Chris Jones was unblockable. He always is come playoff time. But what was surprising was how well the other Chiefs lineman held up in pass rush. Karlaftis was great again. Mike Danna had one of his better games in a while. Yes, there were a couple drives where the Bills ran over them, but when the Bills did go pass, Allen was often chased off the spot, or forced to get rid of it sooner than he wanted. The Bills moved the ball because Allen hit some ridiculous throws, but they forced him into those 3rd and longs all night.


Disappointment of the Week: Referees

Yeah, I can't not talk about it. I absolutely do not think there is some grand conspiracy to fluff up the Chiefs. The Chiefs are a popular team, even more so with the Taylor Swift support, but I guarantee a Bills v Eagles Super Bowl would've gotten a better rating than the upcoming one. No, the refs are conspiring - they just suck and are way too inconsistent. Allen absolutely got that 1st down. The Worthy/Bishop play was almost certainly not a catch by Worthy. They also missed numerous early jumps by both teams tackles. The unsportsmanlike penalty against the Commanders for teh late hit on Saquon was bullshit. I said last week I hope the refs weren't a huge talking point coming out of the AFC Championship, and I was sadly too hopeful. I'll keep up that hope another week.

Runner-Up: Fumbles and Fumbles and Fumbles

The Commanders were probably never going to win that game, but for 2.5 quarters, the Commanders were staying in shouting distance. They were having more success against the Eagles defense than I expected - even if admittedly that success took the form of countless 5-7 yard gains. But those fumbles. The first and third were at least the result of key Eagles defender's pulling a Peanut Tillman, but the special teams one was just brutal. It turned a fun, fairly close game into a historic laugher.


Team Performance of the Week: Chiefs Receivers

A receiving core of Worthy, Hopkins, Hollywood Brown and Juju is still not good, but that was about as strong a performance as you can expect from that group. The didn't drop passes. They made good YAC. They caugth contested balls (the Worthy/Bishop play). They helped Mahomes run the offense as effectively as we've seen it all year. They were the silent stars of that game. As much as we can say the Chiefs are just "turning it on for the playoffs", let's not lose sight of this receiving group being healthier, and more comfortable, than they've been all year long.

Runner-Up: Eagles OL

The only issue the Eagles had all game was when Dickerson was truly hampered and getting beat inside. They replaced him with a (I guess...) slightly less injured Jurgens and went right back to dominance. The Commanders strength of their defense, relatively, is the DL and they were neutralized for much of it. The Eagles OL was as good as advertised, even when facing some adversity.


Team Laydown of the Week: Bills Defense

Lost in the fact the Bills only lost by three, and could've easily won the game, was the Bills defense allowing one of the most efficient days for the Chiefs in ages. The Chiefs barely hit 3rd down in the first half. Like 70% of the Chiefs passing plays went for first downs. The Bills were just dominated. Maybe it's McDermott (who I think is great, but there's ample evidence he's not able to win the battle against Reid/Mahomes - even their regular season wins are generally because their offense plays ball possession) and not being able to adjust. Maybe it is not having a true game-changer at DL ever since Von's 2022 ACL tear (could've really used the Greg Rosseau that showed up for much of the season). The Bills defense didn't give their offense any margin.

Runner-Up: None

Again, I can say the whole Commanders. 55 points is the most ever given up in a Championship Game - but truly no one expected them to be here.


Storyline that will be Beat into the Ground: The Threepeat

And honestly, this one should. We've never seen a threepeat in the Super Bowl era. In fact, we've never even gotten this close - the Chiefs being teh first team seeking one to make it back to the Super Bowl the 3rd year - something the 1976 Steelers, 1990 49ers and 1994 Cowboys couldn't do (all losing in their respective Championship games). To some degree, I would rather us talk about the impending history, than the "oh my god the Chiefs magic and vodoo of it all", so that's good. If you told me to pick at gunpoint who I would rather have win, I guess I would pick the Eagles - I too, like many, are kind of sick of the Chiefs at this point. But you know what? I'm open to seeing something historic. Something those dastardly Brady Patriots never did. So it's kind of a win-win when you look at it this way.

Storyline that should be Beat into the Ground: Potential SB LXV Rerun?

Let's take a walk back four years ago, when a defending champion Chiefs team reached the Super Bowl after a 2-loss regular season, despite not being that good by most metrics. They beat up on the Bills in the AFC Championship Game, and were favored in the Super Bowl against what was pretty clearly a better 1-53 roster in the Bucs. And of course, the Bucs blasted them. Now, those Chiefs had one critical flaw (their OL) which the Bucs mercilessly dominated. 

This Chiefs team doesn't have that - but if not for Mahomes and the Chiefs magic, adn if we could distract ourselves from that for a second - we see a matchup that there is a chance the Eagles just go out and dominate. Their OL should be able to do as much if not as the Bills in beating up on the Chiefs run defense. The weakness of the Chiefs line is now their middle (after moving Thuney outside) which does not bode well against Carter and others. The Eagles secondary should be able to lock on and play man if forced to in a way the Bills couldn't. I can't imagine this ends 31-9, but I wouldn't be shocked, truly if the Eagles win without too much fuss. Let's put it this way - there's probably a 59% chance the Chiefs win a close game, a 25% chance the Eagles win a close game, a 15% the Eagles win comfortably, and a 1% the Chiefs win comfortably. To me the Chiefs are more likely than not to win, but if you tell me we all wake up on Monday, Feb 10th, and the Super Bowl ended 34-17, I think the Eagles are the far more likely team to have won.

Thursday, January 23, 2025

My Top 67 Favorite International Cities, Pt. 2: #34 - #1

34.) Lisbon (2021)




I truly don't know how in the many times I've done this exercise I've neglected to go with Lisbon as one of the cities. I first went there in 2001, I turned 10 in teh city. I remember liking it then, but definitely remembered it only moderately. Going back this past year was eye opening, from my newfound love of Natas, to the incredible food, to appreciating the views more than I would have earlier, to so much more. Lisbon also had great nightlife, even with the pangs of Covid still reverberating, with packed streets in Barrio Alto (where our AirBNB stupidly was...), to bars with live music and so much more. The food was excellent, the people were great. Sintra, just an hour away, was a fantastic little town with even more great views. I truly want to go back, Lisbon honestly can go higher after a few more trips.


33.) Palermo (2019)



There's a few cities on this list I like for hard to describe reasons - be it Turin, or Krakow. Add Palermo to that list. The sites can basically be visited in barely more than a day, but the atmosphere and culture of Palermo can last a good week. The old town is one of the nicer ones I've gotten lost in, with so many bars and restaurants that spill out into the streets. As you approach the water, you get fancier, more upscale restuarants that could fit in Rome, Milan or any fancier city - but at small town prices. Palermo is also relatively untouched by tourism, the last vestige of true Italia.


32.) Bilbao & 31.) San Sebastian (2021)






Another combination, this time not because I can't truly remember the difference (like Prague & Budapest), but because they're similar. Both cities have beautiful little old towns just jam packed with Pintxo Bar after Pintxo bar. Both cities have truly world class restaurants as well, including Azurmendi which was a truly amazing experience. They have nice coasts, great scenery and beaches, and so much else. Gun to my head, I would pick San Sebastian, whose old town is a little more cozy and inviting. Bilbao is slightly bigger, with its larger churches and museums, and open squares, but honestly I would gladly go back to either, two gastronomic capitals of the world. Especially would love to go back in a time where we have some ability to go out at night, as the few instances of being out until 1:30am belied towns with great drinks, pretty good craft beer, and a love of dancing. Honestly, the basque region is awesome.


30.) Busan (2024)


Busan as a truly interesting place, built around various mountains and peaks, it's basically 4-5 cities built into one. You can be strolling a beach with a glistening bridge in front and twenty minutes later be up in the mountains at beautiful temples. The food is great, with fresh seafood all over, be it the fish market or just random places to drop in. They have fancy areas (with fancy restaurants) and homely areas. If there's only one thing to knock Busan on is their nightlife seems scores below Seoul. Granted, maybe going in November when they had one of their coldest weeks in years is not the best way to judge, but have to call it like I see it. Amazing city - but also a good way to rest up before going back to Seoul (or detox-ing after...).


29.) Paris (2006, 2018) 



There’s obviously a ton to see in Paris, and the city center around the Eifel Tower, on either side of River Sein, is beautiful. Paris is a probably a city that certain people would love, but I am not one of them. Of course, I liked it enough to put ahead of some damn good cities, mostly on the ridiculous amounts of things to see alone. I actually don’t remember much of my Paris trip, which is strange given its relative recency, but I do remember thinking one day in the Louvre was far from enough, and the city center of Paris containing some of the best architecture of any European city. **After going back in 2018, I can say I might be being harsh on Paris, but to me it is a slightly less great version of the other great European capitals like London, Madrid, Rome - unsurprisingly all higher up the rankings.


28.) Vienna (2000 & 2009)



The 2nd time I went to Vienna was on my high school’s Orchestra’s tour of Austria during my Senior year, and much of my high ranking for Vienna is based on that trip. There is a ton of history in Vienna, with the music scene being located there (Mozart and Beethoven’s houses), with the adjoining arts scene with a bevy of theatres. If you like classical music, then Vienna is heaven. I am including the adorable little town of …… where we performed, which was half an hour outside Vienna. The best part of Vienna is how modern it is. The city center has some of the largest streets and public squares of anywhere in Europe, with grand architecture all around. The food isn’t great, but it is no worse than Germany and Switzerland, and Austria is generally less expensive. It took a second trip to get acclimated with Vienna’s charms, but they are there, and plentiful.


27.) Cusco (2016)




Full disclosure, I'm cheating by including Machu Picchu as one of the associated sites of Cusco, which is a large part of the reason it places so high. Machu Picchu is a spectacular tourist attraction, from teh never-ending views of Hauranya Picchu's face, to the cascaiding hills on every side, to the great hikes. When you peel back to Cusco proper, it remains a great secondary city, a South American, high altitude version of Krakow (next on the list). The food is great, with so many small, but fine quality, restaurants. It has a vibrant restaurant and bar scene, and quite a bit of tourism locally, including other Incan ruins near the city limits. Finally, the altitude, as Cusco us probably the highest city that is easily and heavily visited. Plus, I owe a lot to the Loki Hostel, a wondrous place of Blood Bombs and fun.


26.) Tallinn (2024)



My parents visited Tallinn in 2011 and raved endlessly about it, and more pointedly how much I would love it. I think I'm probably a fairly different person in 2024 than 2011, but they were still very right. Tallinn's old town is among the loveliest and most picturesque that I've visited - with maybe just Krakow (to come) as better in my mind. The pastel-colored alleys and shops and cafes around it are amazing, as are the bars and restaurants hidden inside. But where Tallinn is really separating itself is what lies outside the old town, a design/modern forward city with museums, giant parks, great waterfront and incredible restaurants, like NOA Chef's Hall, one of the better tasting menus I've had in Europe. On the whole, Tallinn was a special place.


25.) Taipei (2019)




I should have figured that Taipei would be a really great city. Still, however, I was surprised by how well built, how green, how beautiful it was. The food was great, from beef noodle shops to fancy high-end restaurants. The bar scene was excellent, with a burgeouning craft beer culture was shocking. The tourism was great, with nice pagodas and temples tucked away all across the beautiful green city. If only the cuisine was slightly better Taipei would have ended up much higher. There's also a lot of hills and forests and greenery within an hour of the city in every direction. Taipei has so much going for it.


24.) Berlin (2014)


Berlin is the only German city I've gone to as an adult, and from what I read it was a good one to pick. The city is sprawling, and has covered it's whole 'we had a giant wall' thing with some really modern buildings and a few nice memorials. But what it also hides is an incredible city. The main squares, or platzes are all incredible, including that entire stretch between the Brandenburg Gate, through the Tiergarten, and ending with the Berlin Island. There are various areas of the city with incredible churches, restaurants, bars (and bars, and bars) and historical buildings. The city houses some fascinating museums that touch on the long, varying history of Germany is a country. Berlin as a city is too big to do in 3 days like I did, but it is definitely alluring enough to go back.


23.) London (1999, 2000, 2010, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022)



I probably should just go to London more, because both my Dad and my Sister, who lived there, swear by London as an incredible city. But again, I’m not ranking this by how livable they are, but how good they are as tourist destinations. London definitely has enough to see, including the nicely compact Royal stuff (palace, parliament, other stuff), and a neatly packed city center (West End, Trafalgar Square, other stuff I’m forgetting), but it is a little too big. It’s subway system is clean, but doesn’t have the expansiveness that it needs (something I give huge credit to the NYC Subway System for, no matter how dirty it is). Of course, it is damn expensive, and the weather is mostly lousy. It may get better with more trips, but I think London is too big for its own good, and a little too confused, as it tries to be both Rome and New York. **So I went here in 2017-2019 and 2022, and really have nothing more to add. I think what I wrote back then is more or less accurate. In the end, being in any English speaking city outside of the US just doesn't seem as foreign & exciting. And I really can't get over how bad the street layout is in this city. Makes me really appreciate New York being a grid.


22.) Bangkok (2003, 2013, 2019, 2022)



Here’s the gist of what I remember from Bangkok: nice Wats to see, incredible food, up all night, eating all the time. Bangkok is a food-lover’s paradise, especially for those who like Thai food. Bangkok is also close to areas where you can do all those Asia type things like ride elephants and see the jungle. The weather is surprisingly decent for a city in Southeast Asia, and from what I remember it is pretty easy to navigate. My thoughts regarding Bangkok have indeed changed with my one-plus day visit. The city is better than I remembered, with sprawling malls, an advanced metro system, and new urban centers. The weather isn’t quite as good, as it is still hard to get to different parts of the city, but the city center of Bangkok is about as good as any I’ve seen in Asia. ** After going again for a few days in 2019, my opinion of Bangkok is largely unchanged, but improved in a way. The food is great, particularly the soon to be closed Gaggan. There are some really nice districts. But what it lacks is the cleanliness and constant modernity of a Singapore. **After further going in 2022, while the food remains Top-5 in the world, the bustle, the maw, the "oversized Bangalore" of it all kind of hurts it to me. Any place with Gaggan, Le Du, #FindTheLockerRoom can't be any lower, but there's a lot to dislike amongst that brilliance.


21.) Granada (2001, 2021)



I'll admit, I have very limited memory of Granada - like I do with most of my trip to Spain and Portugal in 2001. But from what I do remember of Granada, mainly around the magic that is the Alhambra. Granada also has great food (as does most of Andalusia), including amazing seafood and lamb. Spain itself is probably my favorite country to visit, and a large part of that is even outside is major metropoloses (which are good enough to both be in Top-10 for me) it has incredible gems with incredible history and culture. **After visiting in 2021, I'm justified in my original love of Granada. The Alhambra was as good the second time around, but the food even better. The great old town was just lovely to wander about, pick up tapas at their various tapas bars hidden down alleys with great seating spilling into the streets. That is Spain, so were teh wine bars, and even beer bars, in this beautiful little town.


20.) Buenos Aires (2017, 2023)




The only new entrant this time around, Buenos Aires was a joy to visit in full for four days. Similar to its South American counterparts in Lima and Santiago (both higher), Buenos Aitres mixed the culture of South America with the architecture of Europe, leaning a bit heavier on the European side. The neighborhoods of Palermo and Recoleta were an unending joy to stroll around in both during the day to witness the greenery, and at night to witness the joy. The food is more steak and heavy, but when steak is cooked as well as it is in Argentinean parilla's one can forgive that part as well. Someone who is more Europe leaning in their proclivities will probably rate Buenos Aires higher than Lima or Santiago. I don't, but that's more about love for the other two, and the Pacific side of Sud America, than anything negative about the people from the port.


19.) Tokyo (2013)



As a tourist, I don't care what the work and life culture are of the people in the city, and good thing, because if I did I may hate Tokyo. To see people in full suit in the subway at 11 PM coming home from work is jarring. But this isn't about any of that, it is about Tokyo the city, and it is a really fabulous metropolis. Tokyo is sprawling, in a way that makes New York seem small. There are really bustling regions like Shinjuku, really fun late night spots like Roppongi. There is a ton to see, and great food options. The food may be more corporate than traditional and homestyle in Tokyo, but that isn't all bad. The biggest complaint with Tokyo is just the size. It is so big that it is tiring to navigate at times, getting from one end to the other. Even with the reliability and the local JR Train lines, it takes time to get around. **2023 Update: Going back didn't change my opinion of Tokyo too much, just crystallized what it does so well, from its art museums, its nightlife scene, and of course the food (if you're willing to pony up). Separately, the things keeping it from being higher up, such as the truly just endless urban maw of it all, and the sheer size, are still as true in 2023.**


18.) Budapest (2024)



I had Budapest on the earlier versions of the list before I cut it because I needed slots and I only went in 2000 so barely remembered it. Well, now going in full and I probably underranked it initially if anything, Budapest is a special place, combining many of the bests of Europe without the pretension of a Paris or London. There are amazing museums, great gothic architecture, great parks and castles and palaces. The parliament building is an world-class, stunning building. And then the culture - the great food from street goulash shops to fine dining; amazing cocktail spots and a party district in the Jewish Quarter that is among the most fun, compact places I've explored. There really was no downside of Budapest. Then again, there really aren't many downsides of any of the cities to come either.


17.) Mexico City (2014, 2018)


I put 2014 there, but I went to Mexico City two different times, staying in two different areas of that expansive, massive, festive city. Far safer than most areas of Mexico, La Cuidad is incredibly impressive. There are tons of historical sites, like the entire Zocalo, the Chapultepec, and La Reforma. Mexico City also has a wealth of food options, with incredibly authentic Mexican fare from around the country, including the incredible Oaxacan food. Really fun night spot as well. Mexico City blew me away also with its strange, mysterious beer culture. The City is a sprawling testament to how secretly, behind the dangerous cartels that line the exterior, the soft interior of Mexico is a gorgeous, cultural attraction that is bettered by so few cities. **After going again in 2018, I realize how much I missed out of Mexico City's overwhelming culture. The neighborhoods of Polanco and Condesa may some of the most cultured and serene in North America. The food scene is incredible, be it world class Pujol or the street taco vendors. Just an amazing city.


16.) Dubrovnik (2017)



My expectations were raised on Dubrovnik from a number of friends and families had already visited, and oh man was it great - matching everything I would have hoped for. Dubrovnik, like many cities that line my top half of the list, aren't huge sprawling metropolises, instead smaller, untouched little power-packs of culture and beauty. The actual structure of the town reminds me of a European Cape Town, with the old town and fort replacing the V&A Waterfront area, and the hills of the newer part of the city similar to East Cape Town, and the hills in hte background, fixed with their own version of Table Mountain, being, well, Cape Town's Table Mountain. The history in Dubrovnik is amazing, with the old town such a beautiful array of nooks and crannies, with steep stairs on alleys down to the water. Within it contains history, and amazing restaurants, and, of course, Game of Thrones. Dubrovnik is one of the gems of the Adriatic Sea, right there with the other great ports of the Mediterranean.


15.) Singapore (2012, 2013, 2019, 2022)



Singapore is one of those places that has to be seen to be believed. There is no city any cleaner. There is no city as tightly situated while having enough external attractions. There is no city better built for a short stay. What doesn’t Singapore have? It has a theme park for kids. A bird park (highly recommended) and a night safari for kids and adults. It has a brand new casino for adults. It has a centralized bar/pub/club area near the waterfront. It has a preponderance of food from really, really cheap to really expensive. It has livable weather year-round. It also has the most interesting and enjoyable airport I’ve ever been to (there is a pool and gym that everyone can use for free in it!), and the cleanest, best organized subway system I’ve seen. So why is Singapore only #3? Because there isn’t that much to do, and Singapore’s not cheap enough to just sit around and eat/drink/do nothing. The sights have no historical resonance, and are replicated in other cities. Still, for a period less than a week, there is no better city to visit. **Part of the reason I call this a living document is that I'm not going to correct where I reference Singapore at #3 which it was the first time I did this. Anyway, on subsequent trips, the sterility of the place is what drops it slightly in my mind. Still a whole lot of positives, and a "must visit" at some point, but it just doesn't have the culture some of its Asian brethren do.


14.) Krakow (2014)


By rule I like smaller cities over sprawling ones. Well, while there are expanses to Krakow that extend in all directions, almost everything worth seeing in the city is in a 10x10 block radius circling the best city square (Rynek Glowny) I have seen in Europe. When you get a city that has (their claim) more bars per capita than any in the world, combine that with amazing open space and roadside/streetside restaurants, and an economy that does not use the Euro and is far cheaper than comparale cities in Western Europe, you get a pretty fantastic city. Also, you want history near its borders, you get Auschwitz about 2 hours away. Krakow is an incredible secondary city, arguably the best secondary city I've ever been to. The beer, food and endless beautiful women makes it Top-25; the sites, easily walkable goegraphy, and amazing history (Copernicus lived there too) makes it Top-15.

13.) Lima (2016, 2022)


Lima has a few things going for it. First, its culinary brilliance, with two restaurants ranking in the Top 10 in the World per San Pelligrino's list (the most accepted of that type of list), one being Maido, a Japanese-Peruvian sensation. The sites aren't the best, few major cities are in retrospect, with a few museums and halls. The real sites of Lima are the whisping cliffs, the shops and the eclectic nightlife. The best South American cities combine Andean views with European charms, and few big ones do it better than Lima. Big jump here afer my trip in 2022. The food remains incredible, adding Central to Maido on my list of culinary adventures. But also getting more time in Lima this time around, and doing a bit more research to understand neighborhoods like Barranco and others a bit better, I learned to love a lot of it. The greenery is incredible, the museums are nice. The walk along the Malecon is one of the cooler feelings out there. Everything about Lima is great. **2023 update - it moved up again. I explored more neighborhoods this time, like San Isidro and even now further away from Covid, even the historic center is a bit more vibrant. For what is also a great entry point to a brilliant country outside it, and a place with near perfect weather, Lima is stellar**



12.) Seoul (2022)




I don't know if there's a city I saw more of in my initial trip visiting a place. I went all over it, to different districts, different elevations, different stories - all of them amazing. The food, from bustling (but clean) night markets, to tasting menu bliss of Ryunique and Mingles. The cocktail houses, all inspired in their design and craft. The clubs that surround buzzing districts like Itaewon (RIP to those who dies on Halloween 2022). Everything about Seoul was great, including the sights, from large palace-come-parks in the heart of the city center, to art museums showcasing the beautiful tranquility of Korean art (white porcelain, jade, buddhas, etc.). Seoul was a masterful city, a place I easily could have spent even more time exploring different areas. Despite spending much of five days there (and the neighboring city of Suwon, that fits in my 90-minute window), I left a bit sad I didn't spend even more time - partially to get more of Seoul, and also because I want to see more of what Korea has to offer having loved their crown jewel so much.


11.) Sydney (2013) 



Take the weather and leisurely attitude of Australia, combine the waterfront facade of a Chicago, add some pub and club nightlife of any city in Europe and you get Sydney, a city that combines the great aspects of every major city I have been too. It doesn't have a true culture of its own which hurts it in my mind. What I really mean by that is, much like the problems I have with England, there are too many similarities to the US. You don't really feel you are in a foreign city too much. Of course, that all changes when you walk towards the Opera House, or go to the night spots with the Australians out partying, or eat great meats. Sydney is a wonderful city, probably the most livable of any in the Top-10 (of course, it is helped by being English-Speaking), but sometimes I would sacrifice livability for uniqueness, which is why it isn't any higher.


10.) Ho Chi Minh City (2019, 2022)




The great food, the wide open streets and lanes, the great balloons, the sights. Ho Chi Minh City was truly a perfect Southeast Asian retreat. The place is so full of joy and pride in their city, be it the pristinely conditioned temples, the French architecture. There are great museums and sights all over. What set Ho Chi Minh City apart for me was you get the food of a Bangkok, with the infrastructure and lack of traffic of a Europe - the city so well blending their French history and Asian sensibilities. The nightlife and food was truly incredible. If not for the weather (unavoidable in that part of the world) it probably would be Top-10 for me. **After going back in 2022, Ho Chi Minh City equaled every bit of nostalgia-fueled love and memory from the first time, arguably getting better. Each year that goes by thrusts HCMC into more and more of a first world type city, with amazing food, amazing drinks, and the best (to me) club in the world in The Observatory. There is just a joy, such an energy here.


9.) Rome (2003, 2019)




Speaking of Rome, history’s most famous city checks in next. I haven’t spent any time in Rome as an adult, but I don’t think Rome is the type of city that would change much from an adult’s perspective. It is good for its history and sites first, and if you like Italian cuisine, the food second. If you include the Vatican, and as a Catholic I do, in Rome, then there is even more to see, as you have two different parts of history, the formation of the Catholic Church in the awe-inspiring Vatican grounds near and inside St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Roman history which is very well kept up. I can’t remember how their public transport was, and we went in December, so the weather was bad, but I don’t think it is a very big city. And then there is that food. I don’t want personal biases like my ambivalence towards Italian food to sway this. Many do like Italian food, and the city is even better for those people. That said, what hurts Rome in my book is I think it is too dependent on the sites, and if you aren’t there on a religious pilgrimage, I can’t imagine the allure of going to Rome more than once.


8.) Athens (2010)



So Athens is very much like its historical partner, Rome, with a few less sites, a lot less crowds, less expensive, and with better weather. So does that whole equation spit out a better city? In my mind, it does. Part of this has to do with visiting Athens at the perfect time (19, during March) and Rome not (13, during December), but Athens has it all. It has a lot to see, but not so much that sightseeing takes over the trip. It has a city that is hard to navigate by car and by walking, but has an adequate subway system. It has excellent food, and a great environment that bursts with fun and enjoyment. Just a grand old time in Athens, as I’m sure it was 2,500 years ago.




7.) Barcelona (2007, 2021)



I really want to go to Barcelona again, because it could easily be #1. All the ingredients are there. Pristine weather. A people who don’t care about life, making the tourist experience more fun. Good beaches within reach. Stuff to see. An airport that is easily reachable and a city that is easily maneuverable. My issues with Barcelona (other than my dislike for the Blaugrana) are simple. There isn’t a lot to see in terms of history, mainly because the Catalans want their own history so they destroyed or shunned any Spanish national history. Barcelona is a nice city in terms of seeing the sights for a day or two and then doing nothing the rest of the time, but I do want more from my cities. **Going back in 2021 didn't really change my opinion of Barcelona at all. It remains a great city, with a whole lot to see. Getting to see the Sagrada Familia more complete - in that you could go inside - was a nice touch. The food remained excellent, from random tapas bars, to nicer restaurants.**



6.) Istanbul (2007, 2024)



Istanbul is kind of a secret still, but there is really nothing to complain about. It has a waterfront, an easily accessible city center, a lot to see (the palaces, the Bosphuros, the Red & Blue Mosques). Istanbul also has a brilliant food scene, with both Muslim and Meditterannean influences but all sorts of bases (including a ton of seafood). There is little to separate any of the cities this high in the list. My only knock on Istanbul would be the public transport is lacking without a proper Subway (this could have changed since my last visit). Overall, Istanbul combines the palate and affordability of Asia, with the energy and cleanliness of Europe, the best of both worlds. **2024 Update: Istanbul drops a bit, mostly due to some weird fogginess of brilliance I had around the city past my 2007 trip. Anyway, what it did do is remain overall just a fabulous blend of cultures. You want Eastern temples (mosques), architecture, customs? You got it. You want palaces that could rival Versaille? You got that too. You have a unique cuisine that can spread from the late-night-street-food of the world (doner kebab) to refined Michelin-star restaurants, and a burgeouning night scene to boot. The only real reason it drops is that it is a bit too big and sometimes tough to get around in, but as a city it is truly a fantastic blend of East and West**


5.) Santiago (2018, 2024)




Midway through my second day in Santiago, I started debating how high it would go. Honestly, on the initial drive to the airport, through beautiful underground tunnels and well manicured streets, it earned its place on the list. Many great meals, multiple vibrant and differing neighborhoods, enough sites to last you days, and a cleanliness of Europe and culture of the Americas, and Santiago morphed into a truly special city. You have views, like at the top of Santa Lucia Hill. You have museums. You have regal government buildings. The restaurants are amazing, going from good street food to world class tasting menus. The competing Barrio Italia, with its Portland-esque vibe, and Barrio Bellavista, with fun bar after fun bar, add the neighborhood vibe as well. It all mixed to a truly brilliant city. ***2024 Update. So, Santiago is basically as perfect a locale as I remembered, spending more time there this time and getting to see some of the best parts. The museums and cultural aspects remained great, but now let's add on top of it everything about its modernity. You really don't feel you are in South America, with its wide roads, greenery, hills and life. The restaurants like Borago are timeless. Wandering the streets of Barrio Bellavista at night is a never-ending joy. Ride that funicular and cable-car and you see a city jsut bursting with life, energy and fun.***



4.) Jerusalem (2018)



Religion's most important city remains the best new city I've been to since I last wrote this piece. I'm floored by how much I enjoyed every aspect of Jerusalem. The obvious important religious sites were incredible, but the food spots in the city, the areas in the old town that are disconnected to religion, the great beer bar tucked inside the great Mahane Yehuda market. All of it was excellent. If I spend more time in Tel Aviv, maybe I add that to the list to, but for Jerusalem, it was a perfect mix of history and culture. Truly, the religious sites are so enormous in their gravity it is hard to not be astounded, even for someone who is practicing but not necessarily devout. The energy in the city is just tremendous - helps we went around Christmas of course. It was a perfect mix of circumstances, but it was just incredible from start to finish, a perfect mix of first world  luxuries and historical beauty. 


3.) Kyoto (2013, 2023)




Kyoto is the 3rd biggest City in Japan, but resembles so little of Tokyo (the biggest city) that makes it seem like a different country. Sure, the food options and the bustle is still there, but Kyoto, in some ways, is like a supersized Siem Reap. The real highlight of Kyoto is the ridiculous amounts of Temples and historical Japanese buildings. All of these are encircling the downtown area of Kyoto. Of course, that downtown is quite large, with beautiful malls, tall buildings with summer beer gardens (umlimited beer buffets for $30) and plentiful up-scale food options. Kyoto even has the most expansive Geisha area of Japan. Kyoto is the perfect city to experience what people's idea of Japan is, temples and pagodas and sushi, oh my! **2023 Update: Everything I wrote about is true in 2023, but the stuff I didn't get overly into - mostly because I didn't focus on that as much - from the high end restaurants, to the bar & nightlife scene, upped its game. The fact the main parts of the city, be it the shopping districts, the nightlife drag, and where the sights lie, are all within sort of walking distance, ups the game for Kyoto. Also, there is a chance I was, if anything, underrating the sights. There was truly ne negative to Kyoto, other than maybe the heat but that's more on me picking this specific time of year than anything else.**



2.) Madrid (2001, 2010, 2018, 2021, 2022)



I’ll never forget Madrid. It was where I turned 10 years old, in April of 2001. It was where I saw my first naked woman in real life, as I saw two nude woman near the pool in Madrid (given my age and their age, this wasn’t a good thing). It was where I first traveled alone, and where I learned the inherent joy of visiting a place a 2nd time. Barcelona might be more ‘fun’, but I can’t think of a place that combines everything I want from a city more than Madrid. Madrid has a dependable airport, and a dependable subway system. More than that, the city is small enough in its center that you can easily walk from the Prado side on the East, to the Palace on the West and not break a sweat. It has some of Spain’s best museums. There is more than enough to see. And, of course, you are still very much in Spain. It isn’t as relaxed as Barcelona, but is just as Spanish, with open squares, easy food and drink,  a lot of youngsters (and a lively area for them at night). This wasn’t a criteria, but a lot of people speak English there to boot. Madrid is basically a perfect city. Small enough to walk, with enough sites to not get bored, enough food to not go hungry, and a relaxed, but not too relaxed nature that you won’t ever get tired of doing nothing for an afternoon or two.


1.) Cape Town (2013, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022)



I've been wondering whether doing Cape Town first helped increase my perceptions of it. I was at my most curious and excited at the start of the trip. Then, I remember everything amazing about Cape Town, like the incredible scenery and breathtaking views, the active harbor and Long Street areas (for the youngsters among us), the great food of every type and the wine region to one side with the Cape of Good Hope below it. Cape Town is a special place on the total other side of the word (laterally speaking). I've really never been any place quite like it, which is why I want to go back there more than any place in the world. **I've oddly never updated my write-up of Cape Town since the first time I did this list. Mainly because I from the start had it ranked #2. But after going back (and back, and back...), I think it is time I just move it to #1. The restaurants, bars, clubs, and unending hikes and views just give it such a perfect balance in terms of what I would want out of a city to visit.

My Top 67 Favoritesere International Cities, Pt. 1: #67 - #35

For the first time in a while - the list is now 67. Weird number? Sure - but also let's remember this is all random and I'll be going to Brazil soon so Rio is already penciled in somewhere.....

I like that this is a living, breathing document since I first wrote my Top-20 cities back in 2013. Anyway, we're up to 60-now, and in reality, if I remembered more about my trips in 1999-2001 to Europe, I probably could have added quite a bit more.


*************************************************************************

Again, these are ranked as cities I would visit (all of them I have visited), not where I would live. I would live in Geneva, but probably not visit again because there isn’t much to do, it is cold, and some other reasons. There are places that I wish I could rank because from what I’ve heard from family/friends that have been there they seem really good, like Moscow, Berlin and Hamburg, and when I visit them, I will update this list. Also irrelevant is the ease of getting to this city. Singapore isn’t hurt because it is the farthest commonly visited location from NYC than any other place, and London isn’t helped because it is 6 hours away.

A city includes sites and destinations that are a reasonable distance away, so Barcelona won’t get credit for the Playas that are 2-3 hours away (and are closer to Valencia), and Athens won’t get credit for Ephesus which is 3 hours away, but London would get credit for Stratford (or whatever it’s called where Shakespeare is from, or Oxford – and Rome gets credit for the Vatican, which for being a different country, is totally part of Rome) which is reasonably close.


Honorable Mentions - **New Area**

To keep us at 60 and needing to add a couple spots, I've reclassified three cities as Honorable Mentions because my visit there was too long ago to really remember it. I'm sure these cities are great, and whatever fleeting memories I have of them are strong, but I can't really compare them in any real way vs. the one's I have a far better memory of.

= Munich (previously, #49)
= Prague (#39)


67.) Tiberias (2018)



The city bay the sea of Galilee, the city surrounding the areas of various events of Jesus's life. The city itself is small, but thriving with some nice restaurants with great local, fresh fish nad of course kebabs. They even had some nice bars in teh city as well. But the sites are great, from the mystical/religious (say where Jesus walked on water, etc.), and just plain beautiful, like the Church of the Transfiguration on the hill. Tiberias is a bit of a pilgrimige, but a worthy one. 


66.) Kuala Lumpur (2013)




Our first day in Kuala Lumpur, I hated it. We didn't really plan much to do and aimlessly went around. The second day, where we had a plan, it became a lot better. There are a few standout sites, like the Menara KL, the Petronas Towers, the Bird Park. The food was excellent, from down home Malaysian cooking, to fancier places. The shopping is quite nice. There are myriad cooler cities in Southeast Asia, but when you give KL a chance, it really starts to shine.


65.) Warsaw (2014)



Warsaw may have gone higher had I spent more time there, but like many other European countries, the capital is often a bit too commercial, a bit too gray, than the smaller pearls of cities (like Krakow, for Poland). Warsaw has some great sites, like its main street and clock tower, the palace, and I'm sure a whole host of others I forgot about or didn't have time to visit, but it is a bit lost in a city a bit too big for its own good. The food is decent, but what I really want to commend is its bar scene. There were some great gastropubs and beer bars that littered across the Warszawa Central district.


64.) Da Lat (2013)



The little hamlet high above the Vietnamese hills, Da Lat was probably the most pleasant surprise of any place on my RTW trip. The city itself is modeled after European cities, with parks, downtown circles and even a model Eiffel Tower. The surrounding areas houses more traditional Vietnamese fair, like temples, Buddhas, waterfalls and even roller coasters, all underneath a cool mountain air. Da Lat's hills hide many nice restaurants, bars and clubs. It isn't nearly as loud or as famous as Ho Chi Minh, Nha Trang or Hanoi, but Da Lat may be the most pure mix of Asia and Europe that I have seen. Also, it has an incredibly nice airport given the just six flights that fly there each day.

63.) Nikko

Japan's answer to the one/two-road, tourist heavy town that will appear further up from other countries, Nikko was a great little break from teh urban bustle of Tokyo. Truly a one-road town, with most of the shops, restaurants, bars all being on the main drag, but in that area contained some good sushi spots and of course a craft beer bar. Further afield came a bunch of great sights, including a "Temple Circuit" of four good temples, one of which was one of the more impressive ones I saw during my time in Japan in the Toyusho Temple. Nikko also had Lake Chuzenji and the nearby Kogen Waterfall within an hour of its base, along with other hiking areas even further afield.


62.) Johannesburg (2016, 2018)




I've flown into and out of Johannesburg three different times, but spent a total of one night and about two days in the city, seeing a few of the main sites, but in reality not enough to get a real true sense of the city. What Joburg does have are some nice sites like the Apartheid Museum, a few gentrified neighborhoods, some classy foods and areas, the nice lion safari on its outskirts. The negatives are its sheer size (it takes forever to get from place to place), and the danger. Now, that danger part is being unfair - Cape Town has a higher murder rate, though most of that is localized into slums - but when you drive through posh districts and suburbs and every street has barbed wire it gives a less than stellar impression.


61.) Belgrade (2017)




In 20 years, Belgrade may deserve a spot well up this list, but for now for a city on the rise it gets on. For advantages, Belgrade is cheap, it houses some nice history, really good restaurants, and a great bar and club scene. For negatives, none of these things are marketed well enough. Belgrade should continue to grow, and as it does it will replace dirty streets with cleaner ones, complete the renovation on its main church, and just overall work on the edges. Then again, I kind of like a city that can still have cool ass floating clubs with affordable bottle service.


60.) Jeonju (2022)


Jeonju was not even supposed to be on my Korea trip itinerary, a secondary choice after my primary place of Busan was taken away from me due to a typhoon. Busan maybe would have ranked higher (same with Jeju, also axed for the same reason). But anyway, I went, and found a lot to like. The Hanok Village, showcasing a modern take of traditional Korean architecture and livign was lovely. The bibimbap, made famous in Jeonju itself, was a great addition itself. The sites aren't world beating, but nice enough, from the Gyeongijjeon, to the Wibongsa temple in the outlying mountains, to fill a couple days easily. Jeonju is known as the "traditional" tourist home of Korea, and that traditionality is fully earned, warranted, and lovely.


59.) Amritsar (2024)

If only I didn't rate food as a super important part of my view on a city, Amritsar would be quite a bit higher up. Amritsar had some great sights, especially the Golden Temple. That whole complex is one of the most serene, beautiful, sights I've been to in India, and realistically in a lot of places. Their Partition Musuem and Museum around the Waila Bagh massacre are both super well curated, informative and tranquil. Overall Amritsar has some great facets, but what it doesn't have, at least for a carnivore is great food. They have a small few blocks of late night scene, but even that I've seen better in India. Take this as a sight heavy place in Northern India - if you go, defintiely take in the Waga Border.


58.) Penang (2013)



There are positives and negatives to Penang, and depending how important the positives are relative to the negatives to you, Penang could rise or fall on your rankings. Personally, food and culture are really important to me, and Penang has both in spades. It may be a little overrated with food, but the seafood night markets that litter both Georgetown (the main city) and the beaches (all within an hour or so from Georgetown) are wonderful. The Nyonya food in Penang is far better than that in Kuala Lumpur. There is enough to see, including a nice little trek in Georgetown to some interesting historical buildings (the Cheong Fat Tze is a nice highlight). Of course, Penang is also very crowded, slightly dirty and the beaches themselves are quite barren. In the end, I find this fair for what I still consider a great eating spot.


57.) Positano (2019)




Positano may have ranked differently if we went a week later - after the start of their 'busy season'. Maybe it would have ended up higher because that's how most people see Positano, or maybe lower because the crowds and prices would have been unbearable. Anyway, Positano might be one of the prettiest towns I've ever visted, with incredible views from all directions, whether up top looking down and across, or down at sea level looking up to waves and waves of houses. Positano also had a slew of nice restaurants, shops and tourism fare, be it hikes or boating. Positano is also well connected to a bunch of other Amalfi Coast towns, be it Amalfi or Sorrento or otherwise. Nice town, but a bit too overpriced and popular (in the busy season, at least).

56.) Parma (2015)



Italy is the one country where I would love to just visit a lot of their secondary cities. Parma was a fantastic little slice of Italia. The food was excellent, and the eponymous cheese was even better. The balsamic was the cherry on top. Yes, Parma is almost fully a food tourism place. It also was a beautiful little town, replete with nice lanes serving drinks and good times late until the night. I wish I got more time in Parma to experience the life in the city.


55.) Gyeongju (2024)



I like that I have Gyeongju fairly close to Jeonju on these rankings - and I think it is good to view them similarly. Both are famous for their Hanok Village type old towns - blocks on blocks of old school architecture, coffee shops, restaurants. Both ahve temples, but Gyeongju's are just that much prettier and serene - more mountains, less plains. The food in Gyeongju doesn't ahve anything as notable as Bibimbap for Jeonju, but the nightlife is better, with some amazing cocktail spots like Bar Prep, that are as inventive and exacting as what you will fine in Seoul. Overall, Gyeongju is a graet little visit if you're visiting the Southern part of Korea.


54.) Cairo (2018)




My ranking of Cairo definitely includes Giza (about 30-60 min away, depending on traffic), and Saqqara, and adding to those two pyramid and druin complexes, if you add in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo has some truly top notch sites. Of course, my view of cities go beyond sites, and that is where Cairo starts to struggle, be it the lack of truly great food, the restrictive nightlife that puts most fun places out of the reach of solo travelers (the old 'couples only' rule). These things are important to me, particularly the food aspect, and Cairo doesn't stack up. It does with key sites though, and when you add in some nice neighborhoods, there is a chance I am being unfair here.


53.) Jaipur (2013)



I hated traveling in India in my limited tourist experience in India prior to Rajasthan. First was Agra, where the Taj was nice but completely offset by the filth of Agra. Kerala was a mess. Given those two, was not too excited to be going to Rajasthan, but I have to say it was great. Jaipur is slightly too touristy, with most of the city, at least as far as I could tell, built off Forts, Palaces, strange Astronomical objects, and of course shopping. For pure tourism, it is probably the best city in India, even if it gets a bit too hot at times.

52.) Hanoi (2019)



If we average out the mess present at times in its clustered old town and the beauty of its large West Lake area, you get a truly great city. Hanoi is a bit more staid than its Vietnamese colleague in the South (further up the list), but it still has its charm. The lakes throughout city create a more atmosphere and some truly stunning temples and pagodas. The food, as it surely is thrughout Vietnam, is excellent. The beer flows well. There's nothing wrong with teh city, but there's no one feature that sets it apart.


51.) Siem Reap (2013)



Siem Reap is a one-stop town, in that the only real thing to see there is Angkor Wat, but do you know what (excuse the pun), that is enough to get it a spot on the list. Looking back at my time there, even the town itself of Siem Reap is quite nice - good restaurants, nice bars, enough to do when not lollygagging around the Angkor Wat complex. Anyway, that's not to say that it would be ranked had Angkor Wat been there. Angkor Wat is one of the better two day tourism sites I've ever been to, a parade of amazing history. It's an added bonus that they've developed the town enough to make the nights fun as well.


50.) Punta Arenas (2017)




It's odd that none of the Patagonia cities are that close to the sites that surround those areas, so they were hard to judge. Punta Arenas is probably the most substantial town of the three we visited, with an actual down-town, with nice ornate buildings and squares, The best part of the city is an unexplainable sense of being so far away from home, from anywhere, with Punta Arenas being the Southernmost city of more than 50,000 people. There are of course some nice restaurants and bars, and a good mix of locals and tourists, which created a nice atmosphere as well. Of course, with the Tierra del Fuego and Isla Magdalena Penguins within driving distance, the tourism isn't too bad either.

49.) Turin (2015)


Picking Turin allows me to count the Piedmont wine country, and those little towns that dot it. Turin the city though, is a understated version of how incredible Italy is. It has the requisite churches and squares, but also has the open palacial squares and river-fronts that you normally associate with other countries in Europe. It has some incredible little hamlets of food, with great options for eating throughout the day (some excellent tea joints). My favorite place in Turin actually wasn't one of the two main squares, but Piazza Vittorio Veneto, one that borders the river with an amazing view of the city behind it. It was the last place we went to in Turin, an incredible capper to an unexpected amazing day in a great city.


48.) Inverness (2023)



Oh the Scottish Highlands, how I wish I could spend more time. Inverness is so far North, so gorgeous in teh Summer. Yes, it takes maybe a bit too long to venture out to the Isle of Sky, or the Highlands Scotch Area, but for a little town Inverness also offers a whole lot, including a lovely main street of alleys and distilleries and life. The food can only get so good in Scotland (or the UK in general), but there is some great meat and produce here. The highlands are excellent though, a never ending series of incredible views and adorable sheep, with a castle or two thrown in. And of course, the scotch is lovely. You have to venture out, but it's definitely worth the drive.


47.) Udaipur (2013)


As somehow who hated traveling in India, picking a city that is in one of the hottest areas in the country, and a city I visited during their hot dry season, this high might seem surprising. Well, I can't recommend Udaipur, along with Rajasthan as a hole, enough. The city has some beautiful scenery being built on a far more hilly area of the country than you would expect. They have famous lakes that hold famous hotels built on famous castles. They have nice food and street shows that line the corridors of the inner city. THere's the strange love for the movie Octopussy, where screenings are shown nightly. There's a beautiful palace inside the city. And I'll stretch my 'sites withing 1.5 hours count' rule by saying that the Jain Temple at Ranakpur was incredible - and in any modern country it would be within 1.5 hours.


46.) Split (2017)




There is so much to like about Split, be it the sprawling old town with enough sites and small alleys lined with shops and restaurant to keep you busy way too long, or the modern clubs and restaurants, or the sites from its hills. I guess in theory I can include the island of Hvar as well as that is within a 1-hour boat ride away, which adds beautiful beaches and mountains to this as well. Split as a whole might be a little too commercialized - they had a lot of stalls selling the normal tourist fares that aren't always appreciated, but the city truly is a beautiful slice of culture deep in Croatia. I do love how varied the drink and food scene is there as well.



45.) El Calafate (2017)




I have a few inexplicable choices on this list, and El Calafate, a more or less one-road town, might be at the top of those odd choices. I mean, literally 95% of the restaurants and shops are either on, or right off of, the main road. Of course, those restaurants and shops are fantastic, a great number of restaurants with fine Argentinean fare (Parilla's, and more earthern restraurants). Of course, the bars are great as well, from chic library-style cocktails, to an American craft beer oasis. However, none of that would place it on this list, but the irreplaceable Perito Moreno does. One of the greatest tourist joys of my life was walking around and then on that amazing, stunning glacier. A perfect mix of blues and whites, cascading chalks of ice, and the hoth-like conditions when traversing its face. All of it special.


44.) Aswan (2018)




Sadly, I can't list 'The Nile Cruise' as a city, because combining Luxor, Esna, Edfu and Aswan would probably deserve quite a higher spot. However, only the last of those (Edfu) is probably within the 90 minute range. Aswan is a nice city, with open streets, nice restaurants and hotels off of the Nile, architectural marvels both new (the Aswan Dam) and old (Phillae temple complex and Elephantine Island). When you add in the sites within its radius, it starts to glow as Egypt's less cluttered jewel.


43.) Takayama (2023)



Takayama was a perfect mdi sized city. Everything was walking distance. It had some great unique elements, such as the Sanmatchi district with pedestrian streets full of shops and restaurants with such great wood design, to the litany of temples all around that so well incorporated the forests and giant cedar trees. The food and drink options in Takayama were charming as well, from the various shops selling the local Hida Beef, to wonderful Izakayas, and great night options with small, charming mom & pop run bars that served great cocktails and had great vibes. Within the 90 minute rule also lies the beautiful Kamikochi National Park, where you can get lost like you would in the Western US. Takayama was a perfect little contrast to the bustle of the other sites in Japan, but one that could give enough bustle itself.


42.) Izmir (2007, 2024)




I don't know how I forgot about Izmir the umpteen times that I have done this. I loved my trip to Turkey and for a while only had Istanbul on the list. I finally remembered how much I loved Izmir when I went back and saw an album. It was a pristine coastal town, with unbelievably fresh seafood, a lot of interesting Capadoccian sites nearby, and just a cool air about it. The food and the fun alone put it well up in my mind - and also makes it a place I absolutely want to return to. **2024 Update: Izmir moves up slightly, mainly from me now considering Ephesus as within the 90-min rule of sights. As I noted, Izmir is a wonderful place to live, roam around, imbibe life, with its great food, great, compact nightlife and energy and beautiful views. Not much to do within city walls, but be it Ephesus or Pamukkale, you get things in the 60-min range. Wonderful secondary place within Turkey**



41.) Melbourne (2013)



Melbourne could be a Top-20 city to spend four or five days in. There is not too much to do, but enough to keep you occupied. If you like sports, which I do, then it is even better. Melbourne tries to lay claim to the Sporting Capital of the World, and when you mix together one of Tennis' four main tournaments with the 2nd most famous Cricket Ground (and most famous Aussie Rules ground) in the world right next door, it is hard to argue. Melbourne's riverfront is a beautiful area, with amazing views of the city around it. It's food options are endless, with really good Asian cuisine throughout the city. The nightlife seemed nice enough. It also has some really beautiful scenery around an hour of its boundaries, with beautiful parks, wine regions and the Great Ocean Road. Add into that Philipp Island, which just hits the cutoff to be included with Melbourne, and you get a solid, Top-40 city.


40.) Helsinki (2024)


Helsinki maybe suffers because it isn't ancient. There is no old town, there is no bleeding heart. There is only modernity, decor, design and niceness everywhere you look. There are the churches adn museums, but more so are the shops, galleries, statues and great food and drink options. Helsinki is also super walkable, super green, super enticing in the summer months with its near 24hour sunlight. The food ranges from top tasting menu spots, to great food markets whipping up their famous salmon soup, smoked salmon, bear and much more. The museums are plentiful, and all small and well curated enough to make them easy to knock out. There may be no one defining feature of Helsinki other than a rampant pleasantness that overwhelms.



39.) Panama City (2012)



I went to Panama with really low expectations, and I was blown away. It has a really impressive skyline, one that holds its own even if you forget that it is a poor latin country. It has great food of different cuisines. It has a ton to see, with the Panama Canal and the rainforest both falling into its sights. Other than Calgary (which I talked about in the last list) I don’t know if any trip I’ve gone on has been such a surprise as Panama, the Caribbean’s only truly modern city.


38.) Phnom Penh (2013)



I lied when I said that Da Lat was the biggest surprise of my Round the Worldtrip. Phnom Penh was. I wasn't expecting too much from Canbodia's capital, but the mix of history, good and bad, food, nightlife and surprising urbanity made Phnom Penh a real highlight for me. I really loved Cambodian food, and it was at its best in Phnom Penh, a perfect mix of Malay and Thai cuisine. Phnom Penh itself embraced its own history, not shying away from the terrible acts of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, maintaining multiple areas in the city to pay tribute to those who died. The rest of the city pays tribute to the rich culture of Cambodia that preceded the destruction, with large pagodas in beautiful parks and nice museums. Phnom Penh also has a nice riverfront area that is really, really lively at night. Add into all of this that the currency of choice in the Dollar, and you get a really nice, underrated city.

37.) Luang Prabang (2019)





There may be no better small three road town than Luang Prabang, a well manicured slice of Laotian heaven deep on the banks of the Mekong. The place is built for tourists, but expertly combines Western modernity in their restaurants and bars, and Eastern serenity. The amount of temples within this small town is truly incredible, all quite well adorned and decorated. The Laotian cuisine is always a hit. Much like another town on the list in El Calafate, its main street is so full of life. From what I know, unless you want to get really down and dirty, this is as good as Laos gets.


36.) Goa (2011, 2013, 2015)



Yeah, yeah, yeah, my initial ranking of Goa was a little ridiculous. It was built off of an admittedly awesome trip to Goa in 2011, but that was a perfect storm. We were staying in the best part of Goa for a first timer who loves food on beaches at 2 AM. I was fresh off of an alcohol cleanse (which of course came after the opposite of an alcohol cleanse), and was greeted with $0.50 beer. Goa still has all those things, but I quickly realized upon my second visit that the area of Goa you stay in makes a huge difference. Stay too far South and you get isolated beaches, which I am sure are nice to some, but they don't have the same nightlife and food options littering the beach. Instead, they have litter littering the beach. Stay in the right part of Goa and it is amazing, the wrong part and it is merely OK. Still, it is unlike anything else in India, and for that it will always be in my part.


35.) Amman (2019)



If you really want to stretch the 90 minute rule, Amman includes all things from the amazing ruins of Jerash, to the edge of the Dead Sea. Between those things, you have a fantastic city, one of the more modern in the Arab world. It has one of the nicer market areas, a beautiful little stretch with a Roman Amphiteater behind a large, open square, to some great food. Amman is a large city, but surprisingly easy to get around, and is the one place within Jordan's limits that modernity reign.

About Me

I am a man who will go by the moniker dmstorm22, or StormyD, but not really StormyD. I'll talk about sports, mainly football, sometimes TV, sometimes other random things, sometimes even bring out some lists (a lot, lot, lot of lists). Enjoy.