Good news for Canada and Australia

[aeventyr60]

I loved dining in melbourne....but love taking the piss from my aussie mates, geez did you ever show the yanks how rugby is played. Ozzie, ozzie, ozzie.. but the All Blacks will prevail!

[SloopJonB]

Originally Posted by INMA

Well I read all the thread and will never get that time back.

I have lived in Melbourne all my life and have not traveled enough to comment on other places, I find the negative comments and the comments knocking Australia's food not representative of my experience.

............................................

Melbourne is an excellent place to live and work, it has its limitations and it has highlights. If you don't believe me visit sometime and enjoy.

Don't be too sensitive, there's always a city that people pick on - in Canada, everyone loves to hate Toronto, which is actually a very nice city.

I've never been to Oz (my wife was there 40 years ago) but I have long felt that most places there would have some charms and the cities look especially nice (well Canberra looks a little "Albert Speer" for my taste, like all over-planned places).

[tdw]

Originally Posted by INMA

Well I read all the thread and will never get that time back.

Melbourne is an excellent place to live and work, it has its limitations and it has highlights. If you don't believe me visit sometime and enjoy.

INMA .... lighten up a tadge there matey. No one has been seriously slagging Melbourne. I'm a Sydneysider born and bred and even I said how much I liked the place. Melbourne is different to Sydney. Not neccessarily better or worse, just different.

For mine, one of the greatest positives on multi culturalism is the food. Australia probably has the second best food in the world. Second best Italian, second best Greek, second best Chinese ... etc etc etc but lets face it Pie Floaters are not ones of the world's great dishes.

[Hartley18]

Originally Posted by aeventyr60

I loved dining in melbourne....but love taking the piss from my aussie mates, geez did you ever show the yanks how rugby is played. Ozzie, ozzie, ozzie.. but the All Blacks will prevail!

aev, methinks you've been here too long already and either the sun or the beer (or both) is starting to affect you. If you ain't careful, you'll be one of us soon!!

[HELLICONIA54]

Originally Posted by Hartley18

Hah!! They obviously don't live here...

Why isn't Singapore on the list?? With a crime rate of near-zero, cheap food and clothing and not-much-worse-than-here housing prices, the only thing they have to complain about is the weather.

I'd suggest you completely ignore that list - it ain't worth space on the internet, let alone any paper they might print it on.

Living in Melbourne myself,,,,I have to ask by what criterior do they judge a city? Then again,,,i have never lived in vancouver.

[SloopJonB]

Originally Posted by HELLICONIA54

Living in Melbourne myself,,,,I have to ask by what criterior do they judge a city? Then again,,,i have never lived in vancouver.

People generally judge a city by how much it matches their personal needs and aspirations. I've been lots of places but the only city other than Vancouver I'd want to live in is San Francisco - basically because it's the same but with better weather and some regular wind. The restaurant food here is overall better but I could stand some weight loss.

I should note, I wasn't born or raised in Vancouver - I chose it.

[PCP]

I don't know any of the cities outside Europe but they have used the same criteria that makes Viena the most "liveable" city in Europe and I know well Vienna as many other European cities. I don't know exactly what they call liveability but I know that Viena is boring compared with other European cities.

For me, given a decent standard of wealth care and education the main factor is joy of living and beauty but if Vienna has its fair share of beautiful places (in a grandiloquent style), the joy is simply not there. Well, even Munich is more fun than Vienna. For the ones that find joy of living an important factor in what regards Europe we should be taking about Seville, Rome or even Lisbon.

Anyway regarding Europe what we see is that the ones that have the means to and enjoy living are abandoning big cities choosing to live in smaller towns were the liveability is a lot better. I have no doubt that small French cities like Arles or Nimes have a better liveability if compared with Paris, no matter what the numbers say. You have just to go there and experience the difference.

Regards

Paulo

[tdw]

Originally Posted by PCP

I don't know any of the cities outside Europe but they have used the same criteria that makes Viena the most "liveable" city in Europe and I know well Vienna as many other European cities. I don't know exactly what they call liveability but I know that Viena is boring compared with other European cities.

For me, given a decent standard of wealth care and education the main factor is joy of living and beauty but if Vienna has its fair share of beautiful places (in a grandiloquent style), the joy is simply not there. Well, even Munich is more fun than Vienna. For the ones that find joy of living an important factor in what regards Europe we should be taking about Seville, Rome or even Lisbon.

Anyway regarding Europe what we see is that the ones that have the means to and enjoy living are abandoning big cities choosing to live in smaller towns were the liveability is a lot better. I have no doubt that small French cities like Arles or Nimes have a better liveability if compared with Paris, no matter what the numbers say. You have just to go there and experience the difference.

Regards

Paulo

Paulo,
Its funny how people perceive different qualities in different places. For example I can well see why the person who thinks Melbourne is tops would also like Vienna. They do have to some extent a similar vibe. Now while that is a somewhat laid back, dare I say , cultured vibe its not one I find unpleasant. Indeed Vienna is one of my favourite European cities.

The only city in Portugal I have been to is Lisbon and then I was primarily in the suburbs. Spent most of my time at Cascais and around the harbour (Belem) area up towards the bridge. I loved the place. Dearly want to revisit.

Rome ? Been awhile since my last visit but I'm afraid it has lost its appeal, for me at least, and I'd rather spend time in Barcelona or Madrid than Seville.

As for smaller centres ? Oh yes. Any time. My favourite French city is Lyon, I always enjoy Bilbao, Salamanca and/or La Coruna but they are not really party cities. Simply enjoyable places to be.

So, when it comes to Australia, all the talk may be about Sydney and Melbourne but me, I'll take Hobart anytime.

Cheers

Andrew

[PCP]

Originally Posted by tdw

Paulo,
Its funny how people perceive different qualities in different places. For example I can well see why the person who thinks Melbourne is tops would also like Vienna. They do have to some extent a similar vibe. Now while that is a somewhat laid back, dare I say , cultured vibe its not one I find unpleasant. Indeed Vienna is one of my favourite European cities.

The only city in Portugal I have been to is Lisbon and then I was primarily in the suburbs. Spent most of my time at Cascais and around the harbour (Belem) area up towards the bridge. I loved the place. Dearly want to revisit.

Rome ? Been awhile since my last visit but I'm afraid it has lost its appeal, for me at least, and I'd rather spend time in Barcelona or Madrid than Seville.

As for smaller centres ? Oh yes. Any time. My favourite French city is Lyon, I always enjoy Bilbao, Salamanca and/or La Coruna but they are not really party cities. Simply enjoyable places to be.

So, when it comes to Australia, all the talk may be about Sydney and Melbourne but me, I'll take Hobart anytime.

Cheers

Andrew

Yes, I guess you understood what I meant to say. Not saying that Melbourne, Sydney or Vancouver are not the best places in the world but just being a bit puzzled about Vienna as I am a bit surprised you like that much Vienna. Kind of a stiff city were human contacts are polite but really cold, I mean on the restaurant or in any public places. They also live inside doors with little social open contact and relatively few restauarants/cafes/Bars for the number of inhabitants. Kind of aseptic to my taste

I love Barcelona but I found strange you prefer Madrid over Seville. I mean Madrid is very good for going out and have a wild night with friends, but Seville has magic in its way of live.

Seville people are out on the streets everyday before dinner to socialize, and I mean all. There are an incredible number of bodegas, bars and restaurants that become full everyday on the end of the afternon, not with tourists but with "Sevilhanos" that eat small tapas, drink bear and wine, talk, laugh and enjoy live. If you go to one of those places the chances are that in some time you will be talking with everybody because everybody is talking and smiling at you.

This type kind of social live is typical of Andalucia, the south of Spain and even if on the coast is a bit deformed by Tourism, in places like Cordoba or Seville it is a natural and very agreeable thing.

See what I mean, not only young people, just everybody:












Do you have stayed some nights in Seville?

Regards

Paulo

[tdw]

Originally Posted by PCP

Yes, I guess you understood what I meant to say. Not saying that Melbourne, Sydney or Vancouver are not the best places in the world but just being a bit puzzled about Vienna as I am a bit surprised you like that much Vienna. Kind of a stiff city were human contacts are polite but really cold, I mean on the restaurant or in any public places. They also live inside doors with little social open contact and relatively few restauarants/cafes/Bars for the number of inhabitants. Kind of aseptic to my taste

I love Barcelona but I found strange you prefer Madrid over Seville. I mean Madrid is very good for going out and have a wild night with friends, but Seville has magic in its way of live.

Seville people are out on the streets everyday before dinner to socialize, and I mean all. There are an incredible number of bodegas, bars and restaurants that become full everyday on the end of the afternon, not with tourists but with "Sevilhanos" that eat small tapas, drink bear and wine, talk, laugh and enjoy live. If you go to one of those places the chances are that in some time you will be talking with everybody because everybody is talking and smiling at you.

This type kind of social live is typical of Andalucia, the south of Spain and even if on the coast is a bit deformed by Tourism, in places like Cordoba or Seville it is a natural and very agreeable thing.

See what I mean, not only young people, just everybody:












Do you have stayed some nights in Seville?

Regards

Paulo

Paulo,
My whoops .. wrong city .... Seville was fine, enjoyed it though I was only there a couple of days. That pic of the bar reminded me how good the food was. The place that really disappointed my down that was Granada. Cordoba was nice though. Also enjoyed the short time I spent in Toledo and really enjoyed Salamanca.

Reality is I enjoyed Vienna because of its slight stuffiness. It is so different to the wild exuberance of places like Barcelona, I simply enjoyed walking eating observing. It was fine.

Madrid for me is food, museums and galleries. The Reina Sofia is probably my favourite gallery. I love the place. That alone makes the place worthwhile.

Cheers

Andrew

(I'm off to do my race. Back next week)