Your Favourite European cities

[Yoda Power]

1. Vienna
2. Minsk
3. Stockholm
4. Berlin
5. Oslo
I live in Szczecin. People tell me it was quite nice here many years ago...

So what's up with Minsk?

 

[Richard Cribb]

So what's up with Minsk?

A nice, orderly city with its fair share of cultural attractions and pleasant people. Also as far as I can see, the closest one can come to a socialist city in Europe today. I only put it behind Vienna because that city is marvellous (I am at present investigating the possibility to move to Vienna), because it might be difficult to find gluten free products in Minsk, I don't speak Belorussian and the last time I visited Minsk was in 2010.

 

[uppi]

The Hbf here doesn't have a proper supermarket (the latest shop closure there is Burger King, I think, at about 11pm). I'm fairly sure there are precisely zero 24h supermarkets in Munich. Though having to go to the Hbf would hardly be a proper solution to the problem.

The Bavarian government would probably see it as a personal insult if there was one. And strictly speaking gas stations are only allowed to sell to travelers at night. But I think they stopped enforcing that when they realized how ridiculous that is.

Some say Munich is a really large village instead of a city.

 

[Camikaze]

So I was literally just about to go to the supermarket to get some food so I can cook tonight, what with it safely being a Monday and all, when I was informed by a friend that today is apparently a public holiday. So no food for me. At least in a post-apocalyptic wasteland you'd be allowed to hunt.

 

[bhsup]

Wait. Secular Europe closes down for religious holidays like that? I mean, it's not even Christmas which could possibly be argued to almost be a cultural holiday now (It's not, but some make that argument.) This is Epiphany, celebrating the revelation that Jesus is the Son of God.

Europeans don't ever, ever again get to say we're too religious in America.

 

[Tahuti]

Europeans don't ever, ever again get to say we're too religious in America.

Well, as a European, I don't think we are significantly less religious than Americans overall. It's just that in Europe, the extremes on both sides are numerically more significant and thus we are far more polarised in terms of religiosity. Most Eastern Europeans, Muslim-Majority Minorities and several rural communities are quite religious and altogether quite numerous. Likewise, we have several ethnic groups and countries that are renowned for their irreligion (notably, Czechia, France, Estonia, Sweden).

In America, most people seem to be religious-but-not-that-much, with die hard atheists and fanatical religious folk being considered fringe minorities. In Europe, you are either irreligious or a religious fundamentalist.

 

[Flying Pig]

Wait. Secular Europe closes down for religious holidays like that? I mean, it's not even Christmas which could possibly be argued to almost be a cultural holiday now (It's not, but some make that argument.) This is Epiphany, celebrating the revelation that Jesus is the Son of God.

Europeans don't ever, ever again get to say we're too religious in America.

I immediately thought 'bank holiday' rather than 'religious holiday' - we have a few days of the year on which nobody works, not even those people who usually work when others don't, such as bank clerks.

 

[GoodSarmatian]

Wait. Secular Europe closes down for religious holidays like that? I mean, it's not even Christmas which could possibly be argued to almost be a cultural holiday now (It's not, but some make that argument.) This is Epiphany, celebrating the revelation that Jesus is the Son of God.

Depends where you are. German states handle holidays differently and Camikaze is currently in German Texas where Catholicism reigns supreme. It's a normal work day in most of Germany and Europe.

 

[bhsup]

"German Texas." I like that! Thanks for the insight, guys.

 

[Lillefix]

"German Texas." I like that! Thanks for the insight, guys.

But of course there is Good friday, Easter Monday, Ascension day and Pentecost which all of Germany celebrates.

 

[HannibalBarka]

For visit:
1. Venicia: it's just unbelievably and densily astonishing and beautiful. Every single corner in the City is a "museum"
2. Praha: it has a special atmosphere and is very beautiful as well, though one needs to know where to go to find nice "bars and restaurants" (it's all "hidden").
3. Paris: it has so many many differents atmospheres and is really beautiful. (though I've been living here for many many years).

I think Istanbul and Rome should be in that top list, but I have never been there so I am not sure.

To live in:
1. Sydney: all what a big city can offer in a astonishing nature. If it weren't that far from my home countries, I would have moved there with no hesitation
2. Paris: I live here and am happy doing so ;-)
3. NY City: an awsome place with nothing comparable. the best place to be if you're young and "decently" rich. Lived there for 3 years.

 

[Terxpahseyton]

Well, as a European, I don't think we are significantly less religious than Americans overall.

I disagree with basically everything you have said.
I still think we are and don't think at all that Europe has more fundamentalists than America. Creationism has no significance whatsoever in Europe, for instance. We don't publicly pray outside of a church. German polticians would never say "God bless you" after a speech Etcetera...
In general, I find European religiousness to be very apolitical and a lot less strong.
Though then, I only know the German way with some decent thoroughness and live in the supposedly most irreligious place on earth - East Germany. But I don't get the vibe that it is much different in other parts of Europe.
Sure, in say Poland you may have a lot of very religious people, as you have in the south of Germany or in Italy. But more fundamentalist? I don't see that at all. More numerous? I don't see that at all, either.

As to the German holidays: East Germany is a testimony to how Atheists can feel perfectly fine with religious holidays as long as they are just as much wordly holidays. It is a day off man, why would an Atheist complain?

 

[Tahuti]

I disagree with basically everything you have said.
I still think we are and don't think at all that Europe has more fundamentalists than America. Creationism has no significance whatsoever in Europe, for instance. We don't publicly pray outside of a church. German polticians would never say "God bless you" after a speech Etcetera...
In general, I find European religiousness to be very apolitical and a lot less strong.
Though then, I only know the German way with some decent thoroughness and live in the supposedly most irreligious place on earth - East Germany. But I don't get the vibe that it is much different in other parts of Europe.
Sure, in say Poland you may have a lot of very religious people, as you have in the south of Germany or in Italy. But more fundamentalist? I don't see that at all. More numerous? I don't see that at all, either.

As to the German holidays: East Germany is a testimony to how Atheists can feel perfectly fine with religious holidays as long as they are just as much wordly holidays. It is a day off man, why would an Atheist complain?

Well, in Europe most religious holidays have been secularised and appropriated as ethnic celebrations, that much is true. But in the Netherlands, an orthodox protestant party has 2 seats out of 150. That seems very little, yet they are occasionally an important bargaining party to pass laws. They also wield immense influence in certain municipalities, which are quite powerful as a layer of government.

Also, if I'm not mistaken, most hospitals and schools in Germany are religious in nature. I definitely do think Eastern Europeans (with the exception of Estonians, Czechs and East Germans who are highly irreligious), Turks, Arabs and several rural peoples are generally speaking religious in ways that are rare in America. Also note that Ireland and Poland ban abortion, while abortion is legal in all of the USA, including the most conservative states.

 

[uppi]

So I was literally just about to go to the supermarket to get some food so I can cook tonight, what with it safely being a Monday and all, when I was informed by a friend that today is apparently a public holiday. So no food for me. At least in a post-apocalyptic wasteland you'd be allowed to hunt.

That is a regular occurrence here, even for Germans. If you are not a devout catholic you might not even have heard of some of the obscure catholic holidays that are public holidays in Bavaria.

 

[Domen]

Just for this single building alone Sofia needs to be listed:



Sofia is also the only capital city in Europe, which has a minority population of Wookiees:

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Wookiee

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kukeri

Sure, in say Poland you may have a lot of very religious people

You would be surprised.

We may be 90% "official Christians" (some 85% Catholics), but church attendance rates are actually lower than in the USA.

People are Christians in statistics because they are baptised. But many describe themselves as "non-practicing Christians".

I've heard people visiting their families in the USA, telling stories after they returned back to Poland about how they got annoyed when people in the US immediately started to ask them questions like: "you must be a very very very religious person, because you come from Poland, mate".

That Polish-Americans are more religious than Poles themselves is also reflected by how they vote in elections.

For example let's check the first ballot / first round of 2010 Presidential Election in Poland:

Jarosław Kaczyński of PiS (Law and Justice) got 70% of Polish-American votes, and only 36% of Polish votes:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_and_Justice

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_presidential_election,_2010#First_round

Here is my source for info that he got 70% of Polish-American votes (those with double citizenship who can vote in elections in Poland);

http://wybory.gazeta.pl/wybory/1,10...na_Kaczynskiego_w_wyborach_prezydenckich.html

And it also says that in Chicago, Kaczyński got 80% of all Polish-American votes in first round.

========================

Edit:

The map of this 2010 Presidential Election is very, very interesting (as well as maps of other elections in Poland, which look similar):



Do you know what I mean? Kaiserguard can surely figure it out - I don't know if others can.

I can only tell, that this map of election results really does justify my avatar.

I definitely do think Eastern Europeans (with the exception of Estonians, Czechs and East Germans who are highly irreligious)

The most irreligious of E. Europeans are Ukrainians. They are actually majority atheists IIRC - it is heritage of Soviet promotion of atheism.

Also note that Ireland and Poland ban abortion

You need to refresh your info Kaiserguard. In Poland abortion is allowed. But not in any situation - there has to be a cause for abortion.

Only in three situations abortion is allowed. When no of these three situations occurs, it is forbidden.

In Europe, you are either irreligious or a religious fundamentalist.

No, mate - you got it totally wrong here.

Majority of people I know - including myself - are neither totally irreligious nor religious fundamentalist.

Maybe indeed Poland is in North Africa.

In America, most people seem to be religious-but-not-that-much

Since Polish-Americans are about 2 times more national conservative than "Polish-Poles", I suppose they are also 2 times more religious.

I live in Szczecin.

Are you Polish?

 

[really]

Cities I enjoyed visiting:
Rome - history, food, cocktails, wine - an interesting and fun city - it probably helped that I was staying in a fancy boutique hotel in the center
Venice - history + canals, I didn't like the prices or accommodation though.

I have been to Dubrovnik, Warsaw, Prague, Monte Carlo, Budapest over the years and enjoyed them too.

Paris + London have been covered enough.
Munich - lots of beer but I got tired of sausage

Amsterdam - I thought it was interesting but a bit over rated and expensive - I was there for work which might have influenced me.

I have been to small cities too like Clermont-Ferrand (FR), Zamosc (PL) and Feltre (IT) which I enjoyed for different reasons.

Cities I didn't particularly like:
Milan - boring
Bucharest
Limerick
I've never been to Greece so I think if I can afford a foreign holiday this year it might be an Athens + some island combo

 

[Domen]

I also don't understand what people have against Paris.

I've been to Paris and IMO it looks - some part of it at least - a little bit too monumental. I don't like such excessive "breadth".

Paris would've been better off if the great renovation of 1852-1870 had never happened.

When it comes to favourite cities once again.

I've seen (in passing) a very beautiful small town in Germany with old architecture but forgot its name at the moment...

 

[Kyriakos]

I've never been to Greece so I think if I can afford a foreign holiday this year it might be an Athens + some island combo

I advise you to not go to Athens, due to many reasons. Particularly in this period.

Maybe just some island, of which Corfu (an actual city anyway) would be a good choice in my view

 

[Traitorfish]

The only city deserving of the name which I'm in any position to judge is Glasgow, which is another way of saying that I'm in no position to judge. I'm basically quite provincial like that.

 

[JohannaK]

To live in:
1. Sydney: all what a big city can offer in a astonishing nature. If it weren't that far from my home countries, I would have moved there with no hesitation
2. Paris: I live here and am happy doing so ;-)
3. NY City: an awsome place with nothing comparable. the best place to be if you're young and "decently" rich. Lived there for 3 years.

I presume these are Missouri-scale cities in the UK.