What city that you've visited would you never visit again?

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

For me it's Rio de Janeiro. It was okay - we stayed near Ipanema Beach - but I don't need to go there again. Once is enough. How about you?

[datasuspect]

1. cut and shoot, tx

[DS1]

2. Council Bluffs

Ugh. What a miserable place.

[progressoid]

134. Ha!!

I'm trying to get out of here!

[Critters2]

3. Youngstown, OH.

T'was a nightmare.

[av8rdave]

275. Lived in that area for 5 years in the 70s...couldn't get out of there fast enough!

[Withywindle]

4. L.A.

Glad to see most of the big sights at least once, but sorry, I think that sun-bleached, spread-out desert suburb look is fugly. I like cities with more density and history.

[BlueStateGirl]

5. St. Louis. At least not in the middle of winter. It is probably a lovely city

in the summer.

[realisticphish]

8. lol

totally didn't see this before i posted

[A-Long-Little-Doggie]

122. Nope, St. Louis sucks in the summer, too!

And you cannot find a decent beer anywhere in the city. And by "decent" I mean beer not made by Anheiser Busch...

edited for correct season

[WildEyedLiberal]

298. There is the Schlafly brewery in Laclede's Landing

Otherwise, yeah, it's pretty much all Bud.

St. Louis has a really world class zoo, though. I try to go at least once a year.

[Guava Jelly]

6. Nassau

It was totally Bogus

[demnan]

126. Agreed

First thing I thought of.

[psychopomp]

241. Looks like a nice place to me

[realisticphish]

7. st. louis

nothing particularly bad about it, but just meh. I can't imagine getting excited about "ROAD TRIP TO ST. LOUIS!!!"

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

9. Unless it's for a soccer game and the opposing goalie is a hottie...

...Ah, the memories...

[TroglodyteScholar]

21. St Louis sprang to my mind as well...

...I feel the same way, too. Nothing particularly bad about it...it's just unexciting.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

176. Me too.

I saw the Cathedral and the Arch and the Botanical Gardens, so I won't go back.

It took me two days to go thru the Botanical Gardens, which were wonderful.

[BlueStateGirl]

66. I was trapped there for 3 weeks for work. Downtown, where nothing is

open on Sundays. I mean nothing. No food, no drink, no shopping.

But that may have been a blessing, because the food in that town is awful. Truly bad.

And everyone drinks Bud, even in microbreweries.

[lebkuchen]

161. Isn't that where the head of the Council of Conservative Christians is from?

You know...the CCC aka the KKK?

[Wapsie B]

232. Could be. I do know it's the home of one of the Bush clan.

Bucky Bush lives there. Don't remember his given name.

[AbbeyRoad]

197. I have to go there for concerts and the airport

Otherwise, I don't see much of a reason to go there. I'm not terribly fond of the place. The arch is cool.

[Tektonik]

10. Laughlin

Ugh never again.

[medeak]

31. lol! except for motorcycle rally? n/t

[harmonicon]

11. any city that I've been to in Florida

All of Florida, really.

[Connonym]

13. I agree I hate Florida

the beaches are ugly, the bugs are huge, the weather is gross, I've already done Disney 4 times. The only thing that could tempt me to go there again would be a space launch and even then probably not.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

26. If you think Florida equals just Disney...

...then you are just sad. Disney is by far the worst part of a state that is really a great place, once you find the right places to go.

And what planet are you from where you are claiming Florida's beaches are gross?

[Connonym]

38. I didn't say that Florida was just Disney

I said that I've been to Disney 4 times (thus having no need to go to Florida for that reason). I've been elsewhere in Florida and not cared for any of it so don't worry about my being "sad." As for the beaches, I guess on the planet I'm from (the one where I've been to Jamaica, Baja and several places on the Mexican Riviera) Florida beaches are cesspools by comparison. I hate the beaches, I hate the humidity, I hate the insects and if Florida sank back into the ocean tomorrow I'd feel no regret.

Condescending much?

[harmonicon]

61. sink into the ocean? No!

My plan is to severe it from the rest of the continent, float it through the gulf of mexico, tip it on it's side, put it through the panama canal, and set it adrift in the pacific.

"oh, boo hoo.... we don't know how to vote"

[Oeditpus Rex]

67. If you just cut from West Palm south

it'd be like a circumcision. :)

[Connonym]

69. you guys make me laugh

[Oeditpus Rex]

73. Know what the Florida Keys are?

Trouser track. :)

[Tommy_Carcetti]

105. Meh.

I'm sure wherever you're from ain't that great shakes in my mind, too. I'll call it even.

All I can say is that any state that has something like this:



is my kind of state. If some people can't deal with humidity, that's their own damn fault.

[LSdemocrat]

173. If I was going to generalize, Florida's gulfside beaches are far better than the oceanside ones

I've pretty regularly visited Florida's beaches, and I'd definitely say that all of the gulfside beaches outshine the oceanside beaches. I've never noticed much of an insect or a humidity problem, and yes I do go during the summer.

[lebkuchen]

93. the space launch is very interesting, as is the museum

dolphins plying the water, South Beach in Miami....that's about it.

[LSK]

154. never been to Key West huh?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

12. Grand Forks, ND in December.

I've never been so cold in my life.

Also Atlanta. I really don't like Atlanta.

[Common Sense Party]

79. Or Minot, ND. Really, just about anywhere in ND in winter.

Grand Forks is lovely in the spring and fall, though.

[baldguy]

14. Bond, CO

Though calling it a "city" is a bit generous.

[Chan790]

15. Cincinnati, OH. or Jacksonville, FL.

Both are like vast armpits of rolling suburbia without real downtowns to speak of and very little to do. Both also struck me as being very very republican and Christian-conservative.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

16. Jacksonville is actually a great city.

It has its flaws, but also some very nice neighborhoods to be spoken of by the riverside. Usually has great weather and it's on the ocean.

Hartford, on the other hand....:)

[Chan790]

41. I'll have you know...

Hartford is a charming city with a low cost of living, a rich ethnic mix, an educated populace, and a rich history.

We also have the excitement which comes with a high crime rate and an active gang culture.

We also have a lot of bars and insurance executives. I'm not sure how those go hand-in-hand, but I'm pretty sure that there is a correlation.

Hartford has a pedestrian-friendly downtown. This is because it is impossible to drive anywhere because all the major streets in downtown are one-way in the same directions (West and North).

We used to have an NHL team. This differentiates us from FL which has two poseur franchises currently pretending to be NHL teams.

We're a gay-friendly community. There is even a banner on the church on Main St. which says "We're a gay-friendly community."

Our mayor is bi-lingual. He sounds like an idiot in both languages.

We're efficient. The Park River doubles as a sewage main.

Hartford has a thriving art community. There's me, my friend 'rissa and the guy who makes statues of Elvis out of chrome bumpers.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

104. I'm sure it's a nice place. I can't say I've been there.

Problem is, it's in Connecticut. I'm sure there are some good reasons to visit Conneticut, but I can't think of any of them that apply to me personally. I'm done with the whole Northeast, frankly. If I never see another flake of snow in my life, call me a happy man.

I just get a little p'oed when people rip at Jax. It's probably my favorite of all the Florida cities, even though I live in South Florida. I like how it isn't a world class city (and thus you don't get all the obnoxious pretense of such places) but they still seem to have a lot of good civic pride. I think people are a little jaded by what it may have been like 20-30 years ago, but it's changed a lot and is constantly improving itself.

[Patiod]

116. Too funny!

You sound like a Philadelphian - we used to have a slogan: "Philadelphia - Not As Bad as Philadelphian's Say It Is."

[Rhythm]

49. My head still hurts from my last visit to Jax...

I was down there with my sister for a concert in 1993, and ended up getting into an argument beforehand with some racist skinhead teenager-- he didn't approve of the neon rainbow laces i had in my boots, i guess. Later, the same dipshit was crowd-surfing, and when he drifted up my way, he kicked me repeatedly in the side of the head, and knocked me cold. I then spent a few days in the hospital while they decided if i had a skull fracture or not.

Not the kind of souvenir i would have wanted from my vacation.

[lebkuchen]

160. Thanks for that info. Won't be going to JAX.

[truedelphi]

205. OUCH!! Sounds like a real good reason to avoid that place

I hope that skinhead has learned to become a real person over the past fifteen years. Probably not, but one can hope

[Tommy_Carcetti]

249. Not unique to Jax.

Unfortunately, assholery is common wordwide. Sucks that that happenened to you, though.

[TZ]

35. Watch what you say about Cinci...

I was born there...:P
Actually you have it prett y dead on...

[av8rdave]

276. You missed a lot of Cincinnati then....

It has a great downtown...good nightlife, great riverfront area. Their Great American Ballpark is a fantastic venue to see a ball game. Mount Adams gives you a funky little neighborhood with fun bars/clubs/restaurants and a spectacular view of the city. You like college ball? University of Cincinnati has a good program, with an awesome little stadium right in the middle of campus. Fountain Square (in the middle of that downtown area you didn't see) has festivals, outdoor movies in the summer, and is surrounded by good places to eat and drink. Make the very short trip across the river and check out all the restored restaurants and pubs in the historic part of Covington, or shop, stroll and dine at Newport on the Levee.

Cincy is actually a well kept secret!

[NC_Nurse]

292. My entire family is from Jax FL. My parents both grew up there.

It used to be nice. I'm sorry to here it's not anymore. :(

I used to spend weeks every summer with my Nana and Grandaddy there. We would go to Ponte Vedre every other day.
It was beautiful. They were some of the first people to join there when it opened. Now it's all hoity-toity - we'd never
be able to join if we lived there!

[Tommy_Carcetti]

295. Actually it is even nicer than it used to be. People don't realize that.

They cleaned up the paper mills so the air smells clear (except for the Maxwell House coffee plant downtown, and no one is complaining about that), Jacksonville Beach is a pleasant place to go, new ballpark, NFL team, new arena, they have one of the best mid-sized zoos in the country, and they have one of the most pleasant airports in terms of both looks and convenience.

And yes, Ponte Vedra is very upscale, but very beautiful. The drive on AIA is terrific.

People have a preconcieved idea of how the city is based on how it used to be 20-30 years ago. It's actually a great city, one of my personal favorites.

[NC_Nurse]

297. Well, that's nice to know. I always liked it.

But I was a kid then. :)

[Starbucks Anarchist]

17. Phoenix.

I was just passing through, but that's no excuse.

[av8rdave]

274. I lived in Phoenix for 5 years...LOVED it there

Stuff to do year round. Great people, and a great climate other than June, July and August. During those months, it's only a 90 minute drive north and you're out of the heat.

[shanti]

280. cottonwood arizona

hoo boy....all walmart and mcdonalds! phoenix is a jewel compared to cottonwood!

[Initech]

18. Miami

Place is a total shithole. I've been to Orlando too and it wasnt much better.

[RebelOne]

99. I'll agree. Miami is the hell hole of the South.

I lived there most of my life until I wised up and moved to Atlanta.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

111. People have their own preconcieved idea of Miami before they get there.

They think the entire city is South Beach. And thus they get disappointed when they realize not all the city is like it.

Miami is okay. Not great, not awful. The whole South Florida region has its pros and cons. I just wish it was easier to get out of the urban areas and into the wilderness for a while. Problem is, it is a narrow strip between the Atlantic and the Everglades, so all of that space got built up pretty fast.

[Phillycat]

136. I hated Miami too.

It was so plastic, I got creeped out - and I was only there for a week.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

19. I'd like to say Las Vegas because it is truly a craphole of a city...

...but it's awfulness is something of an allure, so I can't say I'd never go there again. I think I said once was enough after my first visit there (a night stayover before a morning flight), but after my brother in law choose to get married there (don't laugh--I'm serious), I was suckered back to the place.

It is sort of the "Plan 9 in Outer Space" of American cities. So bad that it leaves an permanent impression on you, and you feel like you must celebrate its horribleness.

[lebkuchen]

164. When I think of Las Vegas, I think of pale, flatulent, down-on-your-luck

burned out, over-smoked, high on weak vodka-tonic, one-arm-bandit-dazed polyester-wearing centenarians.

[ForrestGump]

212. There's still some of that, for sure, but

much of the actual Strip, at least, is overrun with younger people who're into 'clubbing' and getting drunk in public while being incredibly self-centered (the worst seem to hail from Los Angeles and environs, in general). And when I say 'younger,' I mean from mid-40s on down. I could do a great deal of anatomical damage to the bozo who came up with the 'what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" lie as a marketing slogan, not least because it encourages Americans -- a nationality with a seemingly unbounded collective sense of entitlement, these days -- to treat casino and other employees here like crap, not to mention indulging in behavior that's way across the line and diminishes the experience of other visitors.

Gambling's not the only game in town here any more. There's been a massive increase in venues and activities that cater primarily to 20- and 30-something demographics, including the popular (for no reason that's apparent to me) ultralounges and other clubs that rake in millions by horrendously overcharging trendy poseurs for drinks and vocal cord fatigue brought on by shouting (or not...the true poseur stands aloof and silent in his untucked plaid shirt or her little-black-dress) over really bad techno music. At the same time -- well, since the '80s or earlier -- the trend toward ever more casual attire has pretty much bottomed out with hordes of pink-singed tourists slumping around in yellowed tank tops and Harley Davidson caps and doo-doo rags.

Although it's the site of increasingly ambitious construction projects and opulent resorts, Las Vegas has had its day. The corporations killed it.

[lebkuchen]

234. With all the water LV diverts to keep itself lit (in more ways than one)

I wonder how much longer the rest of the country can afford to sustain that city, considering the ever increasing urban sprawl further west, also in need of water and currently suffering through a drought.

[psychopomp]

242. You just described me in two months' time!

The best side of Vegas is the old Vegas...the dives and casinos of last resort at 4 AM. Well, I guess I am a kind of a connoisseur. ;)

[otherlander]

20. Woodstock.

Incredibly depressing town these days, really.

[Haole Girl]

22. Jakarta, Indonesia

:puke:

[pokerfan]

23. Jeddah

[Book Lover]

24. Long Beach

It's like taking vacation in San Jose. Just, why?

[blitzen]

58. Damn, I just visited Long Beach and thought it was cool....

There was a very hip area (not downtown) with lots a great restaurants and shops. Plus it's the most ethnically-diverse city in America, and definitely leans left.

As a native Oregonian (raised to hate Southern California) who has lived in Louisiana for 20 years, I was predisposed to dislike Long Beach. But in fact I really like it--and I was thinking it would be a good base for an extended SoCal vacation.

[Book Lover]

119. Hey, I'm glad you had a great time

At least one of us did :-)

[Burma Jones]

113. Long Beach does have my favorite Airport

but, I've always headed south after landing.......

[truedelphi]

206. The Medford Oregon area

I ordered a turkey/roast beef sandwich with monterey jack cheese, and
it would have been fine with me if they'd said, "We don't split up our sandwiches like that."

But the entire staff came over to the table and asked me to re-order. I naively repeated my order and they looked at me like me and my friends would be spending the night in jail for my mis-order.

When I arrived at my destination further up the coast, J and T said, "Ya know, they used to stone hippies that hitchhiked through there."

I hope it's changed. It was very weird.

[democracyindanger]

25. Atlanta

suuuuuuuuuuuuucks

[RebelOne]

100. No way. I lived in the Atlanta area and love it.

[Sequoia]

128. I liked Atlanta

Even though the driving is pretty bad now. I liked Underground and the Coca-Cola Museum, but I was there some years ago when things were okay.

[democracyindanger]

179. I could've been spoiled. I moved from San Francisco to Atlanta

But I'm gonna go out on a limb and state that had I moved from Peoria, I'd still think that Atlanta sucks. :P

[Arugula Latte]

279. When I went through Atlanta, it just seemed to me like it was ... I don't know ... nothing special.

It was so flat (I used to live in San Francisco too, so that is big with me) and not particularly spectacular (yes, some skyscrapers, but so what?). There is greenery, and nice neighborhoods, I'm sure, but I couldn't figure out what the big deal about Atlanta was. I wasn't there very long, so I guessed I missed a lot.

[stanwyck]

207. Give us another chance!

We're a fun city. Really. Come back!

[democracyindanger]

240. I'll meet you in Midtown. Gimme a week.

Three days to get there from California and four days to sit in traffic on the 400. :P

[stanwyck]

248. Ouch.

You're dissing our traffic and you live in California? That hurts.

[democracyindanger]

255. One of my biggest issues

with Atlanta--and I lived there for two years, not just visited, so I probably didn't qualify for the original question--is that when there's congestion between Point A and Point B in LA or SF, you generally have plenty of shortcuts or alternates. Not so in Atlanta.

For instance, I lived in Morningside and worked in Buckhead. I basically had two options; take the freeway, or take Piedmont. Thing is, those were the same two options for 100,000 other people. It once took me an hour and a half during rush hour to get home--about 5 miles.

Atlanta is a city of 5 million built for 3.

[stanwyck]

260. And it's not getting better.

Lots of mini-mansions and condos going up all over everywhere along with high-rise apartment complexes. But, as you know, there just is no way to get everyone to work or to play. Maybe the gas prices will force us all to use our mass transit more. But MARTA isn't as friendly as other cities' mass transit. I live in Tucker. For me to take Marta to work means driving to take the train. And then having to take a Marta bus to get to my office complex on Northside Drive.

[NC_Nurse]

293. I'm just about to move back there. Grew up there.

My mom is ill, we're going down in July. I
have always liked it there - though when I lived there 30 years ago
the traffic was NOTHING like it is now.

I plan to enjoy what it has to offer and ignore the rest if possible. :-)

[insanity]

27. Glasgow or LA

both of them suck.

[Oeditpus Rex]

28. All of 'em except San Francisco

Cities are horrible, dogawful places.

[medeak]

29. Bakersfield,CA

omg...what a horrid night.. trains every 5 minutes.

Remember that Creedence Clearwater song "stuck in Lodi again"...think it was really Bakersfield

[begin_within]

30. Hong Kong was a major disappointment to me.

The day I was there, it was hot, humid, dirty, old, crowded, noisy, and just generally unpleasant. Rather like downtown Tijuana on steroids - people hawking things everywhere to try to get you to come into their shop. The air smelled like diesel exhaust. Anywhere you went, there were massive swarms of people walking everywhere. It was hard to believe how many people there were there. To me it seemed like a giant collection bin for everything that is undesirable about cities - it was nothing like the glamorous nighttime Hong Kong you see pictured on poscards. The only good thing about it there was that the food was excellent. I ate at a buffet place for lunch and it was inexpensive, but loaded with all kinds of gourmet stuff to eat, all you wanted - things that would be considered fancy cooking in the U.S.

[leeroysphitz]

32. Honestly. It's Athen GA. Wow. What an ugly place.

I lived in Chapel Hill N.C. for many,many years so I get cultural elitism in the south. (basically anybody with any form of culture develops elitism as quickly as they can...) but the ugliness and hatefulness of Athens in 1993 was a whole new sphere of evil.

My ex wife Donna is legally blind. She can't watch TV. She can't see the handicap sign that we would often legally park in front of. She could place, but not read the handicap placard placed on my rear-view mirror but the good folks of Athens decided that she was to "fat" and "clumsy" to deserve one of their precious handicap spaces and left notes on our car letting us know how unwelcome we were to their handicap parking spots as well as to their town in general.

I remember, years earlier, being treated like a fresh pile of human waste because I didn't know (upon my first visit EVER) that the bluebird didn't serve pancakes... Wow I AM a dick...

I love that town but not half as much as I do Chapel Hill. I miss CH. I wish and wish I could go back. Detroit is just as bad as everyone has ever said it is. Worse.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

33. New Orleans

I don't think I could take it

[BlueIris]

34. I'm not really a fan of Seattle.

Because it's the snottiest city I've ever been to in my life. I think I could live my entire life without ever setting foot in Seattle again and I wouldn't feel lacking.

[insanity]

40. dem be fighting words

I was raised in Seattle and I would have to say that it is the friendliest, coolest, cleanest, most badass city in America.

[BlueIris]

42. Enjoy.

I think it's Snottville, USA.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

203. Other people are jealous.

So they project.

[Arugula Latte]

268. I love Seattle.

Gorgeous, fabulous place. :toast:

[Patiod]

117. Wow - I loved it there, and people were great

I had to go for business, and spent the weekend on my own. Had no idea that the place was so damned beautiful, and everyone was so nice. I've gotten a whole lot more rude attitude in LA and NY (but I'm so used to New Yorkers I hardly notice it anymore)

[swag]

227. Damn! What happened?

yours in Portland,

s

[bluedigger]

36. Houston

The USA's fourth largest city...Why? Just craptacularly mediocre, at best. Great views of nothing, though, from the overpasses.

[KatyMan]

90. Well,

It's a place to work and live, not to visit, really, because you're right, there's not much there. But, if you live there, there are lots of jobs, housing is cheap, food and other items are cheap as well. Not to mention, it's NOT Dallas.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

178. Lots of interesting musical groups and art galleries, very multicultural.

[MountainLaurel]

37. Hartford, CT

After we ended up staying at a motel across the street from the jail, things didn't get much better on our tour of town the next day.

[Chan790]

48. Why on Earth would you stay at a motel on Jennings Rd?

It's a lot like wearing a Patek Phillipe to a crack-house. I mean...just ask, I'm sure I can find or make you a sign which reads "Please mug my ass."

Really...come back to Hartford. Call me first though...I'll give you the good tour. We have lots of bars and restaurants and some decent art and great ethnic neighborhoods. That's about it though...and leave the fine jewelry at home. We're a high-crime city although if you saw the jail, you already knew that.

[MountainLaurel]

63. We were coming straight off the interstate

And we knew that whatever the chain in question was, that it took dogs. (This was a couple years ago.) We were on our way to the Five Colleges area for a New Year's vacation, and we wanted to stop in Hartford because Mr. Laurel wanted to check out UConn's law school. We didn't realize it was across from the prison until we got lost looking for an open restaurant that wasn't a chain. (We ended up eating at a Quiznos.) Its location made me feel a lot better when we returned to find that my springer had ripped up a corner of carpet in a fit of pique at having been abandoned for all of 25 minutes.

We just moved to the far South, so it's unlikely that we'll be back up that way in a long while, but thank you for the offer. :hi:

[Skittles]

39. Houston

fucking horrendous

[datasuspect]

71. houston is one big retail scar.

an entire city built on the assumption that oil would always be cheap and plentiful. it is a terrifying, alienating, and inhumane cesspool.

[Skittles]

74. I could be biased

I was only there a short time under very bad circumstances - I was in the Air Force making notification of an active duty death to the family. I just remember it was hotter than fuck, the road system made no freaking sense whatsoever and everyone I talked to there seemed to be an asshole.

[Patiod]

118. I get sent there for work all the time

My quibbles with Houston are pretty superficial: my hair hates the humidity, and the ride from the airport to the facility where I work is easily 45 - 60 minutes during rush hour.

On the plus side, the people I've met there have been great, I've learned a LOT of facinating stuff from various immigrant cabbies (great way to get through a long cab ride - ask "Where are you from originally?" and "What's your take on what's going on in the Sudan/the Middle East/Kenya right now?' I had one Middle Eastern cabbie explain how the press lied us into war, which turned out to be dead on.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

184. Yes the traffic sucks, the weather is horrible.

But there are some pretty cool people in Houston, and lots of different ethnic groups to get acquainted with. Lots of museums, art exhibits, concerts of weird music. A large Chinese, Vietnamese, Hispanic and various other ethnic populations.

[Blue_In_AK]

81. I spent seven years there in my teens and early 20s

I hate, hate, hate that place.

[CreekDog]

43. Red Bluff, California and Klamath Falls, Oregon (tie)

if you've been there, you know what I mean. :(

[insanity]

44. K-falls is a shithole

My parents live in Ashland which is fairly close to Klamath Falls. Let me tell you how much difference a mountain makes, because on one side you have one of the most laid back places in the world and on the other you have a giant shithole/cattle farm. I hate K-Falls more than anything. I don't consider it a city, hell, I try not to even consider its existence.

[CreekDog]

50. with that name, you would think it would be nice

at least Red Bluff is not surprisingly bad. :hi:

even Medford is nicer than Klamath Falls, and I mean Medford 20 years ago! :rofl:

[insanity]

53. Methford?

I will say though that Eagle Point, Oregon might be the single dumbest place in the history of the world.

[CreekDog]

56. I have not been to Eagle Point, ever, because I always go to the bathroom in Medford

:think:

I would go in Ashland, but I think their zoning laws prohibit restrooms. :rofl:

[insanity]

59. aye

Parking places and bathrooms are against the law. However, if you just pulled to the side of the road and dropped trou and started peeing people would probably not pay it any attention or at the least think you are making an artistic statement.

[XemaSab]

72. Red Bluff is not the worst place in California

:shrug:

That honor would belong to Bakersfield.

[CreekDog]

82. well, only since Buck Owens passed away

i heard the Bakersfield Civic Center was a redneck bar. :shrug:

[Monk06]

200. Eugene OR go to the Timber Topper for breakfast....

If want to watch old people hit the buffet
for their third helping of greasy ribs and
ambrosia salad at 8:00 in the morning.

That place put me off my feed until I got
to Redding. Coos Bay was tolerable.

The most fun I had in Oregon was getting a
speeding ticket from a State Trooper. He
let me go when I promised to pay it on the
way back, knowing full well that I wouldn't

[Broken_Hero]

45. Tulsa, nt

[fishwax]

60. good choice n/t

[Mr. Blonde]

83. Why?

Just curious. Being an Oklahoman I think of your choices in Oklahoma it is the best. That is of course unless you count my beloved Stillwater, although I wouldn't think of it really as a city.

Worst city in Oklahoma is, naturally, Norman.

[clixtox]

89. My daughter's mother moved to "Stagnantwater"...

So I visited there a few times before my daughter begged me to allow her to finish high school back in Sonoma County in Northern California.

The local Wallmart had recently opened and the original downtown was a sorry, depressed, sight back then in the mid-nineties.

Very boring town with no night-life or inspiring food available.

[Mr. Blonde]

92. It is a typical college town

so the nightlife is there but it is very college oriented and if you aren't that age, there probably isn't much to do. At least without feeling a little awkward.

And I will agree that the "world famous" Eskimo Joes may be about the most overrated place on the planet. At least as far as food is concerned. It is kind of hard to ask for more in a bar than a place that offers 5 dollars all you can drink domestic beer and is full of attractive women. At least in my book.

[SoxFan]

96. Lawton is worse

Tattoo parlors, pawn shops, and sketchy bars are fine in moderation, but on every friggin' block?

[Broken_Hero]

189. I've never been to Lawton, known a lot of people from there though

but it can't be much worse than Jay, or Stilwell

[Mr. Blonde]

233. I'm not taking offense I was just curious

and yes, small towns in Oklahoma (and most states I would imagine) can be rough. Especially if you are used to some things like having more exciting things to do than talk about the grass growing.

I say that as a product of a small town. Add to that that in Oklahoma, even the dirt is red, and you have a situation that can be hard for anyone to the left of Barry Goldwater to take. I have found Tulsa to be better in that respect than most of the rest of the state, but that may be more the people I hang out with in Tulsa than any reality.

The best pro-Oklahoma argument I have ever heard came from a guy from London. I was asking him how he stood coming to Oklahoma for school from London (one of my favorite cities). He said this, "You know, I have been all over the US and Stillwater is my favorite place. Everyone knows there isn't anything special about the place, but everyone is stuck in it together. So everyone is friendly and nice. You can show up at any party in town and no one will kick you out, they will just hand you a beer and tell you to join the festivities."

Some of that of course is Stillwater specific, but I still find most people to be at least well meaning if hopelessly conservative.

And yes I am an OSU fan. A huge one, I graduated from there in May.

[Broken_Hero]

188. because most of the other towns I've been to in

Oklahoma, don't really measure up to the "city" aspect that I figured the OP was going for.

I've been all over NE/SE Oklahoma, and I really don't care for any of it...nothing against you, Oklahoma just isn't my slice of pie.

[Broken_Hero]

191. Norman, home of

OU Sooners...whom I dislike a lot....:) I take it your a OSU fan, :)

[Burma Jones]

98. Tulsa is Houston in Miniature..........

Was there to bury my Grandmother two days after getting back from our Rocky Mountain Honeymoon, so maybe it suffered in comparison.

Also, it is home to the most detestable members of my extended family, a sub-prime lending vulture Uncle and a Foaming at the Mouth Fundie Aunt.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

174. Tulsa is worse than Houston.

As far as asshole fundies and Anal Roberts University (Six Flags Over Jeebus).

It's driven intelligent people crazy and also driven them away to save what little sanity they have left.

[Broken_Hero]

190. A portion of my dislike for Oklahoma is due to

inlaws...most of them, are just...well, pains in the ass. :)

[Manifestor_of_Light]

236. Yep, impossible to tolerate. Stupid, bigoted, volcanic tempers.

They don't handout lists of the words that set them off.

[Rhythm]

46. Sacramento CA

Pretty town, but the people i encountered were the worst kind of self-important stuffed-shirts.

Ugh...

[Oeditpus Rex]

52. Stay off Capitol Mall

:D

[LeftyMom]

57. Seconded. nt

[CreekDog]

127. not go there again? it's practically my second home

thanks to work. :)

[Genevieve]

47. Venice.

2 days there is enough.

[blitzen]

62. No, no, please...I beg of you!

Venice is one of my favorite places! But I was lucky to spend a leisurely two weeks there. Most Venice-bashers that I know were herded through the tourist-packed sites quickly, overcharged for bad food and average hotels, and that's about it. To appreciate Venice you need to walk away from the crowds--and also take the boats to the various islands.

[Genevieve]

65. I did not go with a tour, and I did travel to all the little islands.

I spent six weeks traveling through Italy two summers ago. I stayed in Venice for 3 days. I would have left sooner, but I had family meeting me there.

I much prefer Florence and the surrounding towns (cities?):
Particularly: Sienna, Cortona, Montepulciano.

(I never do tours.)

I'm sorry, it's just my opinion. Some people hate New York City,
yet I could never imagine living anywhere else in the world.

[FunkyLeprechaun]

95. How lovely!

I nearly went to Venice once, but decided to go to Milan. (We were driving towards Milan and the road forked, Venice one way and Milan the other way).

We went to Bellagio a lot though. It was lovely when the tourists weren't there (that was our first week) and then the 2nd week they, all of a sudden, glommed onto Bellagio and it wasn't enjoyable at all. Gave us an excuse to take the boat from Lezzeno to Menaggio and Nesso to Argegno. The tourists never went to those wee villages on the other side of Lake Como.

A couple of years back we did a road trip and never went to a BIG city along the way. Took ferry from Dover to Boulogne and drove until we entered Verdun (camped out). Drove on the outskirts of Paris (not going into the city) and stopped by Strasbourg. Entered Switzerland and drove in the tunnels of Mount Blanc and stayed near Geneva. Entered Italy and stayed in a campsite near Pisa (it wasn't busy surprisingly). Stayed a week in Rome with my family (who took me to places where tourists were rare). Drove back nearly the same way, stopping in Florence and camping out near Lake Viverone where we finally encountered the tourist glom (so BUSY!) crossed over a little bit of Germany and tried a bit of the autobahn before going back in France and returning to the UK.

I kind of liked NYC but it was just a bit too big for me, I lived in Boston for 5 years and loved it! :-)

[Genevieve]

181. You travel the same way I travel.

Your trip sounds wonderful!

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

153. I can see that

We've been there twice - we were just there last month - and although it is lovely and otherworldly, we both think we don't need to go back again.

[Genevieve]

182. It certainly is lovely. But I feel the same way you do. eom

[erinlough]

51. Phoenix......hands down

The only thing I think of when I hear it's name is, "hell on earth". Of course it could be because I am miserable in extreme heat. At 119 the last time I visited I found it hard even to breathe.

[Lasher]

239. Go back in February.

Hell turns into heaven for one month out of the year.

[BlueJazz]

54. Jacksonville Florida. Ignorant, Redneck, Rightwing...Owned by Churches.

:puke:

[Tommy_Carcetti]

106. There are a good share of progressive areas in Jax.

You just have to know where to find them. Five Points, for example.

Plus, half an hour south is St. Augustine, which is a pretty liberal, artistic and eclectic town.

[BlueJazz]

201. True...I used to live in 5 points (15 years ago?)

...used to eat at the ...ummm...remembering...Derby house?

Unfortunately. I had to play in the Hick parts of town...

[Tommy_Carcetti]

246. No wonder.

Jax has changed mostly for the better in the past 15 years. You'd be surprised the next time you come back.

Plus the Jax airport is about the nicest and most relaxing airport I've ever been to.

[Starry Messenger]

55. bakersville, CA

n/t

[blitzen]

64. Yeah, but Bakersfield rocks.....

!!!!! In a Bakersfield-sound kind of way. Such as Wynn Stewart, Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, Red Simpson.

[Mind_your_head]

68. Cancun, Mexico

The 'strip' had all of the American chain restaurnts. I wasn't in a foreign country......AT ALL. (and it didn't make me 'feel comfortable'......b/c I've LIVED in foreign countries. That's the EXCITEMENT/DANGER! Mexico's only 'danger' is that you could be kidnapped (if you have good enough relatives/friends who might provide 'ransom' :eyes:

[KitchenWitch]

70. I wish I could say I will never visit Barstow, CA again

but I probably will, since it is on the way east.

[Oeditpus Rex]

75. That reminds me

For a long time, I had this saying when my mind wandered:

"Sorry — went to Barstow for a minute."

[KitchenWitch]

76. Yikes!

I just about coughed up a lung when I first saw the "Welcome to Barstow - Crossroads of Opportunity" sign.

[Common Sense Party]

80. Isn't that the "town" where about the only thing there is the outlet mall?

Haven't been there in a dozen years, but I'm not anxious to go back.

[KitchenWitch]

131. The outlet mall and several truck stops.

[Ikonoklast]

155. The truck stops are the NICE part of Barstow

I've seen many a city, and many a truck stop....

[KitchenWitch]

202. I would agree. The truck stops are kept clean

more than I can say for the rest of the city.

[KamaAina]

140. "We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert..."

when the drugs began to take hold...

edit: header

[Tektonik]

192. Barstow always has the biggest fast food joints

The Inn-N-Out there is HUGH!!!

[DS1]

77. This is probably the most interesting lounge thread in weeks

:thumbsup:

[Common Sense Party]

78. Dallas. Houston. San Antonio.

Too. Freaking. Muggy.

[Mr. Blonde]

84. I'm going to join the many

who have already said Houston. It is too hot to do anything there.

[JVS]

85. I think I'd go anywhere again.

[terrya]

86. Orlando, Florida

Once was quite enough for that place.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

108. Disney ruined Orlando.

My dad lived there a couple of summers before Disney moved in, and it was actually a nice, pleasant Central Florida town.

Walt Disney bought up a whole bunch of land in secret, got his own special taxing district, and voila. Now the place is sprawl central.

That's why even though we went to Florida every year for vacation, my dad never took us to Disney. Frankly, I don't regret it too much. I've been to Universal and Sea World, and to the free "Downtown Disney" area, but never Disney World proper.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

87. Izmir, Turkey

I just didn't find it appealing.

:hi:

[cloudbase]

177. Iskenderun makes Izmir look like New York. n/t

[hobbit709]

88. Biloxi, Mississippi

Shamrock, TX-the edge of the known universe.

[KatyMan]

91. Possibly flame bait, but Paris

We spent a few days there last year, and I just didn't like it. It was dirty, kind of rude, a bit full of itself. I much prefer London or Rome or San Francisco! Actually, I'd probably go to Paris Tx before I'd go back to Paris France.

[lebkuchen]

94. Inverness, Scotland

I'd seen it 25 years ago and liked it. It's since become a bunch of shops hawking plaids and other tourist trinkets. The people seemed a bit rough, girls old enough to date (or not) looked like prostitutes. Castle Urquhart wasn't accessible unless you paid, and I mean, even for a photograph from a distance....wall w/shrubs built high around it from above.

I'd planned to stay a couple of days...instead, made it a brief overnight.

[montanto]

130. Of European cities,

Paris would be the last I would return to.

[MrCoffee]

133. I was gonna say Paris...You couldn't pay me to go back to that craphole.

It was disgusting. Rouen, Nice, Marseille, Lyon...all wonderful cities. Paris, however, was revolting.

[Carnea]

138. Venice is worse..... doesn't matter when you go it smells awful. european cities can be so dirty. nt

[lebkuchen]

162. European Cities are dirty?

You haven't traveled much through Europe. Come to Germany and you'll feel antisceptic!

[Carnea]

175. I was reffering to the "whats another word for catholic?" other countries of Europe.

While I've never been to Spain.* I have found parts of Italy and France to be dirty. Venice's problem is the canals are basically open sewers and to an American nose it smells awful. Rome was also filthy filled with drug addict and beggars and tons of poor. Southern Italy is basically a third world nation that takes Euros. Nice is also filthy but Paris on the other hand is fine as long as you stay in the tourist areas.




*Great now that song is stuck in my head

[lebkuchen]

237. Guess I've seen worse waterways than you

open-sewer systems/garbage/litter would be found in most any river in the Philippines, where you literally DO have to hold your nose.

Beaches in Japan are full of garbage washing up from whatever factories/ships are throwing into the sea. Beautiful turqoise ocean waters lapping on mountains of junk laying on the sand.

In Italy, my big concern is hypodermic needles 'round and about. Step on one, and you can get AIDS.

[FloridaJudy]

139. Paris is a great city

The only problem is that it's infested with Parisians. I've traveled throughout France, and generally found the French to be hospitable people. The only exception is Paris. Done it twice, and have NO desire to go back there again. The art and architecture are great, but not worth putting up with the rudest people on earth. They make New Yorkers look like down-home folks.

[lebkuchen]

166. I rode my bicycle through Paris in 1984

and was stopped by a policeman who was supposed to be directing traffic. Instead, he had wished to engage me in a conversation about Ronald Reagan. In my best French, I told him what I thought, and it turned out, we both agreed! He wished me a merry Bon Voyage!

I love Paris! I've camped most of the rest of France, and the people are the greatest on Earth.

[SoxFan]

97. Columbus, Ohio

A nice place to live but you wouldn't want to visit. There's absolutely nothing for an out-of-towner to do in Columbus.

[Carnea]

101. Hartford Ct

I didn't realise when I posted this that so many people had already chosen it. New Orleans was on my list but since Katrina I'm giving it a break Jacksonville on the other hand is a close second to Hartford.

[Phillycat]

102. Dublin.

I don't drink. I've already seen the historic stuff. And, you know, I don't drink. There appears to be no other reason to be in Dublin.

The rest of Ireland, I would totally revisit, though. :)

[lebkuchen]

170. Never been to Dublin, but saw the western part of the country in slo-mo

and it was soooo much fun.

[Phillycat]

294. It's a beautiful country.

My favorite part that I saw was Newcastle, but I'd love to go to the western parts.

Dublin has some wonderful history, but once you've seen that, there doesn't seem to be much to do except get plastered.

[wain]

103. Memphis

unsafe.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

107. philadelphia. chicago.

[Phillycat]

109. PHILADELPHIA?

The hell?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

112. it isnt a very big city... so i dont feel like i missed out by going only once

no offense to your city.. i liked it. just dont need to go back again.

chicago on the other hand. chicago, i just didnt like

[Zuiderelle]

114. I like both those cities.

Maybe you had the wrong tour guide or went in the wrong season. :)

[stanwyck]

209. Chicago? How in the world could you say Chicago?

I LOVE Chicago.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

243. and i dont. it feels like a suburb, looks like a city. all wrong

[stanwyck]

247. Did you go to the Chicago Museum of Art?

the Shedd Aquarium? The Museum of Science and Industry? Did you walk out onto Navy Pier? And shopping on the Miracle Mile is like a suburb? How exactly? or Rush Street...I just don't get how Rush Street is like the burbs. Good theatre in Chicago, too. No exactly your suburban theater in the round. Maybe you were just at the airport.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

250. maybe i just dont like the city. before you go around calling people liars

:ex:Maybe you were just at the airport) you shoudl realize people have differences in opinion.

[stanwyck]

259. I don't think you gave it a chance

since you didn't answer any of my questions of where you went.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

286. ...

:eyes:

[Occam Bandage]

270. Chicago?

You must die.

[ForrestGump]

287. That's harsh

She's already been to Chicago.

She's suffered enough.

[distantearlywarning]

110. Pretty much anywhere in West Texas

Midland-Odessa, Amarillo, Lubbock, etc...

[Arugula Latte]

165. Agreed. I used to have to go there when I was a kid.

Midland-Odessa was the closest airport to some relatives we visited occasionally.

Good gawd. Even as a small child I could tell that area sucked like a black hole.

[DS1]

115. Sarasota

[Jokerman]

120. Las Vegas NV.

I haven't really spent much time there but the voices of washed up celebrities greeting me at the airport creeped me right the fuck out.

Probably helps that I'm not a gambler.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

144. Vegas is weird the moment you set your foot off the airplane

You walk in and they have the slot machines in the airport.

I remember walking into the luggage claim area and seeing all the signs for all the cheesy stage shows at the different casinos, and thinking to myself "There are some people out there who actually think this is high culture."

[lebkuchen]

168. there are a lot of people "out there" who think they're going to come home rich

In Baden Baden you have to at least wear a suit and tie.

[ForrestGump]

218. Never get off the 'plane...

unless you were going all the way. :P

[LeftinOH]

121. Columbus, OH: Big box stores, malls, chain restaurants, endless acres of parking lots..n/t

[av8rdave]

277. If you ever do happen to go to Columbus again, check out

the Arena District, Short North and German Village. You'll feel differently about it!

[lost-in-nj]

123. Tijuana, Mexico

talk about

armpits....

this one was never shaved
or knew what deodorant was


:hi:


lost

[tishaLA]

137. I just heard that people in CA are going to TJ

to get gas for $2.45 instead of the ~$4.60 it goes for here. So it's good for something.

[hyphenate]

124. I had to think about that

for a few minutes before I could remember a city like that.

I guess the award goes to Philadelphia for me. During a long weekend there for a convention, I had one of my tires slashed (on a Sunday night mind you, with absolutely NO one to help us), a miserable time in a supposed "decent" restaurant, two trips (coming and going) trying to find the place we were staying at with no signage whatsoever, and several rather creepy neighborhoods where I just wanted to hide me, the car and my mom and friend with me. Oh, and while it's not completely related, that weekend started out with hints of disaster, as we ran out of gas on Route 95, going through Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Now, this is not to say Philly is a bad city, but my memories of it are fraught with bad happenings, and thus I have no desire to go there again, despite the fact that these things happened 22 years ago now. I hope some of these things have changed given the length of time since we were there, but I will still avoid the city as best as I can.

A second city might be Glasgow, Scotland. It's been 15 years since we were there, so things might have also changed, but I found Glasgow to be depressing and dark. Edinburgh was SO different in comparison, and I found it a delight, but Glasgow's architecture, blue laws, high unemployment and "for sale" signs gave hint of a depressed economy, and I was glad to leave it.

[I Have A Dream]

186. I had the same impressions of Glasgow and Edinburgh.

My experience was from 20 years ago, so I also have to say that things might have changed. I say this because I live in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, area and my feelings about it prior to moving here were that it was a dirty, grimy place. I was very pleasantly surprised at what a nice place it is. However, a decade or two before I moved here, I'm sure that things were very different in terms of pollution. Places do have the ability to change over time.

[Sheets of Easter]

125. Lorain, Ohio.

Lived there for 2 years. It was a fucking nightmare. Pure blight.

[kwassa]

210. when did you live there?

I did a summer job at the National Tube Works in 1973, amazing place. 7000 workers, 27 factories, before it went down the tubes, so to speak.

I lived near Oberlin.

[Sheets of Easter]

214. 2000-2002.

And by that point, not only was the city down the tubes, but the tubes themselves were long shut down and overgrown with weeds. :(

It was a very depressing place. I'm one that tries to find the best out of every place and every situation, but I came up empty when I lived there.

edit- I wanted to live in Oberlin when I lived out there, but there were few options available (students usually got first dibs at apartments).

[montanto]

129. Irving ,Tx.

j/k

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

152. I DON'T BLAME YOU!!!

I'm not a native Texan, but a Kansan, and I cannot wait to get out of Texas.

[graywarrior]

132. The entire state of Florida

[MrScorpio]

135. Anywhere in Texas

Not going back, ever!

[ForrestGump]

221. ¡Viva Tejas!

There's some excellent places in Texas.

I love south and west (southwest) Texas. The road from Van Horn to Del Rio and onwards, that passes through Alpine, Marfa, and a bunch of places that used to be towns, is one of the great routes (it's paradise on a fast motorcycle). There's some beautiful country out there, and not a lot of people. And then there's San Antonio and the countryside and small towns to its south as well as, of course, all of that good stuff to its north, including Austin, New Braunfels, Gruene, and the Hill Country. I've got some really fond memories of that part of Texas.

I've been to some of those other places in Texas, too, and wouldn't be in a hurry to go back. The state (Republic!) is basically half the country's width at its widest, so it's really too big and diverse to meaningfully characterize as one entity, even politically and socially. Alpine, for example, has absolutely nothing (other than the state flag) in common with Beaumont...thank goodness.

[Zavulon]

141. Albuquerque.

Never seen anything like it and hope never to again.

[lebkuchen]

159. a whole lotta drunk drivers

[Zavulon]

223. Add intolerable heat and

an absolute dearth of decent restaurants (or non-chain restaurants as a whole), at least by what I noticed and you've got a city I hope never to see again.

I'm not kidding at all when I say that in three weeks the best food I had was in a mall food court.

[lebkuchen]

235. Lousy food---sounds like anywhere in the mid-west

outside the capital cities.

[ForrestGump]

222. I like Albuquerque

But I suspect that I am blinded by my passionate desire for the offerings of Frontier, the block-long barn of a New Mexican eatery that's a fixture across from the UNM campus. Yum.

New Mexican food is probably my favorite version of Mexican cuisine, overall, at least of that I've yet tried. And all of it smothered with green chilis.

[Zavulon]

224. My life would have been a lot easier if

New Mexican cuisine was to my liking. Unfortunately...

Man, that was some good timing. You were writing your post just as I answered the one above yours, and what was I complaining about? The one thing you really liked. ;)

[ForrestGump]

226. On the bright side,

Albuquerque's not the only part of the state with good New Mexican food...its everywhere, even in basic diners and coffee shops, if your palate should one day change its mind.

:D

[Zavulon]

228. I might try it again if someone figured out a way to

reduce the temperature in that state by 20 degrees in winter and 50 degrees in summer. If not, well... :)

[WinkyDink]

142. Los Angeles.

[lebkuchen]

172. so LA has the worst air in the world

what else is your problem with it?

[Tektonik]

193. Far, far, far from the worst air in the world

[truedelphi]

208. I'm curious - what city or town gets your bad air award?

I could name a family member, but that wouldn't be nice.

[Tektonik]

220. Many of the Chinese & Indian metros have much worse air than LA

Mexico City is horrid, as are some of the largest cities in the Middle East.

[WinkyDink]

282. I simply didn't like it. Was bored stiff, walking around Melrose and vicinity.

Too amorphous. Too nothing. Too not East Coast.

[ForrestGump]

288. Not-East-Coast

is one of the best things about Los Angeles. :D

[Courtesy Flush]

143. Venice

It was OK once, but hard to get around in. Nothing on wheels can get around that town. There are no buses, cars, scooters, bikes or wheelchairs. Walk a block -- go up a flight of stairs -- down a flight of stairs, repeat.

And forget about gondolas. They just make one circle around a few blocks for the tourists. I know water taxis are available, but I can only imagine what that costs.

But everyone should try to see it once. It's very interesting.

[LibertyLover]

145. Tehran, Dakar and Addis Abba

n/t

[DrDan]

263. why were you in Addis?

I taught there for 2 years. Just attended a reunion with the students and staff of the school a week ago in DC. I really liked Addis - great horseback riding. Great weather for tennis. But there certainly is a lot of poverty and not the cleanest place in terms of food.

[ForrestGump]

146. A few...but of US cities, Chicago and Phoenix leap to mind. And then there's Immokalee.

I have a whole island nation (lived there 2-1/2 years) that I never want to return to, for that matter.

Perhaps the scariest place I've yet been, though -- of all the scary places in which I've so far found myself in the US or otherwise -- was Immokalee, Florida (at least it's 1985 incarnation). It was beyond belief. :scared:

[Tommy_Carcetti]

148. I've heard horrible things about Immokalee

Basically slavery in modern America.

Belle Glade (on the other side of Lake Okeechobee) is very similar.

[ForrestGump]

213. I was traveling with someone I met in my home country, at the time

He and his wife used to live there, for a short time, when she taught at a school there. According to him, a teacher was raped and, soon after, so many death threats against teachers were issued that county sheriffs had to escort them to and from school. Then, one day, the school was besieged by the proverbial angry villagers -- I'd guess their motivation was that they were even more anti-education than today's Republicans (or, more likely, they were all wackos) -- and, in the dark, the sheriffs had to airlift out the teachers and other staff (and children? can't recall that bit).

So he took me there -- this was in early May of 1985 -- and the place just freaked me the hell out and would have even if I'd not heard his backstory. I believe, at least at that time, that it was an unincorporated 'locality' and that's why the law was so absent for the most part, and why social and municipal services were so barebones. Coming in to Immokalee wasn't so bad, through all the market gardens, but the place itself was just awful. I've been in developing nations, including ones where the majority live in what we'd call poverty, and Immokalee was far more oppressive and 'third-world.' On top of that, there was a palpable sense of wrongness -- evil, I'd say, if that's not too dramatic -- that I do not believe was especially influenced by the story I'd heard. There were ditches in places -- don't know if they were open sewers, but it wouldn't have surprised me and the stench of decay was pretty advanced throughout much of the 'town' -- and I saw more than a couple of dead dogs just laying in them or on the sides of the roads. People stared at us as we drove through. The place just felt really scary.

We stopped at what we thought might be an outpost of civilization and normality -- Burger King -- but left after shoving the food in our face because of the people inside: truly, these were refugees from Deliverance. As I understand it, Immokalee has a large Hispanic population, at least among the migrant workers who are in the area, but we didn't see Mexican or other Hispanic people inside Immokalee, that I recall. All of these people in the Burger King were Anglos and to a man (no women at all among the clientele) they all looked like the stereotypical Southern Klan type with narrowly-branched family trees, the kind that Central Casting would call up for such a role, not that Florida is really particularly 'Southern' and not that these hombres needed any makeup to look freakin' scary. The hateful stares and looks we got, as people who quite clearly did not belong there, were the classic "yew ain' from 'roun hyah, er ya, boyh?," and it was so intense that not only did we clam that particular blowbake but that I can still see some of those people's glares now, in my mind.

The South gets a bad rap from people regarding this kind of thing -- mostly from people who've never been there, I bet -- but I've traveled all over the South, and lived there, and have seen far greater and more prevalent racism and xenophobia north and west of the Manson-Nixon Line. Immokalee, Florida (and again, it's not just NOT a part of the South in any meaningful sense but is so far out there that it's beyond even the considerable weirdness and rapacious behavior that's marred much of the rest of Florida) scared the hell out of me.

Once, ten years later when I was driving my wife and brother down to the Florida Keys to help me with some research there, I went by the turnoff for Immokalee and I kept going. I'd actually wanted to go back, to see if it was still like it was back in '85 and, if so, to show them just what a hellhole actually looks (and smells) like, but because I'd taken the scenic route and was already going to be arriving late in the evening, I skipped it. Probably just as well. I don't know what it's like now, but 23 years ago it was the Worst Place On Earth, at least of all the places I'd been.

[TK421]

196. I've been there! I was driving a truck for a short ( thankfully ) time delivering

tires. There was nothing but orange groves, reservations, and ditches on either side of the road with alligators. I went through there to get to Isle of Capri ( we made many stops along the way ). That job lasted about two days.

[ForrestGump]

216. Sounds like you saw the garden spot (pun not intended) of Immokalee, at least

Unless, that is, the locals burned the whole damned town down.

Not implausible... :D

[SOteric]

199. You brave man.

The last time I mentioned in this forum that I didn't care much for Chicago, I was flamed mercilessly for 3 straight days.

[ForrestGump]

215. Chicago sucks

:D

And, hey, I don't care if anyone says that Vegas sucks because, in some ways, it surely does. :P

When I was traveling all over the US, in the '80s, there were two major cities I visited that just felt wrong, and that gave me a bad feeling. I never had a good feeling about Chicago, even though I wandered around it a bit and saw some cool architecture and so on. I'm not by upbringing a city person, but I did get to know how some American cities worked (the Western ones and the South) and I got by just fine. Chicago, though, never felt like a place I could get a handle on and I was happy to be clear of it. Same with Phoenix, which has always seemed to me a violent, smoggy, dirty city even by American standards...regardless (for example, I lived in L.A. for years and am now in Vegas, both of which have some of Phoenix' negatives), the thing I really don't like about it is that same indefinable sense of unease that caused me to be relieved once I left Chicago. I haven't been back to Chicago but I've been through and around Phoenix a few times and still feel it's a place best bypassed. I love the rest of Arizona, but not that city.

Not too keen on Indianapolis, either (where I was once stranded thousands of miles away from home, with no money at all), but that's largely because of the fairly open bigotry that I saw there back in the mid-'80s.

Seattle's cool, though.... :D


:hug:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

258. apparantly if you dont like chicago its cos you have only been to the airport

think chicago is a mediocre city at best with a real suburban feel to it

[SOteric]

264. And yet...

I've been to a great deal more of Chicago than just its airport. :shrug:

[ForrestGump]

285. Yeah, but you're one

(sorry...."youse" one) of them West Coast liberal élitists. :P

[ForrestGump]

284. Actually, I went to the airport just to drop someone off

I drove in to Chicago and took the 'Hound out -- delivered a brand new Fleetwood Cadillac to Evanston from Flagstaff, AZ and had to break in to the place where I stayed there (long story). Even after having lived in Los Angeles and dealt with terrible traffic in other cities, the traffic on the Eisenhower and Dan Ryan expressways has to rate among the outright scariest I've ever been in, an 85-mph bumper-to-bumper traffic jam.

But, yeah, it seems like not being a fan of Chicago is a very risky proposition hereabouts...

[Taverner]

147. Dallas. Sugarland. Bakersfield. Fresno. Monmouth.

In Texas, California and Oregon respectively

[DBoon]

230. Fresno isn't bad

it is very close to Yosemite.

Any place near Yosemite has at least one good thing to say about it

[oedura]

273. Downtown Dallas is a fucking slum...

You can't walk 5 feet without passing or being confronted by a scam artist, panhandler or prostitute, and there is ZERO police presence in the area. God help you if you want to find a pay phone, too. The traffic is shit, and the city in general is boring.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

149. Middletown, NJ

Just a depressing suburban sprawlhole in New Jersey. Traffic is so bad around there that you can't even turn left. Confused the hell out of me.

[lebkuchen]

171. Santa Clarita, CA and Northridge, CA

If you've seen one mall, you've seen 'em all

[Tektonik]

194. No fair, Northridge isn't really a city just another neighborhood of the LA burbs

Santa Clarita is actually nice, well except for Six Flags.

[Blue_Tires]

150. what didn't you like about Rio? i'm planning a trip there soon

three places for me:


1. Atlanta, and i'm saying this as a former Atlanta resident; so i'm not sure it counts (i have family there, so i still travel back frequently)

2. Newark/Jersey City

3. East St. Louis

4. forgot to add Washington...loathsome place (also used to live there)

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

151. I just felt it could be seen once and I didn't need to return

It is beautiful - no doubt. There are also places in Europe to which I don't need to return. Brussels comes to mind.

Do be careful when you're in Rio - the traffic is totally nuts. We thought our cabbie was gonna get us killed!

[Hangingon]

156. For me, it has to be Boston

[lebkuchen]

158. Why Boston, other than that it is completely touristed?

[DemoTex]

157. Kuala Lumpur and Singapore

[NewJeffCT]

289. Why, may I ask?

Singapore is supposed to be one of the nicest & cleanest cities in the world.

[TrogL]

163. Detroit

[bif]

244. It really a nice place to live

I always say, "It's a nice place to live, but I wouldn't want to visit it." Come here and I'll show you a great time!

[TrogL]

256. Last time I was there (1976) I was on tour

Driving into the city reminded me of pictures of Beirut at its worst.

When we we just outside of town, the bus driver pulled up to an office and picked up an armed security guard for the rest of the trip into the city. We dropped him off afterwards.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

167. Lubbock, TX....

I have been there two times too many. :(

[Auggie]

169. Las Vegas

[ForrestGump]

217. Why? It's a very cool little town...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Vegas,_New_Mexico

[LeftyMom]

180. Lima, OH.

The kid's parental family is in and near there. What a crappy, racist and generally unpleasant town.

We got dragged over there to meet some second cousins or something, and they were dead ringers for Cletus and Brandine Spuckler.

[many a good man]

183. Steubenville, OH

Run away! Run away!!!

[Elidor]

185. Midland, Texas

Endless flatness and incredible, debilitating heat. It was one of the most oppressive trips of my life. My family emerged from the car so worn out that we could only gaze out at the pool in a stupor. It was death to go outside.

(I'm a vocal non-fan of most of Texas, though there are a couple of corners that I like.)

[GOPisEvil]

187. I can honestly say there's no place I've been that I would not return, HOWEVER,

Phoenix and Atlanta didn't really impress me on first blush.

[Drum]

195. Athens, Greece. nt

[TK421]

198. Ft. Myers, Florida....among other cities and towns there

The locals call it Ft.Misery....and how appropriate that one is.
Jacksonville was a hellhole when I was driving through it moving back to PA, but thankfully it didn't last very long.

Naples sucks.....it just, does

Orlando is vastly overrated. Probably the nicer places I visited there were Sanibel and Captiva islands.

Call me crazy, but just once I would like to visit LA just so I can say that I did it, and for some reason I've always felt a kind of pull towards going there...can't say why, really:shrug:

[undeterred]

204. I've been to New York 8 times and that's enough.

I mean, if there's a business trip that comes up and I have to go, I'll go. But its a high stress place, and I don't really want to go back.

[kwassa]

211. Hays, Kansas.

Visited it just off the freeway on a whim and deeply regretted it.

[AccessGranted]

219. West Palm Beach, Florida

Holy Crap. I went down with a friend who had to do her PhD dissertation and I was stuck in the hotel for two days, so I took a cab and just rode around. I'm sorry, but it was really boring. Lots of old people and yuppy-looking guys in convertible BMWs and golf shorts. I almost went bonkers.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

245. West Palm Beach or Palm Beach?

There's a big difference. West Palm is your ordinary city with your good and your bad neighborhoods. Palm Beach (across the Intercoastal Waterway) is home to some of the most clueless and self-absorbed insanely rich people in the country.

[AccessGranted]

257. West Palm

Maybe it was just the area I was in. By the way, my friend and I fell asleep at the airport and missed the plane home. Haha!

[1]

225. nyc.

i was eating a muffin and drinking a coffee when a resident decided to drop trow and take a dump right there.

nice.

that is my nyc memory...

[La Lioness Priyanka]

251. lol! thats funny. sorry it happened to you.

:rofl:

[DBoon]

229. Lewiston Idaho

At 6pm the whole town smells like the paper mill. At least i deadens the taste of the fine fast food served in that town

I was there on business. Nothing like having clients in the forest products industry

[SarahB]

231. Gary, IN

[MonkeyFunk]

238. I haven't yet been to a place

I wouldn't go back to. I've found something to like everywhere I've gone.

[1gobluedem]

252. Phoenix

116 degrees and so glaringly bright. Plus I don't understand building a city where there is no water then expecting Michigan to give our Great Lakes water up for a city in the desert.

Reno. Just ugh.

Los Angeles; huge, sprawling, too expensive. I liked the Farmers Market, though.

Love, love, LOVE Portland, OR, and Boston, MA, though!

[old mark]

253. salt lake city

nastiest place I have ever been. lousy food, mean, stupid people, dirty, cold.

To say it sucks would be giving it too much credit.

mark

[Help_I_Live_In_Idaho]

254. Now your talking Salt Lake Shitty - thats what I call it

What a pit. And everybody - everybody - drives a black SUV Tank. The drivers are all rude. Those scary witch castles with the trumpeter on top give me the royal creeps - and there is one on every block. The place has the feel of a city wide Scientology seminar. The people are strange and zombie like. I get paranoid just driving through Salt Lake City.
BLaAAAAAAH :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: The only place that freaks me out more is driving by that castle from hell LDS temple in Boise Idaho.

:wtf: did that thing rise out of a pit to damn the world?

[TommyO]

261. Camden, NJ

[TK421]

265. Camden is a shithole....but try telling that to the residents!

There's an old joke....Camden is an extension of Philadelphia, but most of Philly isn't that bad

[TommyO]

266. Since I'm never visiting there again

there's little chance of me needing to tell the residents that!

[TK421]

267. Well good for you! I think....but have you been to Philly?

You're still alive, so I assume you have been? :P

[HawkerHurricane]

262. Doha, Saudi Arabia.

I'd rather not go someplace where they hate me that much.

[Zorra]

269. Juarez, Tijuana, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas. n/t

[Occam Bandage]

271. Peoria. Las Vegas. Tai'an.

[Arugula Latte]

272. You know what city is in a pretty location but sucks big time? Colorado Springs.

x(

It's full of Christians, Cowboys, Cadets, and Conservatives. Yikes. I hate that place.

[av8rdave]

278. Riyhad, Saudi Arabia

If you have any right wing friends that insist separation of church and state isn't a good thing, tell them to visit Riyhad. They will come home with a whole new outlook.

Mixing church and state is great idea....as long as it's YOUR church!

[GOPNotForMe]

281. I'm sure others will disagree but Florence, Italy

I just found it to be a giant overpriced tourist trap. The people were exceptionally rude and the city itself just looks old and dirty. They let their monuments get spraypainted over and don't even attempt to clean it up. The museums were insanely overpriced (no student discount either, which every other museum I've been to but the Louvre offered!) and had nothing but the David and then 8 million Renaissance paintings, which, if you're not into crucifixion imagery, gets boring fast.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

283. Fort Worth.

Miles of freeway with NO exits, NO restaurants, and NO gas stations.

Damndest thing I've seen in a while.

:wtf:

[crim son]

290. There isn't one,

but I wouldn't stay IN Paris again... I'd lodge outside the city, spend the day there and get the hell out when I was tired of the place. I thought the French were great people, except in Paris. Maybe things have changed since my last trip.

[NewJeffCT]

291. San Diego, though I'm sure most will disagree with me

Read the travel guides that said the weather was great year-round, planned out several places to go (this was like 1993 or 94, I think) and was hoping to spend time on the beach, of course.

Ended up going around, or just after Memorial Day, but none of the travel guides had mentioned the period called the "June Gloom" and my entire week there was temperatures that were 65-70, overcast and drizzly. Meanwhile, back in Connecticut, it was sunny, dry and mid 80s. The crappy weather prevented me from visiting the beaches and just left me in a crappy mood the whole week.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

296. I've never been there, but I've heard from others it is overrated despite all the hype it gets.

Brother in law went there and found it cold, gray and not all that interesting. And expensive. Although he didn't go to the zoo and I'm sure that wouldn't disappoint.

Still, if given the chance, I'd still go there just to see what it is like.