There are only 2 must-see cities in the world and those are Rome, Italy and Paris, France. And, if you’re in Europe anyway, check out Seville, Spain.
Rome, Italy
Best Thing: A historical gem
There is no other place in the world with as much history all in one place. In Rome, you have the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Pantheon all in one city. Also, in Rome is Vatican City with the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel. The only thing missing from Rome is the statue of David that is in Florence, Italy.
You don’t even have to be a history buff to be overwhelmed by the gravity of the city.
Also, I’m definitely not a foodie, but Rome has some great food. If you like big 5 course dinners, this is your place.
On the other hand, during the day you can get a slice of pizza. If you’re from the US. like me, you might be looking forward to authentic Italian pizza. The pizza was good but in reality, it wasn’t much different from good pizza in New York City. However, it was kind of cool that in the little pizza shops you pay by the pound/kilo, not the slice.
Worst Thing: Too many tourists
The worst thing about Rome is the tourist. I was in Rome during the summer, and there were tourist and tour groups everywhere. It’s worth it, just be prepared for crowds everywhere. For example, it is standing room only in the Sistine Chapel.
Controversial: Attitudes toward women
Girls get a lot of attention in Rome. You might call it harassment but clearly, the culture is different. Guys have no problem talking to girls anywhere. One particular example is the Spanish Steps. On the first row of steps at the bottom, there was a bunch of guys sitting there watching the crowd walk by. As girls walked by, the guys violently clapped if the girl was attractive and clapped little if she was not. Some girls, especially American girls thought it was funny.
Paris, France
Best Thing: Beautiful city
As a single bachelor who enjoys my single life, Paris is the only place I’ve ever been in the world where I wish I had a wife with me.
It is hard to describe Paris at night. You just have to go (especially if you’re married)
I think Parisians get a bad rap when it comes to how they deal with Americans. The French are very nice and when I tried to talk in French, they would not hesitate to help me or talk in English.
(It probably didn’t hurt that I can rattle off every Tour de France winner since 1980 by memory). In fact, as a cycling fan, I literally did not go to the Louvre Museum so I could watch the final stage of the Tour de France.
Finally, if you like breakfast, French breakfasts are the best by far.
Worst Thing: Expensive and confusing
Paris is not a cheap vacation, and I’m guessing it takes months to understand the city layout.
Controversial: Princess Diana crash site
You may remember Princess Diana’s death in 1997. It happened on a Paris street. Our tour guide took us to the overpass of the bridge where her car crashed. There were people there taking pictures. I thought it was interesting to be standing in a place where history was made, but I can understand if others think it’s in bad taste. (I did not take photos)
Seville, Spain
Best Thing: Nightlife
For being a relatively small city in the Andalucia region of Spain, Sevilla has the best looking girls in all of Spain. Unlike Madrid, Granada and other cities in Spain, the girls in Seville try to look good. Fake eyelashes, makeup, heels, and great hair is all you see in the bars.
As far as things to do, watching a Flamenco dancing show and visiting Christopher Colombus’s tomb are the must-see things in this small city.
If you’re going out in Seville, get there late. I was in a Spanish nightclub at 1:30 am with maybe 10 other people and the bartender told me I was there early. Another interesting thing about the bars was that they gave you the alcohol and the mixer separately. Finally, Spanish people eat dinner at 11:00 pm or even midnight.
If you’re from the US, you might thing siestas are cool. I was in Seville in July and it was hot. Many shops were closed during the middle of the day. Being from Arizona, I thought this was a great idea.
Worst Thing: Nobody speaks English
While I believe every American who travels should try to use the local language, you will be shocked that people in Seville do not know any English. One night we asked our cab driver if he spoke English and he responded, “you are in Spain!”
Controversial: Bull Fighting
Bullfights are still a thing in Seville. As a naive American abroad, I jumped at the chance to see a real-life bullfight one night. I should have known something was wrong when our Danish tour guide refused to go with us. Once I got there I understood why people didn’t like it. On the other hand, this is their tradition.
Final Thoughts
Paris and Rome are must-see cities. Period. Seville is fun if you’re a single guy.
If you travel to any of these cities, don’t forget to bring some Bose QuietComfort 35 (Series II) Wireless Headphones, Noise Cancelling – Black
