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Interesting range of knowledge so far, though I know this is a skewed sample considering the people on this forum are more likely to be knowledgeable than the average person and those who don't know or care that much are less likely to respond. Also, I'm extra impressed considering I didn't put the major London, Paris, Moscow etc cities in there. It seems Americans have to go out of their way more to learn about Europe than the other way round. Even an uneducated British person with no particular interest in the US would generally know from popular culture that New York was full of skyscrapers and used to have a crime problem, LA was Hollywood and Mexicans, Vegas was gambling and hookers, Dallas was a city in Texas famous for the oil industry, Miami has beaches and a subtropical climate, etc. I can't imagine how a city like Brussels or Munich would resonate the same way to an American without an interest in world affairs. To those who do know a decent amount about our cities, how? Is it from visiting, or part of world history/culture you studied at school, or a general interest in geography, or what?
To those who do know a decent amount about our cities, how? Is it from visiting, or part of world history/culture you studied at school, or a general interest in geography, or what?
For me, I've just always been interested in geography. Even when I was a kid, I use to study world maps, and just 'dream'....
How? A love of geography coupled with natural curiosity. I can't imagine why someone wouldn't want to learn about all these places. The world doesn't end at the US's borders.
there are 8 cities in britain bigger than manchester, you can't count greater manchester as a city, if you done that with merseyside, edinburgh and the lothians, south wales, greater glasgow, you would have huge cities, but they would be made up of more than one city!
if you counted places like greater manchester, greater glasgow, merseyside, west yorkshire urban area (wider leeds), greater birmingham, they would all be cities with over a million people
To those who do know a decent amount about our cities, how? Is it from visiting, or part of world history/culture you studied at school, or a general interest in geography, or what?
I'm basically a geography/history dork...I spent a childhood reading issues of National Geographic and skimming through my parent's travel guidebooks to places I hadn't even been yet. Traveling is my passion--I spend a good chunk of my disposable income on foreign trips each year and I like to study the history of places I go before I go.
But I think you're correct in assuming that the Americans who are looking at the World forum are going to be more curious and familiar with places in Europe than the average poster on CityData. I mean I'm personally suprised when European people know anything about Portland, Oregon...
I think I'm fairly knowledgable about most of Europe...However if you asked me about African cities or some parts of Asia, I might be at a loss to really describe some cities beyond what country they are located in.
Luxembourg: Very small, city state??
Minsk: Former Soviet city, not a part of Russia. Not sure if it's Belarus or Ukraine.
Munich: Part of Germany-Bavaria region. Beer halls, very historic, architecture.
Madrid: Capital of Spain. Warm climate, middle east influence
Rotterdam: Major city in netherlands, almost completely destroyed in WWII by German bombing.
Athens: One of the oldest cities in Europe, capital of Greece. Acropolis.
Cardiff: Largest city, and capital of Wales. Very industrial. For some reason, I'm thinking it's near a coal mining region?
Sofia. Very little knowledge. Capital of Bulgaria.
Lisbon: Largest city and capital of Portugal. Warm climate. Near the coast?
My interest in Europe stems from a childhood interest in travel. Much like an OP, I used to study National Geographic maps for the better part of the afternoon! Fortunately, I've passed on my "travel" genes to my four year old daughter. She has Natl Geo maps in her room now.
Luxembourg: Small, city state.
Minsk: HUH?
Munich: German city, named a movie after it
Madrid: Cap.& largest financial center of Spain. 2004 bombings
Rotterdam: Germany! ( I think) Shakira taped her DVD concert there..
Athens. Recent riots. Very beautiful & historic. Cap of Greece
Cardiff: UK!!! That's pretty much it...
Sofia: Bulguria? Uhhh...
Lisbon" Cap. of Portugal. By the sea
Stockholm: Capital of Sweden, built on an archipelago of islands.
Birmingham: Typical UK industrial city
Kiev: Capital of Ukraine. Don't know much else I'm afraid.
Naples: Origin of pizza reportedly, city near Mt. Vesuvius. Famous for garbage strikes
Marseille: Southern French city bordering Mediterranean. Lots of immigrants.
Gdansk: Working class city in Poland where solidarity formed in its shipyards
Brussels: Belgian city. Mostly French speaking despite being in the Flemish territory. EU headquarters.
Seville: Spanish city near Andalusia
Sarajevo: Former Yugoslavian city. I think it is now in Bosnia/Hercegovina
Frankfurt: German finance capital, large skyline, hub for Lufthansa
Luxembourg: City state in between France and Germany
Minsk: Belarus capital
Munich: City in Bavaria in Southern Germany.
Madrid: Capital of Spain. Prado Museum
Rotterdam: Dutch city. One of largest port in Europe
Athens: Polluted capital of Greece, Parthenon
Cardiff: Welsh city. That's all I know.
Sofia: Capital of Bulgaria
Lisbon: Capital of Portugal
Seville, Spain, had the hottest temperature recorded in Europe at 122 degrees F until a place in Portugal got a measurement of 123 degrees.
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I can't imagine why someone wouldn't want to learn about all these places. The world doesn't end at the US's borders. 
