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Almost every Greek we encountered thanked us profusely for visiting their country and not being scared off by the media. We had a bakery try to give us free food and a cab driver not want to charge us for a ride. It was amazing how gracious they were, despite the hardships that they will face over the next decade until things get back on track economically.
Glad to hear it. I have many friends there that I haven't seen in 12 or more years. We keep in touch through Facebook. Wonderful people, the Greeks.
Of the dozens of people I have spoken with who have gone to Greece, one (1) went with the express intention of going to Athens. He was a teacher of Attic Greek.
Most people who go to Greece goes mainly for the islands. Athens can't be overrated because it is not 'rated' at all. You rarely hear of people disappointed in Athens because apart from the obligatory trip to the Parthenon for those who have Athens on their itinerary due to travel convenience, people don't make Athens a destination.
I, on the other hand, am a freak. I travel to see how everyday people live, thus I am not interested in Mykonos or other 'resort' destinations. I would probably find Athens more interesting for its native, human element rather than the admittedly gorgeous, alcohol-soaked islands covered in sunburned northerners.
As far as my opinion on the most overrated city in the world, however, I choose the world's two most useless cities (yes, it is a tie), Las Vegas, Nevada, and Orlando, Florida. When I meet someone who has spent their one big 'trip of a lifetime' to the U.S. mainly in one or both of those cities, I can only shake my head in sadness. If it turns out they have been to those places more than once, I seriously consider whether they are worth even speaking to :-)
Havana, Cuba is overrated in my book. There is some stunning architecture for sure, but a lot of the city is literally falling apart, and the begging there is ridiculous. I was really looking forward to seeing it and left feeling quite disappointed. Veradero was a much better experience, IMO. The same wares could be had in the markets there for a lot less.
San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Orlando and Miami are all overrated even though they can still be nice to visit.
Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, the Everglades and Key West are underrated.
I've driven across the Everglades on the Tamiami Trail and Alligator Alley and ... "no thanks."
I think the experience of driving across and sampling all the Keys is cool, but Key West itself is a major disappointment in that it lacks a sandy beach. I think Key Largo and Islamorada are better keys.
San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Orlando and Miami are all overrated even though they can still be nice to visit.
Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, the Everglades and Key West are underrated.
I'll speak for Orlando because I live there. It's actually not over rated. I live here by choice. We just don't tell the tourists the good places to hang out, eat, drink, and shop with the locals, and instead herd them like farm animals into our tourist corridors where we make it far to easy for them to just stay put and away from the real world.
There are some crappy parts of the Orlando area, but there are also many fabulous parts that tourists never see--and those are the best ones. I lived here for two years before I was given information on the best restaurants, shopping secrets, and recreation--none of it involves a theme park. The locals don't like to give up their secrets, lest they become just another place for tourists to congregate.
To those that say Las Vegas is overrated, I am curious what you do there?
A friend goes there at least once a year and this last trip she said she was "all Vegas-ed out." Well, sure, because she spends all of her time on one end of the strip. I've encouraged her to branch out but can't seem to get past the fact that there is much more to the valley than a 4 mile stretch of road. She's never been off the strip in 8 years of at least annual visits. Yes, that would get very old very quickly.
I'm heading to Vegas for the 3rd trip in 13 months soon. Every time I go I find something new, and I do not spend any time on the strip. To me the strip IS overrated, but the city as a whole (and surrounding) has a LOT to offer, and is a really inexpensive vacation.
Havana, Cuba is overrated in my book. There is some stunning architecture for sure, but a lot of the city is literally falling apart, and the begging there is ridiculous. I was really looking forward to seeing it and left feeling quite disappointed. Veradero was a much better experience, IMO. The same wares could be had in the markets there for a lot less.
Havana was described by a friend to me as a place she is glad she saw, but would not go back.
Havana was described by a friend to me as a place she is glad she saw, but would not go back.
I've heard that from everyone who has been. I'd like to see it because so many of my childhood friends came from there, but that's the only reason. I'd be happier spending that time during a shoulder season month (May or September) on Florida's panhandle.
I've heard that from everyone who has been. I'd like to see it because so many of my childhood friends came from there, but that's the only reason. I'd be happier spending that time during a shoulder season month (May or September) on Florida's panhandle.
I'd be interested in seeing it only to see a city that never left the 1950s. People tell me that part is fascinating. My father used to go gambling there before the revolution. I've also heard that some of the Cuban beaches are absolutely beautiful.
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I have many friends there that I haven't seen in 12 or more years. We keep in touch through Facebook. Wonderful people, the Greeks.
