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Location: Long Island via Chapel Hill NC, Go Heels?
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For the sole fact that Moscow is controlled by a few business oligarchs and the rest of the population detests them, I'd put Moscow up there.
Other cities:
Vilnius, Lithuania
Almaty, Kazakhstan
Chisinau, Moldova
Sanaa, Yemen
I'm an Eastern European (Czech republic) and I can tell it varies a lot. In some parts, people are pretty sad, but usually in the small villages and Prague, they are pretty happy.
Most Czechs seem to insist they are not in Eastern Europe and are Central instead.....I don't think of the Czech Republic as a depressing place and the poeple I know from there come across a\.s very Western compared to people I've met from Russia or Ukraine.Based only on people I've met, Czechs in general are more friendly and outgoing and cheerful, while people further east like Russian, Ukrainians, Poles, and Serbs are either more dour and drab, or more confrontational and hostile. Also most Russian immigrants I've met in the U.S. are not very proud to be Russian or Ukrainian and never have anything good to say about their country (even Salvadoreans and Nigerians are prouder of their home countries).
Eastern Europe does have a VERY depressing connotation to me, especially cities like Moscow, Kiev, Chisinau, Minsk, Belgrade, Sarajevo, Bucharest, and Budapest. Same with Lituahia, Estonia and most Russian cities. When I think these places, I think about the crumbling Soviet style buildings, the gray weather, the drab architecture, the history of the Cold War and the history of WW2 and the Holocaust. The only times Poland has ever been mentioned ever in school for me was regarding World War II, the German invasion, and the concentration camps. The only times Russia has ever been mentioned in school before for me was in association with Communism, the Russian Revolution, Lenin, Stalin, WW2 and the Cold War particularly the Cold War and the arms race with America. (Actually the only times Czechoslovakia was mentioned too was involving WW2 and the Iron Curtain which is why many Americans still think its Czechoslovakia and not the Czech Republic and Slovakia.) War is also the first thing to come to mind with the Balkans like Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia, etc. In Western Europe, Belfast, Northern Ireland comes across as very depressing for the same reason. I've also heard northern England is a depressing place.
The worst cities in the world though are probably obviously Baghdad, Kabul, Pyongyang, Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez, Gaza City, Beirut, Tehran, Riyadh, Mecca, Port au Prince, and Mogadishu.
Now its not "sad", but I think there is an emptiness to Amsterdam with its legalized marijuana, promotion of drug use, prostitution, Red Light district, etc.
Last edited by Tom Lennox 70; 12-27-2011 at 11:35 PM..
If I have to choose THE WORST few cities I'd go with
1. Pyongyang, North Korea - Feels like the old Soviet Union in the 50s or 60s. Lots of poverty and political repression. Many residents lack basic things like electricity, heating, and running water. Run down city with Soviet style buildings everywhere.
2. Mogadishu, Somalia
3. Ciudad Juarez, Mexico - the killings with the drug wars now rival Afghanistan and Iraq, plus the unsolved disappearances of over 500 women, plus being a gateway for illegal immigration
I think of many German cities as being depressing and full of filthy industry.
Northern England is blighted by many former industrial towns that have decayed into very sad places, but there are also many nice places there too which have regenerated themselves.
Oh, and Belfast, NI is NOT depressing. It's actually quite beautiful despite 'The Troubles'
Sells, Arizona. And probably all other Native American reservation cities on this continent, but Sells really stands out. Although those that have raked in proceeds from Casinos have perked up a little bit.
Most Czechs seem to insist they are not in Eastern Europe and are Central instead.....I don't think of the Czech Republic as a depressing place and the poeple I know from there come across a\.s very Western compared to people I've met from Russia or Ukraine.Based only on people I've met, Czechs in general are more friendly and outgoing and cheerful, while people further east like Russian, Ukrainians, Poles, and Serbs are either more dour and drab, or more confrontational and hostile. Also most Russian immigrants I've met in the U.S. are not very proud to be Russian or Ukrainian and never have anything good to say about their country (even Salvadoreans and Nigerians are prouder of their home countries).
Eastern Europe does have a VERY depressing connotation to me, especially cities like Moscow, Kiev, Chisinau, Minsk, Belgrade, Sarajevo, Bucharest, and Budapest. Same with Lituahia, Estonia and most Russian cities. When I think these places, I think about the crumbling Soviet style buildings, the gray weather, the drab architecture, the history of the Cold War and the history of WW2 and the Holocaust. The only times Poland has ever been mentioned ever in school for me was regarding World War II, the German invasion, and the concentration camps. The only times Russia has ever been mentioned in school before for me was in association with Communism, the Russian Revolution, Lenin, Stalin, WW2 and the Cold War particularly the Cold War and the arms race with America. (Actually the only times Czechoslovakia was mentioned too was involving WW2 and the Iron Curtain which is why many Americans still think its Czechoslovakia and not the Czech Republic and Slovakia.) War is also the first thing to come to mind with the Balkans like Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia, etc. In Western Europe, Belfast, Northern Ireland comes across as very depressing for the same reason. I've also heard northern England is a depressing place.
The worst cities in the world though are probably obviously Baghdad, Kabul, Pyongyang, Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez, Gaza City, Beirut, Tehran, Riyadh, Mecca, Port au Prince, and Mogadishu.
Now its not "sad", but I think there is an emptiness to Amsterdam with its legalized marijuana, promotion of drug use, prostitution, Red Light district, etc.
But have you traveled yourself to any of those places? Known or spoken in any depth with residents OF those said countries?
The most depressing city I've been to is Bradford, England, a city right next to mine
About 40 years ago, Bradford was wealthier then my city, lots of pretty old buildings and fancy department stores..
Now the winds have changed, my city is significantly weatlhier while Bradford is rather sad and pathetic, awful 60's brutalist architechture and big holes in the ground where shopping malls shoud be but never made it.. such a sad, sad place with so many problems.. a nuke would be good!
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