My first ever "Top 50 Cities" List
- Part I - No 50 to No. 41

50. Rome, Italy A historic city (and perennial favorite) that deserves a much higher ranking. Well, I haven't been to Rome since 1991. And that last visit was with a very unsophisticated Taiwanese tour group (when I was still an unsophisticated teenager). After more than 15 years, I barely remember much about Rome. It is another place that deserves another visit. Ironically, I do have a good friend from Rome but he is living in the US. Our travel plan rarely compatible with the other's, I haven't had any chance to visit Rome when he is there...

49. Dubrovnik, Croatia (including nearby Dalmatian Coast) I visited it for the first time in 2006. Nicknamed "Pearl of Adriatics," one of the better preserved walled cities in the world. The view from its fortress wall is especially stunning, so the best experience is take a stroll of its whole 2km fortress wall. It is also a great idea to visit nearby islands, or even travel into Bosnia to visit Mostar.

48. Riga, Latvia: I visited it in the summer of 2006. Now it is certified as "The next Prague." A city still has that "Old Soviet Feel" but also growing vibrant nightlife. Now Latvia is a part of E.U. and many budget airlines start flying there. If you are living in Europe, go there fast before it becomes too touristy. Later change of mind: then I feel Riga, Tallinn (Estonia), and Vilnius (Lithuania) all three are not really that different, maybe give them a three-way tie?

47. Santa Fe, USA: It is that nice small town you want to retire at. Nice weather, beautiful scenery, and interesting cuisine. You can read my Santa Fe travelogue and photo album from 2001 here.

46. Budapest, Hungary: It was also visited first time in 2006 (I traveled to a lot of Eastern European destinations that year). It is one of the most popular cities in former Eastern Bloc. And now there are even budget airlines based in Budapest (WizzAir). I enjoyed its hot spring and wide boulevard. However, since there are quite a few tourist scams in Budapest, you should still be careful when traveling there.

45. New Orleans, USA: Continuing its slip on my list (It was No. 30 just 10 months ago). This used to be as high as No. 2 for me. Unfortunately, after Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans has become merely a shell of its former self. Of course, NO had long been one of the most dangerous cities (a real murder capital) in the US. Judging from the homicide rate so far in 2007, it seems just get worse. I traveled to New Orleans three times, including the only Mardi Gras I attended in 1999.

44. Quebec City, Canada In this updated list, I decided to separate Montreal and Quebec City as 2 destinations, so QC comes back to my list again (about Montreal, well, it is much higher up). The only walled city in North America and feeling more European than any other US and Canadian cities. I still haven't visited its Winter Carnival and ice-hotel...

43. Arequipa, Peru: A Peruvian city in the Andes that is not really the most famous destination. However, it is much nicer than Lima and less touristy than Cuzco (a city you will see later on my list). It is also a gateway to gorgeous Calca Canyon.

42. Sighisoara, Romania: Right in the center of Romania and where Vlad the Impaler (The real life "Dracula") was born. I stayed there for 4 nights to heal my psychological wound after my precious belongings were stolen on a night train from Krakow. It is a nice and small medieval town but it is also near many attractions in Transylvania, including many Saxon villages. Personally I prefer here over the more touristy Brasov.

41. Granada, Spain: My favorite town in Andalusia, South Spain. Of course, The Alhambra Palace may be enough reason to put it in anybody's Top 50.

Well, that's it for now, wait for my next "Part II: No. 40 to No. 31"...