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Los Angeles – The Hollywood metropolis is totally overrated
Things I didn’t dream of visiting Los Angeles: strolling down the “Hollywood Walk of Fame”, spotting celebrities, sunset at Griffith Observatory, selfie on Rodeo Drive. All is well and good. Still, Los Angeles was one of the biggest travel disappointments of my life. The city is a juggernaut. The famous “Walk of Fame” is located on a noisy street in an unattractive area, highways are constantly clogged (distances are so long that you have to travel by car), and Los Angeles is also home to the social misery of America “The land of unlimited possibilities More clearly than almost anywhere else in ”.
America has a huge homeless problem, made worse by the Corona crisis. Poor people are increasingly attracted to California due to its temperate climate. It is not easy to cope with the contrast between unlimited wealth (in Beverly Hills, for example) and poverty in the tent settlements you pass through in tourist areas.
My advice is: There are some worthwhile urban destinations in California. For example, San Diego in the south has a stunning downtown and, of course, San Francisco, one of the most beautiful cities in America.
Maspalomas, Gran Canaria – Spain’s uncontrolled construction spree
Gran Canaria’s biggest tourist magnet is the small dune field in the south of the country that resembles a miniature Sahara. It undoubtedly has one of the most beautiful beaches in the Canary Islands – I had accordingly high expectations for the resort. But Maspalomas, where most of the hotels and resorts are located, is ugly. Here the excesses of uncontrolled construction frenzy are shown in all their horror, as can often be observed in tourist beach destinations in Spain. There’s no charming beach atmosphere here. Far from the coastal town of Maspalomas, Gran Canaria is a wonderful island with charming villages, hidden coves and great hiking opportunities.
My advice is: I recommend the seven Canary Islands as destinations for active holidays. In my opinion, you can find more beautiful beach destinations around the Mediterranean that are quicker to reach.
Venice – love-hate relationship
The elegance of St. Mark’s Square, the dilapidated facades of the canal-side palaces and the exuberant art in every church: Venice is one of the most fascinating and picturesque cities in the world. I don’t know any other place that suits the atmosphere of Venice. It makes me even sadder that the Most Peaceful La Serenissima has turned into a Disney World. More than 100,000 people have left the historic center since the 1950s. Last year the population dropped below 50,000 for the first time in history. Crowds of tourists have taken over the city, turning it into an open-air museum with no longer a vibrant, authentic heart beating.
My advice is: There are many beautiful, historic cities in Northern Italy that offer the Italian la dolce vita as well as art and culture. These include Verona, Padua and Bologna.
Cancún – dream beach meets concrete desert
Cancún is Latin America’s leading beach destination. Hundreds of thousands of Europeans, Americans and Canadians fly to Mexico’s east coast every year for sun, beach and party. The hotel zone on a cape, the “zona hotelera” (the name itself does not bode well), is about 20 kilometers long and only a few hundred meters wide. There is nothing to complain about on the beach; except perhaps for the seaweed that sometimes washes out between spring and autumn and smells awful. But along these 20 kilometers, one hotel complex follows the next: a built-up concrete desert. There is also an extraordinary atmosphere here during spring break at US universities: students come to Cancún for “party, drugs and sex”.
My advice is: An alternative beach destination to Cancún is the town of Playa del Carmen, located slightly further south and, in my opinion, more attractive. A trip to the region would also be beneficial, especially a visit to the Yucatán Peninsula, with its Mayan ruins and beautiful colonial towns.
Jamaica – Nothing much but Bob Marley
I have loved Bob Marley’s reggae songs since I was little. If I’m in a bad mood, “This Is Love”, “The Sun Is Shining” or “Three Little Birds” can lift my mood. I was even happier when I received an invitation to travel to Jamaica. But Bob Marley’s hometown doesn’t surprise me: the beaches are nice but nothing special, the much-vaunted jerk chicken tastes bland, and the towns lack talent. And most of all, my lifestyle is very much influenced by America. It’s not worth flying halfway around the world to visit Jamaica – especially if your main goal is to enjoy a beach holiday. There are closer and more beautiful places.
My advice is: Cuba, on the other hand, is truly worth a visit as it not only offers equally beautiful beaches but also has an exciting history, extraordinary culture and legendary vintage charm.
Egypt: Tourist trap at every meter
At some point in your life you must stand in front of the pyramids, and you must also see the temple complexes of Luxor or Abu Simbel – the ruins of the ancient Egyptians are very impressive. But the wonders of the world come with a sour note: tourist traps, inflated prices and annoying salesmen. In every country outside Europe, dealers, taxi drivers and the like are trying to squeeze a little more money out of tourists’ pockets. It’s part of it. However, in Egypt the behavior is so insolent and aggressive that it can ruin the whole holiday atmosphere.
I don’t know of any other country in the world where tourists are treated this way. Even British author Agatha Christie described this behavior in her detective novel “Death on the Nile”, which she wrote in 1937! Anyone traveling to Egypt (the beaches on the Red Sea are beautiful, by the way) should be prepared to react negatively often to avoid being left alone and scammed. What a pity.
My advice is: If you want to experience Arab-Islamic culture, you should go to Morocco. There the state is strictly regulated so that you can wander around Marrakesh, Fes or Chefchaouen (almost) unmolested.
Source : Blick
I am Dawid Malan, a news reporter for 24 Instant News. I specialize in celebrity and entertainment news, writing stories that capture the attention of readers from all walks of life. My work has been featured in some of the world’s leading publications and I am passionate about delivering quality content to my readers.
