I came upon this while making the bog-rounds today and it raised my hackles up to a point where I HAVE to post a rebuttal. And, Gentle Reader, you would prolly ask what would that be? Just this:
You say you want another opinion? Well, OK... here ya go. Chase that link and you'll see that Kris could have visited the world's greatest city had she decided to motor on south for another couple o' hours. Further exploration of that link will reveal that Boston isn't among cities rating a Time Out guide. Not that Time Out is the be-all, end-all of city guides. But they are sumthin' of an authority and an authority that YrHmblScrb and his consort (back in the day) took very seriously.
More? OK. Check out The Wiki's list of "most livable cities." Do you see Boston? No? Well, dang. Just DANG. More? OK... there's this. About which... Calgary? Really? But no Boston.
Well, there has to be SOMETHING about Boston, no? And there is... Boston is rated Number 32 on Business Insider's list of the top 40 cities in the world, ranking above such garden spots as Bogota and Kuala Lampur but below Cairo. Cairo? Really? I wouldn't be all THAT proud, were I a New Englander. Not to mention that the superlative "best" doesn't come into play here.
Let's do one more and then we'll go. How does Number 130 grab ya? Not so hot? I rest my case.
Oh. One more thing. Does Boston have a Michelin three-star restaurant? Mais NON, mon ami.
There's this outlier, just to demonstrate I'm not cherry picking results. You can always find an exception, if you look hard enough. And this IS an exception.
We'll not flog a dead horse. But we will say that we have lived in... and visited... a lot o' cities, some of which are ranked pretty high in various and sundry studies, chief among cities we've lived in being San Francisco, London, Paris, Tokyo, and Washington, DC. If I were asked the "what's best" question regarding a city I'd respond London, without a doubt. Paris would be in my Top Ten, as would SFO. I still want to spend some time in Boston, after all this, preferably in the company of someone who really knows the city. Kris and/or Jim... feel free to extend an invitation and make me eat my words.
Oooh, Kris. We could have foregone all of what follows if you'd only said "ONE of the best cities" or perhaps "the best city within driving distance of me." But you didn't. So, with the understanding that I will prolly invoke the ire of Kris and Jim, not to mention that other Old AF Sarge, I MUST take issue. To begin with... this: Boston doesn't make the cut when it comes to the Top Ten Cities, globally (Boston doesn't even crack the top 20). Further, Boston doesn't even make the cut when the criteria are limited to the USof A. The astute amongst you will note that a NEW MEXICO city... Santa Fe... comes in at Number Six.And so - we embark on a mini-break holiday for the next few days. Nothing truly special though we are excited about it.
Boston.
The best city anywhere, anytime.
You say you want another opinion? Well, OK... here ya go. Chase that link and you'll see that Kris could have visited the world's greatest city had she decided to motor on south for another couple o' hours. Further exploration of that link will reveal that Boston isn't among cities rating a Time Out guide. Not that Time Out is the be-all, end-all of city guides. But they are sumthin' of an authority and an authority that YrHmblScrb and his consort (back in the day) took very seriously.
More? OK. Check out The Wiki's list of "most livable cities." Do you see Boston? No? Well, dang. Just DANG. More? OK... there's this. About which... Calgary? Really? But no Boston.
Well, there has to be SOMETHING about Boston, no? And there is... Boston is rated Number 32 on Business Insider's list of the top 40 cities in the world, ranking above such garden spots as Bogota and Kuala Lampur but below Cairo. Cairo? Really? I wouldn't be all THAT proud, were I a New Englander. Not to mention that the superlative "best" doesn't come into play here.
Let's do one more and then we'll go. How does Number 130 grab ya? Not so hot? I rest my case.
Oh. One more thing. Does Boston have a Michelin three-star restaurant? Mais NON, mon ami.
There's this outlier, just to demonstrate I'm not cherry picking results. You can always find an exception, if you look hard enough. And this IS an exception.
We'll not flog a dead horse. But we will say that we have lived in... and visited... a lot o' cities, some of which are ranked pretty high in various and sundry studies, chief among cities we've lived in being San Francisco, London, Paris, Tokyo, and Washington, DC. If I were asked the "what's best" question regarding a city I'd respond London, without a doubt. Paris would be in my Top Ten, as would SFO. I still want to spend some time in Boston, after all this, preferably in the company of someone who really knows the city. Kris and/or Jim... feel free to extend an invitation and make me eat my words.
I've been experiencing Boston for almost two years now and am enjoying it, but I find it amusing to even call it a "city", it's so tiny!
ReplyDeleteBut Bahston has world-class TRAFFIC!
DeleteOh, God. Don't remind me! Thank goodness for public transportation, as sardine-can-like as it may be.
DeleteOh, and best city EVAR? BERLIN, GERMANY!!
ReplyDeleteNot that I'm biased or anything...
Never made it to Berlin but it's still on the list. USAF Security Service had an installation there back when I was with them; the 6912th Security Group was Number One with a bullet on my dream sheet. The bastards sent me to Turkey, instead.
DeleteI haven't been since 1995! That's almost TWENTY YEARS. I need to get back there and take my kids, show them my old haunts.
DeleteGoin' back with the kids would be fun. I got to do that sorta thing in London with SN1... we had a blast.
DeleteThe best thing about Boston is you can walk to almost every place you want to go.
ReplyDeleteWhere you can't walk there's public transportation.
Then there's that bit about no three star restaurants.
So what?
It has the only Jacob Wirth.
I'll go back just for that.
About the only thing I can say about Michelin three star restaurants is I haven't been to one, yet.
I haven't been to enough places to rate anywhere the best.
But Hong Kong ranked pretty high up for me in 1963.
A three-star dining experience is pretty unique, Skip, and it's pretty pricey, too (those stars are worth BIG Bucks). I'm glad I've had the experience but I don't think I'd do it again.
DeleteI've had pricey, without the benefit of stars.
DeleteShe kept the kids and the house.
(oops, there's some venom) ;-)
My criteria for a city to get a coveted "Top City to Visit" award is to rate on the availability for scoring some sort of copulation. Portland (The Rose Festival!) and San Francisco are definitely good liberty towns as are places as remote as Davis-Monthan AFB. Believe me on Davis-Monthan... It was a favorite stop when flying SH-2F's from the rework facility at Dothan, Alabama (Not so good) and Pensacola (Ver-Very Good!).
ReplyDeleteYMMV.
This is based on the 80's, back when I was nobbut a single cat. Now the basis for visiting a town is good food and beverages served by pretty ladies.
DeleteYou Squids are ALL alike. ;-)
DeleteNot that us Zoomies were any different, of course, the majority of us just traveled less. Unless we were in the flying bid'niz or some other job that went TDY a lot, like radar installations. You've read some of my stories in that space, so I'll stop now.
Your criteria and mine are pretty much the same, these days.
I saw Washington, D. C. on one of the link lists. If it's on a list, I'm thinking Chicago should be on one too. :-)
ReplyDeleteI've visited almost all of those cities in the U.S. that you mention, and don't much think I'd like to live in any of them. Except maybe the one in your state, Santa Fe. It's much, much smaller than any of the others and is a beautiful place. Joyce and I spent a week there about ten years ago and we both loved it.
Santa Fe really IS nice, as far as cities go. I saw a few cities on those lists I wouldn't mind living in for a while, or living in again. That said, I just can't see myself in a city, permanently, ever again.
DeleteWith you, in a way, Buck. Not that I have any particular motivation to chase down publications that spurn Boston (I liked it when I went. A lot), but simply because anytime someone goes all-in with the superlatives, it's time for attack mode!
ReplyDeleteHeh. We thank ya fer yer support!
DeleteOh, and Kris and/or Jim: In as lighthearted and good-natured a tone as I can muster, I would like to say some thing like "nanny-nanny-boo-boo" to the city of Boston after my Broncos removed Wes Welker from its best-city-ever grasp yesterday. :)
ReplyDeleteWes Welker? Is he like a goalie prospect, a minor leaguer, or sumthin'? :-0
DeleteImagine the Avs were currently Stanley Cup caliber, and stole Zetterberg from the Wings yesterday. There you have it.
DeleteI'm thinkin' losing Z wouldn't be THAT bad a thing, given the way he's been playin' lately. Well, except for the Avs thing. I'd have a case o' the ass if the Avs got one o' our Zamboni drivers, unless we got Landeskog and Duchene in return. That would take the edge off. ;-)
DeleteThis particular Old AF Sarge has a deep, deep dislike for the city of Boston. I can think of no reason for that except that my Dad hated Boston and everything about it. His loathing for the Red Sox was legendary (one I don't share). When Roger Clemens became a Yankee, my Dad would actually root against the Yankees if Clemens was pitching. If he was pitching against the Red Sox, Dad would do anything EXCEPT watch the game. Well, that and maybe Boston traffic. It makes less sense then the traffic in Rome, as in Italy.
ReplyDeleteI don't like Boston. I don't really care for most cities. However, there are cities that I absolutely love. London, Paris, Rome, Venice, Florence (the last three being in Italy) Washington DC (I know, surprise, surprise) and last (but certainly not least) Charleston, SC. I would note that I like Denver.
Generally though, I would NOT live in a city. Ever. Unless forced. If allowed to choose which city I HAD to live in. It would be Charleston. For the food and for the history. (Also there are some mighty fine looking ladies in that city. Scenery mind you, just scenery, I am married and happily so.)
One of the few regrets I have in life is not visiting Charleston when SN2 was on boomers and homeported there. I've heard SO many good things about that city. (sigh)
DeleteThat said, I'm very comfortable in my small-town existence.
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ReplyDeleteWell I guess I missed this being that I was in Boston and all. I will say I don't have many experiences with the other cities on those vaunted lists though I will say that I loathe NYC. I grew up with Boston as my backyard. I love her for her quirkiness. I love that she stands proudly with her paved cowpaths and one-way streets that can lead you into a vortex for 15 minutes or more. And I love that when I go there I walk the in footsteps of the original patriots of this great nation. Say what you will about all those other places with "people" who tell us they are great.
ReplyDeleteBoston is great - the very best of great IMO. YMMV.
Spoken like a true New Englander and I expected nothing less. You're correct, though... my mileage DOES vary. ;-)
Delete