~ Top 10 Underrated International Destinations ~

[MysteRy]

Top 10 Underrated International Destinations


1. Hanoi, Vietnam   



In the minds of westerners Vietnam is still primarily associated with thoughts of war. And even then, because Hanoi was in North Vietnam and therefore mainly participating in the less well known war, the Indochina War, in terms of familiarity it falls well behind Ho Chi Min, formerly Saigon, the main city in South Vietnam and centre of activity during the much depicted Vietnam War. Yet, Hanoi has little reason for such oversight. There delight can be found by both the nature lover and urban dweller. Laid between rivers, it has a multitude of lakes (sometimes called the "city of lakes") with a lot of temples around. Beautiful monuments effortlessly interlap with colonial architecture. With a big constant growth rate, it is rapidly developing in an Asian megapolis. The traffic is dense and so vehicle of choice is the motorcycle - if you are in hurry, theres no way to go faster than taking a "xo om" motorcycle taxi (literary "hug vehicle").

[MysteRy]

2. Lisbon, Portugal   



It is amazing how well known is Lisbon and how underrated a destination it still is. Lisbon, as well as being the largest city in Portugal and the 9th most populous in the European Union, is also one of the oldest cities in the world, predating other modern European capitals such as London, Paris, and Rome by hundreds of years. It is extremely rich in architecture, with Romanesque, Gothic, Manueline, Baroque, Modern and Post-Modern buildings spread all over the place, not forgetting two sites listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site: Belem Tower and Jeronimos Monastery. Culture life is still at full tilt there, evidence for which are the myriad of festivals taking place every year - anything from Lisbon Gay & Lesbian Film Festival to the Peixe em Lisboa (Lisbon Fish and Flavours). And lets not overlook the fact that for an old European capital its still very economical.

[MysteRy]

3. Dakar, Senegal   



There is no doubt that every African city you can name is overlooked. And then, Dakar is one of the more striking examples, giving its rich history and important geographic location. As usual, here the latter leads to the former - Dakar is the westernmost city on the African mainland and therefore an advantageous departure point for trans-Atlantic and European trade. During the latter half of 20th century it has frequently been the ending point of the Dakar Rally, which brought some awareness of the poverty and conditions there. That has led to some changes for the better and Dakar is now a major financial centre and home to numerous international organizations. It is also a member of the Organization of World Heritage Cities. People from the Northern hemisphere would be interested to learn that Dakar is very pleasantly warm between December and April and especially delightful at night.

[MysteRy]

4. Gdansk, Poland   



Gdansk is one of those places for which you struggle to acquire a precise mental image. It is as if you have some notions about it, but unsure where to put them exactly. Well, this Heisenbergian uncertainty seems to have been part of the history of the city itself. Only in the last half dozen centuries it has been (in that order) part of the Kingdom of Poland, the territory of the Teutonic Order, subject to the Thirteen Years War, the Kingdom of Poland, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Prussia, a free city, Prussia, Imperial Germany, a free city, Nazi Germany, Polish Peoples Republic and finally, part of Republic of Poland. While this is reflected on the demographic of the city on various levels, when you finally get there, it seems a very tranquil and leisurely place to stroll among beautiful tenement houses and medieval monuments.

[MysteRy]

5. Bilbao, Spain   



When it comes to Spanish coast, people usually consider the Southern, Mediterranean one, with the impressive flagships of Barcelona and Valencia. If you look upwards, however, to the north, you will come across a city no less charismatic, in an area no less beautiful. Bilbao is situated just a dozen kilometres south of the Bay of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. Due to the heavy industrialization in the last century, Bilbao went through an extraordinary population explosion and is experiencing an ongoing social, economic, and aesthetic revitalization process. The friendliness of Basque people is legendary, as is their feeling of independence. Their football team has never been relegated from Spains top division. It is fair to say that Bilbao is the Northern Barcelona, but with less tourists to get into your way.

[MysteRy]

6. Belfast, Northern Ireland   



For a long time when Belfast or Northern Ireland was mentioned the thing that springs to mind is the Protestant-Catholic divide, severely deepened by 20 years of bombing, assassination and street violence from active paramilitary groups. Thankfully, during the 1990s this saddening conflict was buried and put behind. Belfast then became the fastest growing regional economy in the UK. Ever since the Northern Irelands capital has flourished while tourists and citizens alike are finally able to enjoy the many beautiful spots in the city without terror. Notable places are the City Hall, finished in 1906 to reflect Belfasts city status granted by Queen Victoria in 1888, and the Botanic Gardens in Queens Quarter, which is one of the top botanic gardens in the world. Actually, while you are in a nature mood, be sure to check out Belfast Zoo as well, one of the few local government-funded zoos in the UK and Ireland.

[MysteRy]

7. Stellenbosch, South Africa



Always in the shadow of its biggest neighbour, Cape Town, the city of Stellenbosch has always been neglected by tourists, but unfairly so. The City of Oaks, as it became known due to the large number of oak trees gracing its streets, is located just 50 km east of the capital and has a modest population of around 117,000 over an area of 30 km2 (for those reluctant to do the math, that makes for a density of 1,452 per km2). Stellenbosch is not only less dense than Cape Town, but it is also greener. One of the most alluring features is its winemaking industry. The larger of the two main viticulture regions in South Africa includes the Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek valleys and possesses a wide range of soils in the area. Make sure to try the Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon.

[MysteRy]

8. Puebla, Mexico   



Often overlooked, Puebla, the main city in Puebla region in Mexico, is actually a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With a good reason, too - the "cradle of Mexican Baroque" can boast with a wide range of over 5,000 buildings of various styles and architectural distinctiveness, such as Baroque, Renaissance and Classic. Around the Zocalo, the first block to be laid out, in a checkerboard fashion are positioned many churches, monasteries, mansions, as well as the City Hall, the Casa de los Munecos and the Cathedral. It took 300 years to complete the said Cathedral, but anyone who has seen it would acknowledge it was worth the wait. The list of impressive structures in Puebla is too big to be able to give it at full here, but perhaps the most interesting one is not a human deed. Cuexcomate is the smallest inactive volcano in the world and is located right there, in Puebla. The municipality has even provided for a staircase down which you can go down the crater.

[MysteRy]

9. Montevideo, Uruguay   



Capital, largest city and chief port, Montevideo, although the most well-known city in Uruguay, is still underrated because of the countrys poor image. A pity, really. Much of Uruguays economy counts on tourism and most of it relies on Montevideo. There, the tourists are generally directed towards the Ciudad Vieja area, which has the citys oldest buildings, many museums, art galleries, and an abundance of night clubs. Afficionados of Art Deco will also fall in love with 18 de Julio Avenue. Along the coastline you can lie on more than 13 km of beaches, all of which lie in view from La Rambla, the seaside avenue. It is a great place to do your jogging, biking, skateboarding, roller skating, or simply walking, if that is your preferred mode of transportation. And you can count against unrestricted building on the side of the beach, since it is 100% state-owned, and the state takes good care of the view.

[MysteRy]

10. Tangier, Morocco   



During the 20th century Tangier has been the unofficial southern capital of artists and writers (Paris being the undisputed residence of arts). Literature greats such as Paul Bowles, Jean Genet, William S. Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, Bob Guccione, Jack Kerouac, Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote, Gavin Lambert, Brion Gysin, and Bernard-Henri Levy have all found soul nurturing comfort in between the orange houses and warm hearts Tangier inhabitants. Delacroix and Matisse often sought inspiration from landscapes in Morocco. Tangier was also the birthplace of Mohamed Choukri, perhaps the most controversial and widely read authors of North Africa. While it is true that now the city has been cruelly modernized, no longer in a state where "there is nothing left to spoil". There are many things to spoil, most of all the tourists standards. Nevertheless, there is still enough of the old magic to "sniff the fragments of mystery "and "a blank wall at the end of a blind alley". All quotes, by the way, are from Paul Bowles.