As you – reading this blog and thus probably knowing me personally – are aware, I have been living in Lecce, South Italy for the past few months. For this post it is also relevant that I have also lived in Madrid in the past, and traveled to cities all over Europe (though I’m woefully ignorant of how the rest of the world looks).
My Italian co-worker just got back from a trip to Amsterdam, and told me about the things that impressed her the most about the city and its surroundings. After thinking on it a bit more on my own, it hit me that I am in a unique position to write about differences between cities in Europe.
So, whether you are from the North or the South, if you are wondering whether you would be more happy living in a city in the North or South, you may find use in my extensive slightly tongue-in-cheek list of advantages of typical cities in the North and South. Let’s go!
Advantages of the typical city in North Europe:
- Public transport is well-organized, modern and reliable.
- The layout is pedestrian – and (with a more overwhelming difference) bike-friendly.
- The roads leading in and out of the city are well-lit and have clear indications of both directions and traffic rules…
- … which further tend to be respected by the drivers, who display overall sanity and respect for human life.
- Various trees, parks and lanes add some beautiful and relaxing green for all to enjoy…
- …at all times of day, since having ‘opening hours’ for a park is rightfully considered a silly idea.
- It is easy to spot tourist traps as they conveniently include an English translation on the items on the menu.
- Did I mention public transport?
- People tend to dress in a personal, colorful and varied manner, expressing their personal tastes as much as the current dominant fashion paradagm…
- … and choose their wardrobe as much for personal comfort and taste as for the expression of either sense of ‘glamour’, or to showcase any political views.
- Wifi is free and abundant should you want to work on your laptop at a coffee place…
- … where furthermore you can recharge said laptop using power sockets which neatly follow universally accepted standards.
- What’s more, service is swift and to the point, and helping out a new customer (i.e. you) is typically given precedence by staff over continuing the heated or relaxed discussion with the person before you.
- As people are generally considered level-headed and mature, alcohol and cigarettes are available all through the night in other places than bars.
- One reason for this is that other places than bars tend to be open at human hours during the day.
- Still on bars, rather than continuously parading from one place to the next which reduces the only possible mode of conversation to exchanging quick tidbits with whoever is walking right next to you and various shoutouts and introductions to acquaintances in the street, people tend met up at a specific place and stay there, thus allowing for pleasant group conversation (and, let’s be honest, assured easy access to alcohol at all times).
- Still on bars, at least some cool ones tend to be smack in the city center rather than requiring a long walk, dependence of non-existent public transport (see above), or a reckless adventure on poorly-lit and -indicated roads (see above).
- For those into clubbing, the entrance fee is fair and gender-neutral.
- Housing options located in the centre, while expensive, tend to conform to globally accepted rules of security, and are well-equiped with modern amenities such as streaming water at all times, and high-speed internet either available, or readily installed on request.
Advantages of a typical city in Southern Europe:
- The sky is blue and the weather is warm.
- It’s not raining.
So, which one would you prefer to live in? If you ask me, it’s exactly a tie!