A TRAVEL author has urged travellers to ditch main European capitals like Paris and London for second cities.
Rick Steves, additionally an writer and tv character, makes the persuasive case for locations perched within the shadow of their extra culturally enticing essential cities.
Rick argues that second cities are all too typically ignored for not boasting "bucket-list sights", however provide an alternate which should make flockers assume twice earlier than digging their heels on the crushed path.
In his Washington Submit column, he argues: "Europe’s second cities are inclined to get pleasure from a artistic edge, a robust civic spirit, a Rust Belt toughness, fun-loving eateries with cutting-edge menus, entertaining road artwork … and much fewer vacationers, which additionally means decrease costs, a extra genuine welcome and arguably a extra trustworthy cultural expertise."
The Europhile author compiles numerous options to default European metropolis choices.
Porto, mendacity alongside the beautiful Duoro River, is a "smaller and extra manageable" pursuit than Portugal's capital Lisbon.
When in France, Paris' magnificence and appeal is provisionally placed on ice.
Rick urges Gallic adventurers to go to "culinary capital" Lyon or the "Mediterranean transport centre of Marseille."
Dublin is shelved for Belfast and bohemian Berlin for Hamburg.
Hidden gem Antwerp affords medieval streets, Renaissance monuments and a heady nightlife - leaving Brussels in its wake.
The author goes on to prescribe a handful of "rejuvenated" post-industrial English cities - together with Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham - as welcome spots in lieu of London.
The intrigue of second cities, Rick discusses, lies of their lack of publicity, and at instances, appreciation.
This, he argues, eliminates the danger of anticlimactic indifference.
"Unshackled by the duty to be their nation’s position mannequin, second cities are free to only be themselves", Rick concludes.
"And that’s why they’re so great."
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