c u on top - satyabrata dam

A reliable source claims that around 30 – 34 million visitors annually litter the streets and edifices of Paris of which around 22 million do so only in and around the top 6 sights. This could be true or entirely false and I had no desire to prove either when I started to plan something totally alien (to me) and seemingly non-achievable: to see the major sights of Paris in a day using only the rail network of this city within minimum possible expenditure. This was an audacious enterprise hence needed some sort of a plan. To begin with I needed a day in Paris. I have been through Paris on numerous occasions before, mainly using it as a gateway to the French Alps. Just like any other manmade and populated places Paris holds no charm for me, even then during my earlier visits I had once taken the lift to the top of that tower and had also gazed at that mysterious lady, who may not be a lady at all if we are to believe the painter’s arch rivals, within that museum which supposedly is wor...

This is the first part in my Big City Bashing series with all pun intended. I love getting lost all the time and nowhere do I do it so naturally as in a big mega city. Part 1 reflects my impression of four such cities. I absolutely loathe, detest and hate big cities. There; I have said it now, and all you metro and mega polis lovers can sue me for libel and ask all the big city mayors to ban me entry to their respective concrete jungles. Go ahead; it will suit me to no end. I would avoid them myself if it were humanly possible to circumvent them and head for the places that every country has besides the big cities. Yet, as it is inevitable I had to cross, re-cross, stay and even hibernate at many such cities across the world for reasons beyond my control and wish. But then what or which city qualifies to be called a big city? What are the characteristics of a big city? Which are the top 20 (I can’t cover more than this number in a post for sure, but if you would want me to cover more t...