Cities

Why Those cities?

Once the most capitalistic city on earth. A city of contrasts. Once An island within the largest communist nation on earth. A city nation of Chinese refugees who were determined to start over. A city without any natural resources, which in a few decades built up so much wealth, that in gross national product per capita, it passed not only the original mother country of Britain, but almost topped the United States as well. A city that now accounts for about one fifth of the gross national product of the whole of China.

I went back to Manhattan after about 10 years. I was disappointed, to say the least. My bubble burst. I am dropping New York City from my list of interesting places. Mayor Rudolf Giuliani is cleaning up the topless bars around Times Square, the sex shops and the seedy theaters. Apparently, they are to be replaced by Disney activities and boarded up buildings. In the meantime, there seems to be more trash on the streets at night than I remembered from my last visit.

I think Rudy shot himself in the foot. I used to like Disney characters, but that was 25 years ago, when I was a kid. Even my three year old recently decided he was too old for Mickey.

Vegas used to truly be something. Today, it still is, but it is probably overrated. The sleaze is gone. Besides, most of the gambling is boring. After all, slot machines are not that different from arcade games.

Here is a surprise. Hong Kong upside down. Once the Center of the Communist World. Cold, rigid, static, infested by police in civilian clothes. But also a place where young people knew English, and would do anything to talk and trade with Westerners. I was there in 87. Before the Berlin Wall came down. Moscow was a place that was ready for some serious change. And the change came...

Today, at a time where in the US, civil liberties are being lost at a record rate, Moscow is the city where anything goes. Wild parties, wild sex, and wild capitalism. Crime too, unfortunately, but that is part of the wild appeal. A place to watch!