Here are my own top ten cities in the planet. You might be surprised by some of them.

CAPETOWN, SOUTH AFRICA — Capetown is a paradigm for not only how diverse peoples (and there are many different races and nationalities here) can live in peace, but also how they can work together to create a lively international metropolis. In one of the brilliant red double-decker buses, take a sightseeing trip. Take a stroll down to the beautiful beaches. Visit the Boulders Penguin Colony to meet a few thousand of the squirmy residents. Try some of the new African, Indian, or European cuisines. For some spectacular vistas, go up to Cape Point’s hills. Greenmarket Square, for example, has a vibrant street market. Take the cable car to the summit of Table Mountain, where the genuine essence of Africa’s southernmost continent is revealed. homes

HONG KONG, CHINA — Business is business in Hong Kong, whether it’s at one of the city’s tens of thousands of street-side food stalls or in one of the city’s skyscrapers. As a result, there is a distinct excitement in this metropolis. You’ll discover wonderful eateries with spectacular views if you ride the Peak Tram to the top of Hong Kong Island. Take a stroll in Hong Kong Park for some fun interactions with the locals. My favorite way to explore the city is to take a trip on an ancient wooden junk, which swirls through the city’s waterways and past huge skyscrapers. If you have the opportunity, stay at The Peninsula, which has retained its Colonial grandeur since the 1920s.

EDINBURG, SCOTLAND, UNITED KINGDOM — Edinburgh has a spiritual quality about it for me. Perhaps it’s the nearby Highlands, with their shadow-darkened, jagged cliffs concealing a thousand-worth year’s of secrets. Perhaps it’s the sound of bagpipes coming from the outskirts of town. Perhaps it’s the males who still dress in kilts (don’t even ask about underpants!). Perhaps it’s the Princes Street Gardens, which separate the ancient and modern parts of town. Perhaps it’s the Royal Mile, which leads to Holyrood Palace, the Scottish residence of the British queen. Perhaps it’s Edinburgh Castle’s towers, massive walls, and turrets, which have stood guard over the city for centuries.

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA — San Francisco has a way of getting under your skin quickly. Simply take the late-afternoon boat back to town from Marin County and watch the Pacific fog sweep in and surround the Golden Gate Bridge. Or take a walk (or try to walk!) along Lombard Street, the “world’s crookedest street.” Alternatively, savor fish on sourdough toast while watching the local seals play at Fisherman’s Wharf. Alternatively, instead of walking up the city’s slopes, take a clanging cable car. Alternatively, go to the North Beach district late at night for some wonderful Italian cuisine and jazz. Or go to Chinatown late at night for some dim food…

RIO DE JANEIRO, RIO DE JANEIRO, RIO DE JANEIRO, RIO DE JANEIRO, RIO DE JA It’s the world’s glitziest, showiest, most hectic, most colorfully dressed (or scarcely dressed!) city. It is, nonetheless, a city of unexpected grandeur. Wrapped around a picturesque harbor and backed by (and occasionally winding around) massive green mountains, it is in a stunning position. The 124-foot-tall Christ the Redeemer monument atop Corcovado Mountain, with arms stretched out 92 feet, appears to embrace the city and its residents. Its breathtaking views from Sugarloaf Mountain, which may be reached via a cable car. It’s in the song. In the meals it produces. It’s got a samba to it. It’s all about soccer. Its daily existence on the streets. Rio is more than simply a never-ending party. It’s a soulful city.