It's Friday! Here's a trivial one. First impressions. Do you trust them? I regularly read people having negative first impressions of a place, and vowing that they won't go back. Let's hear some positive stories about places you dismissed at first glance, but later grew to respect, and even love. Or do you trust your first impressions? Is life too short to give a place a second chance? <BR> <BR>I'll start. London: hated it on my first trip through Europe out of college and always avoided it. Have been going there for work quite regularly these last two years, and it has taken me quite a while to swallow my pride and admit that my violent dislike was, like Elizabeth Bennet's, o'er hasty, to say the least. Where is your Darcyville? <BR>

Hi Maggie, love the concept! I personally like most places I have been, but I can't say that about my guy...First time in London,(just like you!) and he was not impressed....I loved it! I am still trying to get him to go back, nd that could be another thread...As for Mr. Darcy, he is my all time favorite "hero"....good example!

New York City. Must confess that my feelings swing between violent love and hate every 30 minutes. More like "Who's Afraid of Virginial Woolf" than Jane Austen. But at least it's exciting!

Amsterdam - spent the first night outside the train station in August with my backpack - spent the next 2 in a mosquito-infested hostal with standing water on the floor. <BR> <BR>Went back with my wife a few years later in November and fell in love with its cozy brown cafes and restaurants and great architecture. Being able to afford a decent hotel and good food and drink makes all the difference in the world (as does avoiding summer tourists).

Believe it or not, I did not like San Francisco on my first visit. We visited in July. I was maybe 20, and I was from Arizona. I only brought shorts and froze my tail off in San Francisco. Our hotel was a Best Western South of Market. We spent lots of time in Fisherman's Wharf, never getting out of the city. Walking everywhere and taking public transportation was a strange experience. People dressed funny. It wasn't flat. It was foggy. Everything was completely different. <BR> <BR>A few years, I gave SF another chance and moved there for the summer. I loved it, and stayed there for about five more years. But then again, who wouldn't be won over by San Francisco? It's now my favorite U.S. city.

Athens-- I went there the first time in the middle of a long backpacking trip, promptly got ripped off, and later was forced to sleep on the floor of the train station because a train delay got us back into town at 4am! Luckily this was partially offset by a wonderful early morning visit to the Acropolis that has remained a vivid memory. Two years ago I returned to Greece, and thought Athens and most Greeks I met wonderful! I never really vowed I wouldn'r return, and now I'm so glad.

Athens for me too. My first impression was, "You've got to be kidding. Get me out of here." But after spending several days walking around the place, I got to rather like (I wouldn't say love) it.

My city from hell was Rome. First saw it 19 years ago and had the worst experiences there, partly due to traveling naivety. We arrived on May Day morning to find everything closed and couldn’t find any place to change Dollars into Lire; the concierge at the Pensione wanted to charge an exorbitant rate and we couldn’t afford to exhange money with him. We finally found our way to the American Embassy which was also closed but had a small staff working in case of emergencies. We both could have kissed that wonderful gentleman who exchanged his own money for us so we could eat that day. Men followed us everywhere and we couldn’t deal with it; we were afraid to go out at night. My friend’s backpack was stolen at the train station, fortunately her money and passport were not in it. We took a crowded bus and modesty forbids telling what happened to my friend on that bus - think Pervert Pervert Pervert! She went home a few days later and I stayed in Europe but avoided Italy. I finally tried Rome again a few months ago and saw it as a much older and seasoned traveler. I fell in love with the city and would now have welcomed men following and flirting, but alas, I’m no longer that young woman. <BR> <BR>

Venice for me...once I stepped into the crowds in St. Mark's square and saw the crowded vaperettos, and with the heat (we had just come over the Alps from Germany), my first thought was, "This is like a bad day at Disneyland!" Luckily, the next day, I walked around by myself, and literally go lost in the interior of the city. That's where I found the real, wonderful Venice.

Athens definitely improves on further inspection. It really helps knowing an Athenian, as they seem to keep all the best things to themselves! Having said this, even they hate the summer months...

I vacillate between hating and loving New York. Love the bustle of the streets, the people out at all hours (very unlike Boston, my current home), abundance of restaurants, museums, etc. Hate the rudeness, the dirtiness, the prices, and especially the anonymity I feel there. One thing for sure, though, there's no place like it!

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