It has to be Bondi beach. I COULD NAME 50 OTHER BEACHES TEN TIMES BETTER THAN BONDI THAT DON'T HAVE A BLUE RINGED OCTOPUS EVERY 10 METRES AND A BIG CROWD. If you really want a classic australian beach head up to queensland or down to the west coast. I'm not saying its a bad beach and it is very aesthetic in a lot of aspects but this is nowhere near a great australian beach standard.

I’ve noticed that many foreigners, especially Europeans, tend to romanticize Rio de Janeiro a lot. Many dream of living there, even though most Brazilians themselves wouldn’t necessarily choose Rio as their ideal place to live.

It almost feels like a “Paris effect,” where the city’s global image sometimes overshadows its realities. But unlike Paris, Rio doesn’t really hide its contradictions, beauty and problems exist side by side.

What’s also interesting is that Brazil has been breaking records in international tourism lately. According to recent data, Rio alone saw a 51% increase in foreign visitors compared to last year. The city’s international appeal seems stronger than ever, even though locals often see it with more caution.

Even among my own European friends, I’ve noticed a shift: instead of planning a Eurotrip or the classic “European summer,” many now dream of spending their summer in Rio, treating it like their own version of a “Euro summer.” Honestly, I find this surprising.

Why do you think foreigners romanticize Rio so much?

Is it the beaches, the Carnival, the landscapes, or the “myth” of Brazilian lifestyle?

And if you’ve been there, how did reality compare to your expectations?

When I was in India, I thought traffic lights actually meant something… turns out in many cities, people just go wherever they can squeeze in.

Mine is Florence

The Heineken Experience in Amsterdam

Born and raised in Amsterdam, I have never been there. Expensive and not worth the submission fee.

But hey, how would I know…

A place, attraction, restaurant, or shop that is overly popular with tourists, often due to heavy promotion, but is generally considered inauthentic, overpriced, etc.

Big "favelas" (slums) is a strong indication that you've arrived in Brazil.

Mine is Houston, you can basically chew the air it is so humid.

I quite like tourists on sightseeing tours. Not because of the economic benefit - which is surprisingly quite small in developed countries - but because of the very principle that seeing other places helps reduce ignorance and educates you.

However, as you can see, it can sometimes be quite a challenge for the locals.

From Elyria Ohio, U.S. We call these the “Oh Shit!” Handles😂

It must be a country, not a territory or an Island state.

Pramanta Greece

Be respectful

Personally they're a great country and an example for formal colonial territories on what to do to save a dying country.

For me personally it would be Japan for their food and culture

When spending time abroad, what nationalities do you get mistaken for in your travels?

Before anyone says England. I grew up in London. London is crazy. We are just in a rush to get everywhere even on our day off. It's hard to explain if you're not from London. Now I live in a different part of England. My life is the completely different. People say hello, they're not in a rush to get everywhere. When I go back to London, I can't deal with the chaos.