Prague, Czech Republic

What to expect in... Prague

16. Smallness
Even the country is small.
I'm American, so I'll never get over the small spaces no matter how much I travel.
I wonder what the Czechs thought when they immigrated to Texas!



15. Rapid westernization
Prague is on the path to glory.



14. Dumplings and pork
Usually accompanied with beer. Then they throw in a little bit of cabbage to make it healthy.
The goulash is good too.



13. Dogs
They're replacing children.

12. A walk across Charles Bridge
It's a beautiful walk with some good entertainment. You'll see scary puppets and listen to folk music.

Squeeze his tummy and he says, "If you like your healthcare plan, you can keep it."

11. Cool words

The language sounds really cool and the signs are even cooler. Makes you want to learn Czech, but on the other hand, not that many people speak it.

10. Parks
Many parks were built during the communist era, possibly in order for people to get away from those dismal apartments.



9. Relative wealth
This is the wealthiest of the former communist countries. Its government is relatively friendly to business.

8. Preference for personal space
The Czechs don't want people all up in their grill.

7. Communist architecture
The Czech Republic was part of the Soviet Eastern Block. The commies built lots of boxy, gray apartments that you'll see outside of the tourist area.



6. Ice hockey
It's a national sport.



5. Tensions with the Roma people
Often called gypsies, the Roma people are discriminated against because of their association with crime. The jails are full of Romas.
Also, political correctness isn't a thing here.



4. Dvorak
Perhaps the most famous person to come out of this country, the composer Antonin Dvorak brings great pride to Prague. He is widely known for writing the New World Symphony and one of the most epic cello pieces of all time (Cello Concerto in B Minor. Look it up.)

3. Booming tourism
Paris, Rome, and London are old news. Tourists are heading over to the eastern part of Europe, especially Prague. Fortunately, the historical areas were very well preserved throughout its Communist rule.

2. One of the world's least religious populations
After decades of Communism, the people gave up on religion.



1. Beer festivals
Some say they have the best beer in the world.
The Czech Republic also has one of the highest rates of beer consumption in the world.

----- The End. Click on the archive to view more cities.

Manila, Philippines

What to expect in... Manila

14. These things
You'll see whole families piled on.



13. Palm trees
The whole country has a tropical climate, and it gets hot!



12. Overpaying the taxi drivers
The taxi drivers usually take the scenic route to your destination.

11. Korean telenovelas
Don't know why.



10. Traffic
It can eat up your day. Also be careful cuz they don't follow the rules.

9. Less extreme poverty
After many years of stagnant growth, the economy is finally taking off. Currently, it's one of the fastest growing economies in the world.



8. Rice, rice, and rice
The three most common terms for food include the word rice.

7. Crime
The crime rate is very high. Carry as little cash as possible.

6. Catholicism
Catholicism isn't big in the rest of Asia, but it is here.
The Catholic leaders have a lot of political influence.



5. Memories of revolution
Manila's recent history is full of uprisings and massive protests against government corruption. Things have cooled down for now though.



4. Islands
This is a country of islands. Most tourists come to visit them (and not the cities.) Palawan is a popular one.

3. Jeepneys
These are old military vehicles from the U.S military that were turned into public transportation. You just hop right in the back and have a fun ride.
Fun fact - if you're a white guy, they may call you Joe (for GI Joe.)



2. Natural disasters
Hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes... this country has it all. It's tough living on the Ring of Fire.

1. Spanish influence
The Spanish colonized the Philippines and had a huge impact on the culture. It feels similar to Latin America. You can even hear a number of Spanish words in Tagalog.

----- The End. Click on the archive to view more cities.

Amman, Jordan

What to expect in... Amman

15. Hookah
Hookah is a popular way to smoke in Jordan. It brings people together.



14. Bedouins
Bedouins aren't found much in the city, but they are very important to the culture. The nomadic Bedouins have herded animals and lived in tents for thousands of years. As the country modernizes, this way of life is slowly diminishing.



13. Places look the same
Most of the buildings look the same—boxy and light-colored. The mosques are cool though.

12. Lamb not pork, tea not beer

It's all part of the Muslim diet code. Similar to Judaism, pigs are unclean and should not be touched.

Tea and coffee are a social event, but alcohol is frowned upon.

11. Poverty, but growth
This is not a developed country, but a lot of investments are pouring into Amman because of its stability and business-friendly climate.



10. Petra
It's not in Amman, but since it's one of the wonders of the world, it has to be mentioned. At Petra, you'll see a long stretch of elaborate buildings carved into the mountains.



9. The Bible
Jordan has many historical sites from Biblical times. It is considered part of the Holy Land (along with Israel.)

8. Rome
You can still see the theaters and baths of the old Roman Empire.

7. Dry skin
Most of Jordan is hot and dry. Bring lotion, sunscreen, and extra water.



6. Hummus and pitas
They're so good you'll be full before they bring out the main dish.

5. No war!
This is one of the few stable and peaceful countries in this region of the world.

4. A popular king
King Abdullah II is a well-respected leader. As king, he has promoted social equality, economic liberalization, and care for refugees. This kind of leadership is a rarity in the region.



3. Keffiyas
A headdress worn by many Middle Eastern men. The women wear fashionable scarves.
If you're a female tourist, wear modest clothing. Also, no PDA allowed here.
Side note: notice the influence of British rule in this picture.

2. Hospitality
Jordanians are surprisingly friendly. They're not afraid to invite you into their homes and offer you a meal.

1. As-salamu alaykum
This is a Sunni Muslim country. Islam affects every aspect of life, from politics to family relations.

----- The End. Click on the archive to view more cities.

Florence, Italy

What to expect in... Florence

12. Outdoor markets

Maybe you'll find some good knock-offs.

Florence is the home to a number of pricy fashion brands, some of which I've even heard of—Salvatore Ferragamo, Emilio Pucci, and Gucci.

11. Nude statues
They're dramatic too!

10. Time

People here spend more time with family and friends than Americans do. But not as much as southern Italians (who aren't known for being the biggest workers.)

9. Economic hardship

Even though this is one of the wealthier Italian cities, the economy has been dragging for many years. Unemployment is high across the country, particularly among young people.

8. Opera 
Modern western opera was born in Florence.

7. Pedestrian streets and piazze

People here love to be outside. You'll find lots of public squares, pedestrian streets, and outdoor tables.
The Boboli Gardens are really nice to walk around in too.

6. The view over the city

You can't beat that!

5. Pasta

There's so many types of pasta. They're very particular about it.

4. Il Duomo

In Europe, cathedrals can get old. The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore keeps it fresh though.

3. Wine and grapes

Florence is in the famous wine-producing Tuscany region.

2. Museums

80+ museums for one small city. It's overrun with tourists, which sometimes outnumber the residents. Places like these aren't that exciting to me.

1. Renaissance

Florence was a factory for geniuses like Da Vinci, Dante, Machiavelli, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael.

----- The End. Click on the archive at the top right to view more cities.