I was a child when we lived in Germany, but I have very fond memories of Mannheim, Heidelberg and most of Germany in general, not to mention Bern, Switzerland and Austria. Have rather negative memories of France although Paris is a beautiful city with many great attractions.

Lived in Japan in my early teens and loved Sendai where we were for our first year and half. Very mountainous, very friendly, and a genuinely nice city to live in. Sendai (as I recall) was around a half million people then ... closer to a million now.

We also lived in Yokohama for a year and a half and it was great. Near the ocean, near Tokyo, Kamakura and other great sites. Japanese people were some of the friendliest people I think I've ever known. Always polite and considerate. Japan was great. I know it's gotten quite expensive, but definitely a great place to vist. (Take a couple of days to climb Mt. Fuji. Wow!)

So many great cities in the US ... Baltimore, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Seattle, San Diego, Los Angeles (including Long Beach, Anaheim, Hollywood, etc); Chicago, St. Louis. There're all great places to visit.

But, of all the big cities I've visited, I think my favorite was Toronto. People were kind, city was clean, and it felt so remarkably safe. I remember in the hotel I stayed at the service channel referred to Toronto as Chicago run by the Swiss. What a vivid description. I think from Union Station to Bloor, I've walked just about every street in the downtown area. Highly recommed it (although like all big cities, it is a bit pricey).

But, of all the cities