this is a rather uninspired list. it is for people who prefer not to travel with an open mind and on trodden paths. Or the author is old, if not in age, so in mind. Or he is from somewhere very far from Europe, for Asians f.e. clichés help to reduce the complexity of a one-week-visit to Europe (the same being true vice-versa, i.e. Europeans visiting Asia). I for example used to detest Berlin when it was devided, but in 2012 it has as much to discover as London or Paris- only in very different way, away from imperial-museal aspects, it is Europe today. And the quality of life is much better than in those cities, and at least Paris I know intimately. But all depends on what you want. I believe there are so many splendid places in Eastern Europe to be seen that suffer from ignorance about them or a wrong cliche. Just a thought.