Jim Eagles: Cities at your fingertips

What's your favourite city in the world? A lot of people would probably say Paris. Though it is certainly beautiful I wouldn't agree it's the best because my view is coloured by the number of rude, arrogant people I met there.

I think a truly great city requires more than magnificent architecture, great art, charming parks, fine food and fancy shopping. It also needs warm, friendly, welcoming people, and that's where Paris falls down.

But it's hard to argue with the folk at Lonely Planet who put Paris in first place of the 200 listed in their latest production, The Cities Book: a journey through the best cities in the world ($99.95).

Regardless of what I may think, Paris has a gloriously romantic image, and it probably is the city most people dream of going to.

Anyway, that number one spot was the result of an online poll, so it represents the collective wisdom of a number of independent-minded travellers, which seems a reasonable way to decide.

Furthermore, in its two-page spread on Paris, the book acknowledges that Parisians "can come across as snooty" and that the city's weaknesses include rude waiters, dog poo, mad drivers and small, expensive hotel rooms.

So, fair enough, what's second? New York. Well, that's interesting. I've never been there but I do know a lot of people who find the Big Apple's non-stop dynamism exciting. I also know a few who find the thought of New York so terrifying they won't go there. But there's not much argument that it is a truly great city.

According to this book, the third best city in the world is Sydney. Say what? I mean, come on, I know Lonely Planet is an Australian organisation, but Sydney the third best city in the world? Get real.

I enjoy visiting Sydney, but isn't that a bit silly. Supposedly fourth best city in the world is Barcelona, followed by London, Rome, Bangkok, San Francisco, Cape Town and Istanbul.

So, given the choice would you rather go to Barcelona, Rome, London or Sydney? Sydney would be my last pick, too.

But wait, there's more. Guess which city is rated the 11th best? You guessed it. Melbourne.

Once again, I've always had a good time in Melbourne, but does it rate ahead of Hong Kong, which comes in 12th, Kathmandu, Prague (which would be my personal choice for the top spot) Vancouver, Buenos Aires or Rio de Janeiro? Exactly.

So how has Lonely Planet rated other Australian cities? They have Perth on the list at 47 and Hobart at 91. Adelaide, probably my favourite Australian city, doesn't get a mention, and neither does Canberra, which I've always thought hugely underrated. Then I guess even Aussies don't have enough gall to to tell us that all their cities are the finest in the world.

As you would expect, Auckland is the best New Zealand city, listed at 68, one spot ahead of Manila. Wellington gets up to 83, sandwiched between Esfahan and Ljubljana (Never heard of them? Well, it is only Wellington.). And Christchurch is at 105, ahead of Glasgow, Muscat and 93 more great cities.

Incredibly Hamilton isn't even mentioned - they must have been talking to the Waratahs - nor is Palmerston North.

Still, before we get too excited, it is worth noting that the Lonely Planet folk do note in the introduction that they don't take these ratings too seriously.

The object of the exercise is to produce a beautiful coffee-table book with photos and information about a lot of amazing cities, and they've done that.

The measure of its success is that it is dangerous to browse through - you keep seeing places you would like to visit - and there's lots of useful information.

For instance, I'm going to Helsinki later this year and I think I'll take the book's advice and catch a ferry to Suomenlinna Island to see the huge ruined fortress there, and afterwards I'll enjoy a feed of sauteed reindeer and herring with a glass of vodka and cranberry.

I notice that Helsinki is said to be 64 on the list of the world's best cities, four ahead of Auckland. I'll let you know what I think after I've checked the place out. And that's the other thing the book is useful for: stirring up debate.

A GUIDE TO NEW ZEALAND'S MARINE RESERVES
By Jenny and Tony Enderby
New Holland, $22.99

If you've never dived in one of New Zealand's marine reserves you've missed a treat. I can still remember my first dive at Goat Island because it was magical. Fish were everywhere, fat snapper came up hoping for an easy meal - that was before feeding fish was banned - big crayfish waved their feelers from under every rock, and the kelp was full of maomao, wrasse and butterfish.

It was a reminder of what our coastal waters used to be like and an unanswerable argument in favour of creating more such reserves.

Jenny and Tony Enderby have done a great job of pulling together information about the slowly growing number of such reserves, with helpful maps and useful advice.

TAKE A KID OUTDOORS
By Colin Moore
New Holland, $24.99.

Colin Moore, these days editor of Wilderness magazine, is the doyen of New Zealand's outdoor adventure writers.

Having put a great deal of effort into taking his family with him on many of his expeditions he is also uniquely qualified to offer advice on how to make such trips enjoyable for everyone.

Sadly, too few youngsters enjoy our country's glorious outdoors these days, but, as Moore points out, it's not only good for the kids it also "provides families with the joy of discovery, shared experience, fun and years of memories".

If you don't feel qualified to take your children on an adventure then, don't be nervous, buy the book, follow its advice, and enjoy.

FODOR'S GUIDE TO THE DA VINCI CODE
Random House, $34.99

The Da Vinci Code bandwagon just keeps on rolling. It doesn't matter whether you think it's any good - or what your views may be on author Dan Brown's use of the legend that Jesus survived the crucifixion and had a child by Mary Magdalene - the fact remains it's a media phenomenon that has swept the world.

One spin-off is the vast numbers of people who have flocked to see the marvellous buildings and fascinating artworks which provide the setting for the book and the film.

If you want to follow that trail - or even if you just want some useful background to the issue - then Fodor's Guide is an intelligent, factual, well-illustrated companion on what could otherwise run the risk of being a very silly exercise.