Or have a look at it by yourself? A city is not only made of museums and cafes and concerts halls, the ordinary people go to the market place – and besides, some of them (for instance in Budapest) are as beautiful as many other monuments.
I spent hours in Központi Vásárcsarnok (the market hall in Budapest), and that’s really a marvelous place to visit.
Flavors, colors, sellers and buyers discussing about quality and prices: that’s where life really is. And it’s so amusing getting lost, when you’re alone, trying to explain what you want (the easiest way is to prepare a list in the local language, so that you just have to show it), and repeat the few words you’ve learned – at least you’re able to say “hello”, “thank you” and “goodbye”.
Well, be also prepared to feel humiliated: in Kracow (south of Poland), when I tried to to pronounce “Ogórek siewny” (polish for cucumber) everyone laughed at me because it’s sounded like Chinese the way I said it. But never mind, I went out with my cucumber!