The Round of 32 last Friday was a wild one, with Sarajevo supporters arriving in even bigger numbers, Cairo almost pulling off an impressive upset, and at the end of it all The Best City to Visit 2012 Tournament said goodbye to Australia and Africa. We’re now in the second half of the tournament with some cities (Porto, Izmir, Madrid) arriving with less than a 2% advantage in the last round. Strong favorites emerged but this is a contest of match ups and any one of these 16 cities could reach the final. The winners of the 2010 and 2011 tournaments quietly made their way to the championship and that right side of the bracket sure is keeping a low profile.
Voting in the Sweet 16 will be open until 11:30am US EST this Thursday, March 15th. Results may not appear after you vote so check back throughout the day and Iโll post updates in the comments below. Those of you reading through email and RSS will have to click-through to this page to vote.
View The Best City To Visit 2012: Round Of 32 in a larger map
Please keep in mind the final votes for any poll arenโt final until theyโre verified by my diligent verification team. Remember, the 8 cities that win this round will be voted through to the Final Four this Friday March 16th!
Voted.
Great! It’s going to be one heck of a race to the end from here…
We’re thinking resources are going to have to pooled and we’ll campaign for a vote for Turkey as oppose to a particular city…although we’re very much looking forward to your posts on Sarajevo. ๐
The fortunate thing is that all of the Turkish cities are in opposite parts of the bracket still – unlike Spain which ended up eliminating two of its own cities due to the initial draw.
Anything is possible!
By the skin of our teeth. That was a good battle! We were out last night celebrating a birthday but made our friend look up the results on his phone. Double celebration! And I think it’s a good job we had a last minute rally at the end. You find out who your ‘friends’ are in situations like this! ๐
haha yes! It was the last minute rush was the difference. Now on to Malaysia…
after the bitter defeat of Granada which I couldn’t believe now all my support with Barcelona and Madrid! go!!!!
It could still be an all-Spain final, now wouldn’t that be crazy!
Madrid v Barcelona
Spanish Cup Final would be amazing!
It is close in both races so it’s possible but both will need help. Madrid a bit more than Barcelona but both need votes to advance right now…
glad to see once again Guimarรฃes on this stage ๐
Very strong support still and quiet – a good combination to go very far!
Guimarรฃes is the European Capital of Culture this year so everyone should come visit my beautiful hometown ๐
Keep the support going! It’s a battle of passions on all sides of the bracket now that the final 8 are being decided. Good luck!
Guimarรฃes must win! This is our year as European Cultural Capital! ๐
*Extremely* close race it is still, good luck!
My favorites are Sarajevo and Prague
Sarajevo is doing well and Prague has a close race with Guimaraes right now.
I know, Portugal and Guimaraes is fascinating, but Prague is a unique city if you compare. Therefore I hope for Prague here. Historically Sarajevo must be one of the most attractive in Europe with a mix of cultures and religions coexcisting there for centuries. Might be a potential winner … People are still discovering it, I think the city deserves a place as top 10 city destination in Europe.
The Guimaraes-Prague race is the closest one at the moment, very interesting one. Hard to tell who may advance but the next 8 will certainly be an interesting group.
hope to see Sarajevo and Dubrovnik in semi finals ๐
I think that would be a very, very interesting match up. Izmir has a slight lead at the moment.
glad to see once again sarajevo on this level
On the backs of its thousands of supporters!
Sarajevo.. ๐ <3 <3
Let me guess who you voted for? ๐
I wonder how Sarajevo is doing in this round ๐
Ha ha ha, very funny ๐ Sarajevo #1 ๐
Sarajevo – unique symbol of universal multiculture – continual open city
http://www.eurotrip.com/content/five-most-unique-cities-europe
A couple of nice pictures of Sarajevo ๐ http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.386711786919.170187.317683101919&type=1
I’ll have an update sometime tomorrow morning but it is looking very good again for Sarajevo ๐
Luiz, are U ok, have U been in Sarajevoooo
Sarajevo is the most beautiful city in the world, a city with a most cordial people….
After the brutal destruction again elevated to the heights, it is the only city in Europe where the 250 square meters you can see the Orthodox Church, catholic church, synagogue and mosque …
Combined with the photos above Sarajevo is making a strong case for it to go on and on in the tournament ๐
I visit Sarajevo (Bosnia) every year, sometimes winter more often summer. This is the most relaxing place for me. Country is the richest in history and nature, there are things to see.
The food is great and inexpensive.
Surprised more in the winter than summer, but must be nice to get the variety of the city in the cold and warmth.
Guimarรฃes European Capital of Culture 2012 with more than 300 events this year, is perhaps the ideal city to visit and enjoy.
…and perhaps best city to visit too! 4 more rounds to go ๐
It’s the perfect city to visit ๐
sarajevo is just unique city ๐
I don’t doubt it!
Hi everyone, to update how the races are going:
New York-Marrkesh: Close
Istanbul-Rio de Janeiro: Istanbul leading
London-Madrid: Close
Guimaraes-Prague: Prague leading
Sarajevo-Rome: Sarajevo strong lead
Izmir-Dubrovnik: Izmir leading
Porto-Kuala Lumpur: Kuala Lumpur leading
Fethiye-Barcelona: Close
Wow! Your contest has certainly taken some interesting twists and turns this year.
B U ARE WELCOME TO SARAJEVO- DOBRODOล LA U S ๐
It has been an exciting and unpredictable one which is my favorite kind! ๐ Hope you’re enjoying the roller-coaster too!
Sarajevo is a unique city which should be visited. It is still one of the cheapest cities in Europe. Bosnian cuisine is one of the best in the world and is highly recommended.
Cheap and good good is a nice combination for most travelers ๐
That’s why Guimarรฃes should also be visited ๐ For all that reasons and more ๐
I love the city bracket concept and the surprising upsets.
Thanks Matt, glad to hear you’re enjoying this year’s tournament. I get a feeling too that there may be even more upsets and surprising races ahead…
Good morning everyone, here’s another look at how the races are going:
New York-Marrkesh: Marrakesh small lead
Istanbul-Rio de Janeiro: Istanbul leading*
London-Madrid: London leading
Guimaraes-Prague: Close
Sarajevo-Rome: Sarajevo strong lead*
Izmir-Dubrovnik: Izmir leading*
Porto-Kuala Lumpur: Kuala Lumpur leading*
Fethiye-Barcelona: Close
*Same as last update
can you please give us an update? ๐ ๐
I’ll have another update late today when I can take a closer look at the numbers but the update above seems to be holding at the moment.
Sarajevo is not boring, Sarajevo is unique, Sarajevo in the final
Yes, yes, and looking a strong possibility.
SA SA SARAJEVO ๐
you should make it possible to +1 this page ๐ not all of us have FB!
๐ I had to take the buttons down as they were slowing down the pages quite a bit occasionally. When Google starts coding them a bit better I might consider it. Sorry it’s been an inconvenience though, do wish I could have them up for you.
oh, really? i did’t know that they have such influence on the response time ๐
well then: you’re excused ๐
greetz from germany ๐
Funny thing is I was just about to write you back. The G+ button (at least the code behind it) has been modified and I’ve put it back on my pages again. So far no loading issues… ๐
works, thanx ๐
Sarajevo grade moj, seheru!
It doesn’t matter if Sarajevo win or not,don’t hesitate to visit us.
Welcome to all! ๐
I like the attitude and I will be visiting at some point – I’ve never been ๐
Guimarรฃes, recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage and European Capital of Culture 2012
Right now it’s got a slight edge on Prague but a good race going on…
Hi everyone, here’s what’s probably the last update before the voting in this round ends. Many of the races are incredibly close so results may not be posted until very late today!
New York-Marrkesh: Close; less than 1% lead Marrakesh
Istanbul-Rio de Janeiro: Istanbul leading*
London-Madrid: London leading*
Guimaraes-Prague: Close; within 1% lead Guimaraes
Sarajevo-Rome: Sarajevo strong lead*
Izmir-Dubrovnik: Izmir leading*
Porto-Kuala Lumpur: Kuala Lumpur leading*
Fethiye-Barcelona: Very close; within a few votes
*Same as last update
Go Guimarรฃes!! ๐
๐ Hope to win this round again!
๐
I canยดt wait to see the result! ๐
Vamos Guimarรฃes!!!
Why is it taking so long? I can’t wai to see the results about Guimarรฃes ๐
*wait
me too! ๐
I’m working on it! I need to get in front of a computer to post up the results once I get them back from the folks maintaining the polls for me.
I am so glad that Guimarรฃes has won! yeaaaaaaaaaaaaah! ๐ ๐
me too ๐
woww, Sarajevoo :)) amazing win
Next round of 8 begins tomorrow, good luck to both cities!
Thank you! ๐ *Guimarรฃes*
Oh please!! fethiye is not even a city so how can you compare it to places like Barcelona and Cape Town etc. It doesnt even have its own airport. I think you should look up what the definition of a city is.
Actually Steve, you should look up the definition. Let me help you – there is no standard definition of a city; …and having an airport doesn’t make you a city. Minot, North Dakota has an airport but only a population of 40,000; half that of Fethiye. Is it a city? And although 3 airports service the local area, there is no airport within Washington D.C’s city limits. Or Stockholm. Urban anthropologists can’t even agree or define what a city is in objective terms.
Local governments sometimes define city parameters, but there’s no international consensus.
All of that said, the votes have spoken thus far.
Then basically we are talking towns then as well. Sorry but I find it unbelievable that Fethiye is classed as a better city than San Fransisco, Sydney, Paris or Rome.
The key is there is no internationally recognized distinction between the two. A city is defined as a large town. You may find these two books of interest:
Urban Life: Readings in the Anthropology of the City (http://www.amazon.com/Urban-Life-Readings-Anthropology-City/dp/1577666348)
Theorizing the City: The New Urban Anthropology Reader (http://www.amazon.com/Theorizing-City-Urban-Anthropology-Reader/dp/0813527201/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b)
The premise is that cities are social constructs; governments only make distinctions between cities and towns for administrative, legal, and economic purposes.
Each year has different results because the match ups, cities nominated, promotion, etc. vary. (Sydney did win Best City to Visit in 2009.) You’ll be able to see live results in the Final Four soon here:
http://foxnomad.com/2012/03/20/the-best-city-to-visit-travel-tournament-2012-final-four/
But completely fine to disagree with the results, it’s one of the oldest travel arguments there is! Which is the best, favorite, most exotic… That’s why this contest is so much fun to put on each year – people are passionate about their cities and favorites. I think your comments demonstrate that well and you’ll be ready to rally votes in 2013 ๐
I am voting for Sarajevo!
Here’s the link to the current vote!
http://foxnomad.com/2012/03/20/the-best-city-to-visit-travel-tournament-2012-final-four/