SEPT 1 THE MOST LIVABLE CITIES IN THE WORLD

SEPT 1  THE MOST LIVABLE CITIES IN THE WORLD

Every year, the Economist magazine list their index of the most 'livable' cities worldwide. They employ a complex formula to determine this seemingly arbitrary ranking. It involves criteria like climate, crime, culture, education, transportation and healthcare. Scores fell across the USA, due to "unrest, racial violence and demonstrations," with Honolulu as the top scoring city. Let's look at the top three:

#1. Melbourne, Australia. For the seventh straight year, this southern Australian city has topped the list. Sports fans know Melbourne from the Australian Open, the first stop on tennis' Grand Slam. It also hosted the 1956 Olympics. The seaside city also scored high on transportation. Although the metro population is four million, Melbourne is home to the largest tram network in the world. Since the city sits on the same latitude as the Mediterranean, it has a splendid climate and lots of immigrants from Italy and Greece. They brought with them great food and culture. Add in a practically non-existent crime rate, and you've got the best city on earth.

#2. Vienna, Austria. The oldest city in the top ten, Vienna dates back to Roman times. Since then, it has seen many a rise and fall. It withstood a nasty siege by the Turks in 1529 and saw a third of its population wiped out by the plague in 1679. As the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, culture flourished. Vienna became the classical music capital of the world, as numerous opera houses and auditoriums opened. Most survived two World Wars and a brief Soviet occupation and are thriving again. Hence, the near perfect score on culture. NOTE: In German, Vienna is Wien...home of the Wiener-schnitzel.

#3. Vancouver, Canada. Seven of the top ten cities on the Economist Index are located in Australia and Canada. At the third spot is Canada's third largest city, Vancouver. While other North American cities have embraced urban sprawl, Vancouver did just the opposite. They drew urban limit lines and stuck to them. Instead of endless suburbs, they built multi-use apartment high-rises with businesses on street level. The result is a major metropolis completely surrounded by nature.

Finally, let's look at the least livable cities on earth. At dead last in 140th place is Damascus. It's been awhile since the Prophet Mohammad called the city the closest place to heaven on earth. Thanks to four years of horrific urban civil war, this once splendorous oasis is now heaps of rubble. Next up: Baghdad. Same story, different city. Something tells us the residents of both cities would prefer living under a dictator than living in poverty and fear with glorious democracy. Ten years ago, both places were in the middle of the rankings..