Dublin. Top destination along with Paris, London, Rome, Venice, the Big Apple and Hong Kong. But, wait. What's so great about Dublin? Name me the 'must see' sights in Dublin? Er... O'Connell Street? Well, Berlin's Unter den Linden is ten times more spectacular and nobody goes to Berlin (which is a shame because it's utterly fascinating if a little disturbing thanks to it's troubled history, but that's another story).
Right, Dublin. It's popular and do you know why? Because of it's pubs - and the fact it's in Ireland. If the very very same city was in Sweden, Germany or Slovakia nobody would go anywhere near it.
The scenery is deathly uninspiring compared to other British capitals like Edinburgh, Belfast or even Cardiff.
The architecture is overwhelmingly grey. There isn't even a proper cathedral - a couple of grotesque large mock Gothic churches called cathedrals. No palaces and spectacular gardens. Nowt.
There really is beggar all to see apart from (at a push) the commercialised and over-hyped Guinness hop-store.
In Dublin's defence, the pub scene is top notch - but in truth it is no better than the beer halls of Munich, bars of Barcelona or tavernas of Greece.
Take Temple Bar - the much-advertised 'craic' playground of 'Dub'. It's a hellhole filled with Plastic Paddy pubs. You might as well go to O'Neill's in Basingstoke.
The old 'gin palace'-style places which need searching out are worth the effort (off Baggot and Nassau Streets) To be honest, the only part of Dublin which really won my heart over was the area near Donnybrook, where there were some genuine pubs, a nice rugby ground and real people.
The rest is a tourist-infested, crime-ridden, and yes, overrated shambles.
As I say, Dublin is mainly popular because it's in Ireland and the Irish (to their immense credit because they've succeeded where so many have failed) have marketed themselves better than for example, the Germans or the Swedes.
But I'll wager that if I sent 100 people to Dublin and say, Munich, 90 would say Munich is a nicer place.
It's amazing what reputations and marketing can do. For me, Dublin is to world travel what McDonald's is to world cuisine, successful but because it has been pushed cleverly.
I feel many people have gone to Dublin in a very 'positive' frame of mind, ready for the 'craic' and the Guinness etc, and are therefore more likely to have a good time. Fine - and I am glad people do have a good time.
All I would argue is that for a European city of its size, it possesses a remarkable lack of 'must-sees', and as a tourist destination it enjoys visitor numbers disproportionate to its genuinely classy sights. I would argue there's more to see and enjoy even in Brussels - it's just that the Belgian capital has to shake off two incorrect stereotypes: Belgium is boring and Brussels is endless governmental offices and business districts.
Amazing assets, marketing gurus. Dublin's must be good!
Do yourself a favour: if it must be a British city weekend break, go to Edinburgh - or even Glasgow. I'm not Scottish, by the way!