Balkh, Afghanistan

Capital City

With an estimated population of just 77,000, Balkh is a far cry from the "noble city and great seat of learning" Marco Polo once described. Today, the ancient ruins and crumbling monuments belie a harsh reality - Balkh is a city in decline, plagued by bureaucratic headaches and the creeping desertification of its once-fertile lands.

While the city retains pockets of history and culture, the modern Balkh is a shadow of its former self. Travelers will find little more than a handful of partially-restored Buddhist stupas and Islamic shrines amidst the detritus of war and neglect. And with the local economy centered around the struggling cotton and Karakul fur industries, the city offers limited economic opportunities for would-be expats.

In short, Balkh is a destination best left to intrepid historians and archaeologists - those seeking an authentic, lived experience in this ancient Silk Road hub may be better off looking elsewhere.