starrsville

So much of my earlier traveling was staying on the go and packing in as many miles and sights as possible. Vacations became completely different when I slowed down and settled in a bit more.

All weekend I've been thinking about a July 4th weekend a few years ago. We'd rented a secluded villa in St. Croix. Had settled into a routine during the day - which usually included a stop at the beach bar, Off the Wall (became recognized regulars there that week).

One lazy Fourth, we just hung around reading and watching Wimbledon on TV, trying to get up the energy to drive around the island for dinner and to watch the fireworks.

That day still seems perfect - and like we were "home".

Has anyone experienced anything similar. Have you found yourself "at home" many miles away from home?

aggiemom

One of my fondest "I belong here" moments was in England, Henley-on-Thames, where we rented a house in Oct. 2003. We used it as our base to tour and had tea on the dock every morning, watching the sun come up as the rowers were in their boats. Rich green countryside surrounded us, the Thames literally at our doorstep, a car and a boat at our disposal. All five of us - me, DH, and three teenage daughters really enjoying the time together as a last little trip before our eldest went off to college.

Coming "home" at night and stopping at the local Waitrose to shop for dinner and breakfast in the morning. Pretty close to heaven....

Statia

My DH and I had arrived Venice that day. After strolling around the city some and getting our bearings, we stopped after dark at Osteria Bancogiro since it looked like a nice little place that locals frequented.

We sat at a lovely table outside, sipped wine and ate cheese drizzled with honey. The Grand Canal was so serene as a lone candlelit gondola would occassionally glide by. As the lights flickered off the water, I turned to my DH and said, "This is it. God can take me now. I've seen it all."

Of course, I didn't actually want to be taken by God or anyone else at that moment, but I just felt so serene and happy. It really felt as if I belonged in Venice. It was quite remarkable and I'll never forget it.

tcreath

We rented a vacation apartment in Schonau, Germany (Bavaria, near Salzburg) this past May for a week. After a few days we really felt like locals. We walked to the bakery each morning for chocolate croissants and to access the ATM, and each evening we took walks through the little town. We loved it there and it was fun pretending like we lived there, even if it was for just a week.

Tracy

Edward2005

Saturday, May 28th of this year. I staggered off a ridge, completing the business end of a 13 mile, 8 hour hike from Gimmelwald up to Tanzbodeli in Switzerland. As I made it back to Walter's Hotel Mittaghorn, I threw my backpack on the picnic table, sat down with my back against the hotel and opened a beer Tim handed me. Watching (and a few seconds later, listening to) a small avalanche on the Jungfrau ridge, the continuous distant roar of its waterfalls, the smells coming from the kitchen, playing backgammon, and the buzz from my body's slow release of endorphines as a reward for the grueling hike made this one of the best days ever.

ira

Every time I visit Paris.

Daisy54

The first time I visited Edinburgh, Scotland, riding in the taxi from Waverly train station to our hotel in the west end, even though it was raining, we looked out at the city with the castle dominating it, and something just said, we're home! Finding the building my grandmother was born in made it even more special.

sandi_travelnut

I'm torn because I felt that way in Paris and everytime we go to Italy.

Pausanias

I had that feeling very strongly a few years back, looking down on the city of Oaxaca and off to the surrounding mountains from a nearby hillside.

And I always get it in Rome and in my hometown, New York.

grandmere

Having breakfast and drinking cafe au lait from bowls on the terrace of our rented house a couple of k from Gordes. There were cyprus trees around the terrace, an olive orchard very near, and we overlooked a huge field of poppies, in bloom; we could smell the fresh herbs growing outside the kitchen door. I was with my husband and friends who were traveling with us, and our daughter had joined us for the weekend from Lyon, where she was an au pair for the year. This was 13 years ago, and I still recall the moment as one of my favorite travel memories; ah, to make those moments stand still.