cruzan19

Didnt like naples either. Pompeii...dont remember much...but Sorrento! that was a gem. and someone mentioned San Giagmano.....almost forgot how pretty italys countryside was!
Also, anyone been to Maastracht in netherlands. Such a delight after loving Amsterdam as well. Cant wait to return.
Im from the US Virgin Islands, not corn fields. ....regarding the corn field comment. but i am in school in big city Chicago.

MaureenB

I liked Florence in general a lot. Seeing Michelangelo's David was much better than expected. It's hard to describe how amazing it is.

In Rome, the Coloseum (sp?) and the Pantheon were also better than I expected. The idea of that brilliant engineering taking place around 1 AD is mind-blowing. I expected the Coloseum to be just a ring of outer walls, and didn't realize how much is preserved inside, to investigate and learn about.

Underwhelming-- the Mona Lisa. I loved the Louvre, though. It's such a beautiful building in itself. It's cool architecture alone.

The Cinque Terre coastline, as seen from the hike to Corniglia was even prettier than I expected. The water is so clear. It helped that we were there in early May, before really hot weather and crowds could alter the experience.
>-

rs899

Great thread-

Hated- Stonehenge. And I saw it when you could get up close and personal years ago ("Get off the stones&quot

Loved- the Parthenon. I happened to be there first in line to get tickets one morning and had the place to myself for about 30 minutes.

And I also agree with the posters who really got into Klimt- "the kiss" is really different in person. And I'm in the pro-Paris camp- I'm making my 5th homage in a few weeks. I could easily sell everything I own and live there in dank basement.

Rick

Van_Ness

I went to Naples by myself for a few days when I was much younger, as part of a months-long Europe trip. On the train from Rome, an Italian family shared their lunch and beer with me, and it was the best salami sandwich I ever had. I managed to get a last-minute ticket to the San Carlo opera house, and sat in a box with friendly strangers, seeing Beverly Sills in 'La Traviata.' I had terrific meals in tiny restaurants off the main drag, in basements, down steps.

Any one of those experiences happened because I was open to the possibilities of Naples. I saw laundry hanging across the narrow streets, four or five floors up. I thought some of the city was as gritty as my home town. But I loved it.

I loved it because it was peopled with humans who were like me, making their way in the world the best they could. That's what makes travel for me -- the possibilities and the people.

Shanghainese

Love: The Great Wall. After more than 50 trips to it (yes, it was a job at one time), I still marvel and stand in awe at this unique structure. Read the history before you go.

Dislike: Terracotta warriors and soldiers in Xian. Disliked them the 1st trip and only got worse trip after trip. So commercialized that I can't stand it.

Andrea -- Are you still in Shanghai?

Shanghainese

Oops, was this for Europe only?

nbujic

Michael_Paris ,
ditto
Paris is not a place to "do" in 3 days.
It is to be taken in in small, delicious
moments.

maitaitom

Biggest Disappointment - Hands down it was the Uffizi. The lighting in some of the rooms was so terrible you could barely make out the paintings. We much preferred the Pitti Palace.

My Biggest (Positive) Surprise - Last month in Paris we visited the Jacquemart-André. We loved this great museum not only because of the artwork, but the interesting audio guide which really brought this home to life.

ilovetulips

Not to put down anything associated with Holocaust survivors,but I was a little underwhelmed by the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. Maybe a better word is that I didn't feel moved, emotionally as I did when I visited the Holocaust Museum in Houston. It was very educational, though.


I also didn't get the hype of St. Chappelle. It was pretty but I felt more connected with other churches including Notre Name and St. Sulpice. On another note, I was expecting to be overwhelmed by the Louvre, but it was one of the highlights of our trip. I thought Paris was absolutely magnificent especially the Luxembourg Gardens. There are people that don't get into Paris, but for me it is a place that will always have my heart.

ilovetulips

I meant to say Notre Dame!

kenav

Yes, this is the Europe foroum, but comments about Taj Mahal, etc. are welcome, at least to me!

In that vein - although a bit away from Asia - I was actually not as bowled over by the Icefields Parkway in Albert Canada as I thought I would be. On the other hand, Edith Clavell Park in Alberta was amazing (great walk down to a glacier) and the best day in our Alberta trip.

ekscrunchy

Since you mentioned the Taj, I guess I would say that the sight of this monument lit by the full moon with very few people around (long time ago) was probably my most enduring travel memory.

emily71

First time in Paris was a daytrip from London. A few inches of snow had fallen so all the museums, trains and most restaurants were closed. Didn't like it at all and had no desire to go back. Fast forward, 1 year later and spent 5 days in Paris living in a studio flat. Fell in love walking through the streets and the looking at the magnificent doors that led into unseen courtyards. Shopped at the tiny corner bakery(lovely croissants) and relaxed.

The Louvre- I always recommend buying the 2 day musee pass. The first time we went to the Louvre we saw all the highlights(Mona Lisa(just us and the guard), Venus de Milo(mobbed). We had to leave after 2 hours as it became too crowded. The second time, we visited at night, no crowds and we wandered downstairs to see the castle foundation.

But I will chime in with the Orsay detractors. It seemed like every painting we saw, a group of tourist would stand beside and take flash pictures even though the signs said no photography. Particular annoying was a couple that stood 10 feet from a guard and the guard did nothing.

For London, Buck House. The changing of the guards at Horseguards by Whitehall is much more intimate and less crowded.

MichelleY

I cried at my first glimpse of the Grand Canyon. Ya gotta see it!!!

MY

Zoe15

Disappointments--Pisa (touristy, having to walk through hordes of pushy vendors); Normandy (I found it dull after Paris); Toledo (very touristy); Waterford and Kilkenny, Ireland.

Pleasant surprise--Madrid

althom1122

Even better than expected:
- Temples of Angkor in Cambodia -awesome. Sunrise over Angkor Wat was a moving experience.
- Luang Prabang in Laos - a true gem.

And as for Europe...
- Stockholm is a beautiful city with water all around and lovely architecture.
- Loved Frogner Park with the Vigelund statues in Oslo. Two thumbs way up! Astonishing.
- Didn't care much for Florence overall (the Uffizi was a disappointment) but David blew my mind. I don't think I've ever seen such an exquisite piece of art. I just stood and stared. He's so BIG. I was not prepared for the emotional reaction I had. The gelato in Florence also exceeded expectations! In Rome, I loved the Vatican museum, and yes, the Colosseum.
- The Prado in Madrid is wonderful - one of my favorite museums.
- Toledo - terrific. Ditto Segovia.
- I seem to be one of the few who really enjoyed d'Orsay - esp the Van Goghs. Also enjoyed the Picasso museum. Mona was a bit of a letdown, however.
- In London, loved the British museum. Also in England, found York a bit touristy, but was wowed by the cathedral and also the Castle Museum.
- Cinque Terra is beautiful, as is the Lake District.

Disappointments:
- I'm going out on a limb here, but Provence didn't do it for me.
- Pisa, as others have said. Ditto Stonehenge.

(Aramis - loved your post!)

kenav

Hardly a "must see" - but one in my home - New York City: In Flushing Meadow Park in Queens, the old Unisphere (huge representation of the world) from the 1964 World's Fair is in a kind of pond that in the summer has its water jets turned on. Seeing multitudes of children from all over the world (Queens is the most diverse borough in NYC), running in and out of it, cooling themselves off, laughing, having a great time - was truly amazing. A big, happy, incredibly energetic, fun time.

nbujic

thanks althome1122

for mentioning Stockholm - what a
wonderful surprise!

Also, Orsey

when it is not crowded (hard, I know)
it is fantastic : the bulding, Van Goghs, the cafe , the view ...

klondike

althom1122: ditto-Provence did not "move" me the way other regions have. But in all fairness, I've only visited it in the less favorable seasons of February and October. I have to think I would come away with a different opinion in June or July (if I could only avoid the crowds!!!) when the lavender and other flowers are in bloom.

Positive surprise: the lesser touted Bastide towns of Southern France: Monflanquin, Belvès, Créon, Villefranche la Rouerque ...what jewels!

bballinger

Big disappointment? The Cliffs of Mohr in Ireland. Or, maybe I should say I would have been disappointed if I've ever actually gotten to see them. Three trips, THREE, and I have yet to show up when it wasn't so fogged in you could barely see your own feet. I've given them up as a lost cause.

Biggest surprise would have to be Chichen Itza in Mexico. I thought it was going to be a lame tourist trap and while some of that existed, once you got onto the grounds and wandered a bit it was really haunting and astonishing.