PalenQ

And readily available, as you've just proved.>

and all different too

What the heck posted on fodors is not readily available by Google.

>Oh dear, now someone's feelings are hurt.>

not at all but can't comprehend why you are making a fool out of yourself?

good show!

marvelousmouse

I think you can add Disneyland Paris lol. Maybe I just hang out in all the wrong places, but Paris lists always seem to be Versailles, Moulin Rouge, Eiffel Tower, ND, and Disney. Don't actually see Champs Elysses listed much outside guide books and now that I've been, I definitely don't see the attraction. Except the Louis Vuitton window display was fun.

Germany is really short. No love there, PalenQ? I'd say Nuremberg and Rothenburg come up frequently. Maybe Berlin and the Black Forest. And Munich for beer and Dachau.

Florence- the famous bridge and the Accademia I think both outweigh Uffizi. the only place I see Uffizi mentioned frequently is the forums where people who like museums hang out. Such as here. (But to be fair I'm using my relatives as my main samplin. Group and they're shoppers, not art lovers).

You left out Ireland entirely but maybe I just know an unusual number of Irish Americans who have the genealogy bug.


Venice...The lace and glass islands are almost always mentioned.

Is Matterhorn that big of draw? People always seem to talk about ski resorts or spas when it comes to Switzerland.

Lots of the crowded spots are crowded for good reason. Buckingham Palace may not be on my list, but St. Mark's was. Eiffel Tower wasn't really, but it's fun to see when it lights up every hour. And like a lot of "iconic sights" it's hard to miss if you're in the area. You'll see it eventually.

UK- afternoon tea, almost always. Harrods. Anything to do with royalty (Princess Diana, now there is a fascination I never understood).

I like the iconic sights but they are never what sticks. It's always some kind of thematic thread that fascinates me. In Rome, it's the water fountains. Trevi is definitely iconic, but my favorite is probably the one in Piazza Navona.

Those iconic lists interest me more in terms of what they tell you about how the city markets itself. Or the history that lays behind the cheesiness. For instance in Rome, that fascination with the ruins comes out of the 1800s, the Romantics, and well to do British on their grand tour. People talk about the horrors of selfies...but is it any less laughable that British aristocracy sat for busts or portraits? Often when I'm viewing an Asian antiquities exhibit I wonder if the seller in China or wherever was parting with priceless family antiquities or if they were selling off the 19th century equivalent of plastic swords and Eiffel Tower chains...and sniggering behind the buyers back.

Lots of these threads this winter. I think a lot of us are bored. And I'll take these over those endless troll wrangling feats any day

IMDonehere

and, of course...

The Buza Bar in Dubrovnik, Croatia (The 8th Wonder of the World)


I don't drink and I'm with Tom on this.
_____________________________________
God, do I hate the modern abuse of icon and iconic.

WoinParis

I think we czn have ONE sight that is at the top.
It is like with women : all of them (well most) are beautiful, and it would be silly to say which one is the 'best' - even if some shows do just that.

However in the millions of beautiful women in Europe and out of the billions in the world, there is ONE I would put on top : my wife. Non mais.

So MY TOP sight in Europe (today, at 22 54 Paris time) is the cistern in Istanbul. I have been awed by this place. Why ? Don't know. Don't care. MY top 1 if I have to give one today.

But yes, between the bored, the judgmentals, the ones who didn't have sex yesterday, the ones who had... it is difficult to keep a thread fun without having to justify it.

PQ is a great creator of threads. This one may not be his most memorable, but why not just take it ligtly ?

PQ I love you ! (no I am sober...)

MmePerdu

Apologies to everyone - I was aiming for discussion, not name calling. I'm still trying to conjure a feeling of "foolish" but have failed thus far. But I do promise to try to not interfere with the "fun" in future, I will truly try.

PalenQ

UK- afternoon tea, almost always. Harrods>

Was thinking of Harrods - Carnaby Streeet would have been on every young Americans lists years ago.

PQ I love you ! (no I am sober...)

As for Belgium I guess its most iconic icon is no doubt the statue of a little boy peeing... kind of fitting.

iconic vs icon -let me think about that a bit! (English Language major!)

WoinParis

If you do that I'll feel obliged to behave.
I think there must'nt be 2 people who don't like you here MmePerdu. Just stay as you are.

sundriedtopepo

Well, my personal favorite is La Alhambra, and it's not just about the site but the day, the weather, the company, and the timing. Standing at the top of the garden at the Golden Hour, tourists mostly gone, and with the sun low in the sky, casting a glow on the garden and the palace, what a sight!

PalenQ

You left out Ireland entirely but maybe I just know an unusual number of Irish Americans who have the genealogy bug.>

I considered Blarney Castle!

hetismij2

I have thought about it, and there is no single thing in Europe I feel I must see.

Paris has never held the slightest appeal for me, and growing up on the edge of London I think I went in maybe four times in total.

Now in the US and Canada my list is a long one, but will never get completed.
I guess the sights are always better on the other side of the Atlantic .


PS you forgot windmills!

PalenQ

MadameLost: reciprocal wishes - and yes I am bored -broken foot and home bound by that and icy streets! Can't even walk the bit I should.

Cheers!

MmePerdu

"Just stay as you are."

I didn't promise to change, Wo, just that I'd TRY to be good. I'm about to break into song here...

PalenQ

PS you forgot windmills!>

OMG

Yes windmills more than tulips even and wooden shoes.

Was considering the Red-Light District and should have put in the Anne Frank House - ah the list grows.

PalenQ

I didn't promise to change, Wo, just that I'd TRY to be good. I'm about to break into song here...>

I suggest an old classic "Sounds of Silence"?

sundriedtopepo

"Now in the US and Canada my list is a long one, but will never get completed.
I guess the sights are always better on the other side of the Atlantic ."

Lol grass is greener...that took me by surprise the first time a European said to us, Why do you want to come here? We want to go to Canada!

PalenQ

Good question for the U.S. forum-

I'd say:

Statue of Liberty
WTC Memorial and site
Times Square
Central Park
U S Capitol building
Washington Monument
Disney World -Orlando parks
Grand Canyon
Yellowstone
Death Valley
Golden Gate Bridge
SF Cable cars
Fishermans' Wharf
Chinatown
Hollywood
Mississippi River
N'Orlens Bourbon Street
Chicago Skycrapers
Alamo
Niagara Falls (OK best part in Canada)
Waikiki Beach
Pearl Harbor
Independence Hall

just starters -would really be curious as to what Europeans or ferriners in general would list!

thursdaysd

Sorry to hear about the foot, PQ - what did you do?

hetismij2

sundried, I can't visit the US any more, no money, but even if I could I admit I would be reluctant to do so while the orange one is in Washington.

I like Americans and most of what I have seen of America - but there is so much more to see there.

PalenQ

Sorry to hear about the foot, PQ - what did you do?>

just walked too much I guess! no trauma but a big pop one day on flat sidewalks- just got out of boot - was walking about 7 miles a day - and ortho doc said maybe just walked too much (with too much weight too - seems like a long way back and hope to - but winter in Michigan can be dicey at times.

Cheers!

Bedar

I said that for many people, not me, guidebooks and anything in paper are passe. Seems that even for Michelin paper maps are being phased out. Sure, people can click on destinations and get lists of sights to see but unless the guidebook has categories like, What to See if you only have one day ( or three days or a week), these lists are fairly useless. I don't think of our comments on Fodors as a job but rather as a way to give info to people who are less informed than we are. I am a terrible snob in my personal life, but I was a teacher and as such am interested in enlightening people. So, if someone needs info because it's his first time in a place, I'm happy to give it. The requests that bore and annoy me are the ones that ask about places "off the beaten path". These people should be well enough informed that they can get such info for themselves. And, why would I give out such info on hidden places unless I wanted to spur tourism there.