Places, sites that were surprisingly memorable?
 

Since the "let down" thread is going strong, I thought I would start this one. I'm not asking what your favorite cities are. I would like to know about places that sort of caught you off guard with how memorable and special the experience turned out to be. For example, the Spanish Steps turned out to be much more memorable for my wife and I than we expected. It was just a beautiful night and the water from the fountains was so cold and clear. There were people congregated there, from numerous different cultures, and there was a feeling of comraderie. It was something intangible that I can't really describe, but I loved it.

I felt that way about the Trevi Fountain but not at all about the Spanish Steps. The latter I thought didn't live up to their post card pictures at all, it just seemed to be a busy semi-seedy plaza. Just shows how we can each have different perceptions of the same place.<BR><BR>As I pushed on to the Trevi Fountain, which was mobbed, I was pleasantly surprised. I was struck by its size, and the enjoyment of the crowd, and the sunshine on the water and sculptures.<BR>Very pleasant surprise.

Elaine<BR> agree about the Trevi fountain. What made it better was that you just seem to come upon it. I found it awe inspiring and had not expected to feel that way.<BR>Also agree about the Spanish Steps Elaine! I just didn't "get it".

- the Alhambra in Granada, Spain<BR>- Ronda, Spain<BR>- the Cliffs of Moher, Ireland<BR>- Capvern-les-Bains, France<BR>- St. Andrews-by-the-Sea, Scotland<BR>- Stourhead Gardens, England<BR>- Bodnant Gardens, Wales<BR>- Criccieth, Wales<BR>- Oxford, England<BR>- Baddesley Clinton, England<BR>- Lincoln Cathedral, England<BR>- Lisbon, Portugal - 20 yrs. ago<BR>- Versailles, France - the town<BR>- Portimao, Portugal - 20 yrs. ago

In 1999 in Sorrento Italy it rained so hard when we were driving through it literally stated raining lemons. They were floating down the street. We picked up one. Delicious and huge compared to the ones here in the states.<BR> A few minutes later I was in a store and all the lights went out. I was choosing some wine to drink at our picnic later that day at Pompeii. The wine was horrible.We laughed and laughed and said that was a lesson learned. Never pick out wine in a dark store during a rain storm in Sorrento.

Edinburgh Castle at sunset

. Gaudi's Casa Batlo (in Barcelona) lit up at night. La Rambla was also a lot more fascinating that I expected it to be. <BR><BR>. The Medici Fountain in the Luxembourg Gardens, in Paris.<BR><BR>. The Pont du Gard, near Uzes, in southern France.<BR><BR>. The Pantheon and Piazza della Rotonda, in Rome.<BR><BR>. Cortona, in Tuscany.<BR><BR>. Campo Santa Margherita, in Venice.<BR><BR>. The Lauterbrunnen Valley, in Switzerland.<BR><BR>

Venice....before going, I wasn't excited about it at all, I don't know why, just thought I would not like it, turns out I loved it!

1. Glencoe Scotland is unlike anywhere else in the world.<BR><BR>2. Sienna at sunset. Now I know where they got the "burnt Sienna" color for the crayons.<BR><BR>3. The view from the Hohensalzburg toward the Alps.<BR><BR>4. The view from the top of LeBaux.<BR><BR>5. Looking at Ludwig's Newschwanstein Castle lit up at night.<BR><BR>6. Any view of a fine bottle of Chateauneuf du Pape anywhere in the world, but particualry nice when the view is in Provence!<BR><BR>US

Venice!

This is a great thread, so much more positive than the "let down" thread.<BR><BR>For me, in no particular order:<BR>1. Berlin. I had avoided going to Germany for several years for a multitude of reasons. Anyway, my introduction to Germany was Berlin, which I love. I returned for a second time, and I still love it. What an exciting, dynamic city. On the other had, I was "let down" by Munich.<BR><BR>2. I agree with a previous poster about the Pantheon. I saw it nearly 20 years ago. And I was so confused and naive, I somehow had it mixed up with the Parthenon, so I couldn't understand why a Greek building was now in Rome. Anyway, the first time I saw it, my jaw dropped. It is still my touchstone in Rome. I always have to go the Pantheon anytime I am in Rome.<BR><BR>3. Cinque Terre. I had been hearing about this place for years, and I finally went in 1999. Loved it, although I fear it has become much too popular, and I hestitate to return. I envy those people who were there in the 80s or early 90s.

Longleat - the silliest idea of a place, but the whole experience just tickled us pink.<BR><BR>Glen of Antrim - I had no idea that a glen was a magical place.<BR><BR>Valley of the Temples in Oahu - on an island that is so profoundly beautiful, this place is mouth-dropping.

Santa Chiara, our first evening in Rome this past April was spent entirely in the Piazza della Rotonda, marveling at the Pantheon, drinking vino rosso, and wathing the constant flow of interesting people.<BR><BR>A few comments about Cinqueterre. I was there for two days in 1987 and then finally returned last month. Aside from the Liberation Day weekend hordes (which absolutely PACKED Vernazza) on that weekend, the only places where I really noticed that many more people were on the hiking trails between the towns. Vernazza itself seemed very much like I remembered it from fifteen years ago. <BR><BR>At dinner at Gianni's in Vernazza one night, we ended up talking to a Swiss woman from Zurich who owns a bar on the piazza. She said that she felt tourism began to dramatically increase only within the past ten or so years.

Piazza del Duomo in Siracusa on a rainy night with the lights from the surrounding palaces shining on the wet paving stones.

I didn't post this at first, because Siena didn't really catch me by surprise. I was expecting it to be breathtaking, and it was. But the one defining moment of my last trip to Italy was a night in Siena. My wife and I were sitting outdoors at a very nice restaurant in the Piazza del Campo (don't have the name handy). We shared carpaccio and seafood pasta. We ordered a vernaccia and sat facing the Torre del Mangia, its burnt color contrasting strikingly with the deep blue of the clear moonlit sky. While we sat there, a trio came up and began playing "Lara's Theme" from Dr. Zhivago, which is my wife's favorite movie. When we first started dating, I bought her a music box that played "Lara's Theme." Hearing it played in Siena, under those circumstances, was too much for her and she got teary-eyed. It was a moment I will never forget. Absolutely perfect. THAT is what Italy can do to you.

Thanks for this thread. The other "let down" thread was really, really annoying!<BR><BR>A few of my favorites include:<BR><BR>1. Eating dinner at the Golden Bear restaurant in Berchtesgaden watching the sun dissapear behind the snow covered Alps at 10:00 in the evening during the summer<BR><BR>2. Walking the entire distance around the Schluchsee in the Black Forest. Eating picnic lunch and drinking beer on the meadows above the Schluchsee<BR><BR>3. The Golden Pass train from Lucerne to Montreaux<BR><BR>4. The boat ride to the Isle of Wight. <BR><BR>5. St Bartholomew on the Konigsee in Berchtegaden<BR><BR>6. Camping in Obersdorf, Germany. The town of Obersdorf.<BR><BR>7. Hiking in Valduz Lichtenstein<BR><BR>8. The Rhine River cruise around Boppard and Bingen<BR><BR>9. Any Volksmarch (Competitive Walk) in Germany, Switzerland, or Austria.<BR><BR>0. The Tirolian Mountains away from all of the tourists. Going Austrian is a great choice<BR><BR>1. Any of the small town wine and beer fests that very few tourists can get to.<BR><BR>2. Doing the Saltmines in Berchtesgaden along with the Eagles Nest and the Konigsee in Berchtesgaden.<BR><BR>I could go on and on and on......<BR><BR>Happy Traveling<BR><BR>

Maine. We drove up the coast of Maine last year -- my first time in the state. It took my breath away, what a beautiful state (among many beautiful states, I might add).

My most memorable site was sitting on the rooftop of my hotel in Athens, Greece gazing at the Parthenon all lit up at night.

A candlelight concert at St.Martin in the Field...we got to see the famous creme-de-la-creme chamber group from the Academy at St. Martin in the Field. <BR><BR>The Tower of London: the warders who give tours are delightfully entertaining.<BR><BR>The cathedral at Chartres: Meet near the bookstore at noon for Malcom Miller's English language tour.<BR><BR>Watching the sun set from any bridge over the Siene in Paris. sigh.

The Grand Platz in Brussels at night.<BR>Venice.<BR>Edinburgh Castle by moonlight.<BR>St. Chappelle.<BR>

The cathedral in Koln Germany. So close to all the bombs during WW2 and barely a scratch also the graves of the Popes from nearly a thousand years ago.

I'm going to second a lot of thoughts here, but...<BR><BR>St. Chappelle -- I never could've been prepared enough for that, simply amazing.<BR>Bruges -- so pretty, so quaint, the canals are lovely and the beer and chocolate even better. Sigh!<BR>Trevi Fountain -- Never though it'd be so beautiful. Our short walk from Trevi to the Spanish Steps was hugely anticlimatic. The Steps are vastly overrated, imho.<BR><BR>My first trip abroad was to Ireland in late summer. I will never forget pulling my window shutter open on the plane and being greeted by the sun coming up over 40 shades of green. That was an amazing experience.<BR>

Banff National Park, Alberta CA<BR>Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington<BR>Top of Mt. Sinai at sunrise, Egypt<BR>Jerusalem, the golden city

At St Chappelle, my wife and I entered through the "lower" chapel, where there is some stained glass, but not much. She thought THAT was the main chapel. She had heard me gush about how much I wanted to see St Chappelle and all of the stained glass. Well, she wasn't impressed. She started calling me names like "Clark Griswold" and joking about the "tons" of stained glass. Then we realized the main chapel was upstairs, and went up to the main chapel. The sun was shining bright and we were struck by beautiful color and light, everywhere. Her jaw hit the floor and I was able to say "told you so" for the rest of the day.

Flagg,<BR><BR>Same thing happened to us. However you may have been able to say, "I told you so" all day, but it was Paris and my money says that you did not. ;~))

The "surprisingly memorable" sights for me are the ones that I thought would be overhyped tourist traps, so I didn't expect too much. Like the Trevi fountain mentioned by others...yeah, the crowd was huge, but it's still very impressive. Other places that lived up to the hype:<BR>Paris Opera House<BR>The Louvre (duh)<BR>Chartres cathedral (bring binoculars!)<BR>London "Big Ben" clock tower (it really is beautiful in real life)<BR>Piazza San Marco at night<BR>Pantheon (Rome)<BR>Verona (love that town!)<BR>...and one less obvious one:<BR>The gardens at Villandry (and I don't even like gardens)

I've bored readers to tears talking about Gerra Gambarogno, but your phrase 'surprisingly memorable' forces me to contribute. It's Lago Maggiore and the two-star Hotel Panorama is across the lake from Ascona and Brissago. The view from the little terrace enchanted me. When I feel really stressed, I try to recall that experience. J.

Why I love to traveL!<BR>Hallstat Austria<BR> Spent an afternoon w/friends at an outdoor bar looking onto the lake laughing and laughing and then laughing again later that night at dinner in the same town<BR>Lauterbrunnen<BR>Riding in the front of the gondola as it descended into the Lauterbrunnen Valley<BR>Trier Germany<BR> The first town on a first trip alone. I liked getting my feet wet there<BR>Rome<BR> I had been there as a teen and it was soooo hot. Going back 2 years ago I just fell in love with the city!, especially at night.<BR>

I'm a geologist, and I often get to places way off the map. My favorite was a field trip in the Spanish Pyrenees. We were based in San Sebastian, on the coast. It's a beautiful coast, rocky and rugged and of course, geologically significant, with a nice exposure vertical turbidites and the top Cretaceous iridium layer that marked the end of the dinosaur age, where we picnicked. The guys on the trip enjoyed that it also happened to be a topless beach. <BR><BR>I remember trudging through sheep fields on the way back from an outcrop, and realizing how lovely the valley was, with exotic curly-horned, long-haired white sheep baa-ing, and the tinkling sound of the bells around their necks as they moved. The scent of lavender was overwhelming--the entire field we were walking through was covered with tiny lavender flowers.<BR><BR>They took us to a fabulous restaurant up in the mountains, where we had some kind of deep-water fish, grilled outside, with their enormous mouths (easily half the size of their bodies) open, showing fierce teeth. The Basque food is really good, in a very unprepossessing way. Fresh and simple, but beautifully seasoned, when done right. <BR><BR>The Guernica tree. The sole survivor of a horrible time, symbolizing the spirit of a people who just wouldn't give in. That was moving. It's right in the center of the town of Guernica, which was pretty much leveled by Hitler. It's a charming town, though. They rebuilt carefully; the churches all show clearly where the damage was, and it really makes you stop and think.

The Aar Gorge in the Bernese Oberland

Borgo Marinari in Naples

Great idea for a thread; a "let down" is one only if you let it be so. I find there are no "let downs" per se, just things not as you expected.<BR><BR>My most memorable things have to do more with the events and circunstances surrounding the local, than with the place itself. Three things the spouse and I still talk about:<BR><BR>1. Heidelberg, Germany. After living in Germany for about a year, we went back to the states in 1974 to get married (Getting married in Europe would be a forum in itself) and returned to Germany straight away. Had no specific "honeymonn" plans, but husband said not to worry he had a conf in Heidelbeg in two weeks, and it's so romantic there. <BR>HA! rained all week, hotel was damp and smelled of cabbage and wet socks and romance was not blooming in the water. BUT, conf dinner was at Heidelberg Castle. Lovely dinner in candle light, wine flowed and the rain stopped..then the conf. chair said instead of after dinner speeches, would we please step out onto the terrace for after dinner drinks and fireworks !!!! Glorious sight and we all ooh-ed and ah-ed for the next 20 min. felt like it was done especially for our honeymooon...<BR><BR>2. London. Spent 1986/87 in Oxford and a friend gave me her extra ticket to Members' day at the Chelsea Flower Show. I"m not that much of a gardener, but I did not want to offend her by refusing and I knew she would want a report so I couldn't just not go...went with NO expectations and stayed from opening to closing !!! Walked thru the set garden pieces, the seed sellers stands, the rose competition, drank champagne and ate strawberries and cream and even met several people I knew !! Felt so very "British" then and found a love of gardens I never knew I had (but only if someone else does the work).<BR><BR>3. Rochbrun and Beziers, France. We spent last Sept in small hill town in south of France, sharing house with europe-based american couple. When 9/11 occured, we had no TV or radio in the house. Woman next door returned from work at 7pm and turned on her TV for the news and then banged on our door asking if we were american, cause she heard us speaking english, and saying something awful had happened in NYC. Each night thereafter we followd events by huddeling around a small transistor radio in the middle of the table out on the terrace, listening to the BBC as the world collapse around us and the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen occured and the quiet of the small town was around us. We felt like people must have felt in WW II, scared and listening to "This is the BBC from London..."<BR>Three days later in Beziers the EU declared 3 minutes of silence occured. We were walking along and forgot that it was almost noon. Suddenly the sierens go off and bells begin to clang furiously and then there was dead silence. People stopped in their tracks, all traffic stopped and the chruch bells tolled for 3 minutes straight as everyone stood in silence. At that moment the world stood still in France. After the last bell toll, everyone looked at each other, sighed and went on. Their respect was deeply touching to me.<BR><BR>That last one was a real downer, but not all experiences are happy, just memorable.<BR><BR>Thanks for reading such a looong post; It's quiet here this afternoon.<BR><BR>Judy from Munster, Germany.<BR>

1. Big Ben. It makes travelling on the Tube to Westminster just about bearable to know I'll see this as I get out. I've lived in London for five years and still get a buzz out of seeing this.<BR><BR>2. The Sacre Coeur in Paris at about 11.45 on a bright, crisp December Sunday morning. We stumbled in on the end of a Mass and - not being a Catholic - I found it a fantastic experience.<BR><BR>3. The Golden Gate Bridge. Just stunning.<BR><BR>4. Havana, Cuba. Sunny, loads of music, friendly people, gallons of rum (especially mojitos.) What more can you ask for?<BR><BR>5. Drinking Gluhwein in a mountain cafe in Courchevel in France. We were on a skiing holiday but I had twisted my knee and couldn't ski. Instead, my wife and I sat outside in beautiful sunshine watching everybody else do the skiing. Bliss!<BR><BR>

bttt

I know this is a Europe forum but my favorite sites have been in North America!<BR>Loved Rothenburg, Brugge, San Gimignano but nothing takes my breath away like<BR><BR>LAKE MORAINE!!!<BR><BR>Cannon Beach, Oregon<BR><BR>Zion NP<BR><BR>Bryce NP<BR><BR>Antelope Canyon<BR><BR>Multnomah Falls<BR><BR>Yellowstone in the winter

Rouen, France is famous for being the place where Joan of Arc was martyred, but it is a wonderful ancient town apart from that. It's worth the visit.<BR>While you're in the area, visit Normandy. To see the sheer cliffs and walk through the cemeteries is a moving and unforgettable experience.

Have a number of memorable sites, but a couple of them are: On top of Calton Hill over looking the Firth of Fourth & Edinburgh as the sun was coming up. In Stockholm, at the Kungstrad Garden enjoying all the sites & things going on at that park & taking photos, & then realizing I wasn't using a flash & looked at my watch & it was 11 o'clock at night. Walking up the street in Caerphilly, Wales & seeing this huge, majestic castle, my idea of what a castle would should look like.

<BR>Kris Kringle Markt in Vienna in December<BR><BR>Restored Globe Theatre in London for a peformance<BR><BR>Caverns below St Brides church on Fleet Street in London<BR><BR>Late nights walking around Stockholm in late Spring<BR><BR>Botanical gardens in Geneve in Spring<BR><BR>Bicylcing in the hills near Cannes

I know that if I sit down and think about it, I'll definitely come up with a list.. but what's at the top of my head now...<BR><BR>* The Lion in Lucerne. This was the first thing that came into my head when I saw this thread... <BR><BR>* Looking out of a window at Neuschwanstein, the picturesque scenery with the feeling of the place<BR><BR>*Gallipoli - Attaturk's words and chill of realising how close the trenches of the opposing sides were to each other, and then walking on them..<BR><BR>*Bridge beneath cesky krumlov's castle cause that's where I was proposed to ;)<BR><BR>*Chateau Chillon on lake geneva<BR><BR>*St. Chapelle

Isle of Skye -Scotland