places that surpassed your expectations
Jul 12th, 2006, 06:08 PM
#21
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 45,322
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think what surpassed my expectations was the region of Molise in Italy.
I first went there in the 1970's only because a dear friend who is like a sister to me was from one of the very small villages and wanted us to visit all of her family. I have always so enjoyed being in this beautiful, serene and nontouristy region of Italy. While driving there the first time I was overwhelmed with the beauty, and the feeling is still with me.
And like txeagle, I would have to add the Dolomites, beautiful beyond words.
I first went there in the 1970's only because a dear friend who is like a sister to me was from one of the very small villages and wanted us to visit all of her family. I have always so enjoyed being in this beautiful, serene and nontouristy region of Italy. While driving there the first time I was overwhelmed with the beauty, and the feeling is still with me.
And like txeagle, I would have to add the Dolomites, beautiful beyond words.
Jul 12th, 2006, 07:35 PM
#23
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 415
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Azores - didn't know what to expect since I hadn't planned on going. Loved it and have returned 13X.
Ghent and Strasbourg - Thought they would be just OK - turned out to be terrific.
Grindelwald in the days before all of the tourists. Would you believe quiet and peaceful?
Venice - expected georgeous, was blown away.
Iceland - fantastic country.
Ghent and Strasbourg - Thought they would be just OK - turned out to be terrific.
Grindelwald in the days before all of the tourists. Would you believe quiet and peaceful?
Venice - expected georgeous, was blown away.
Iceland - fantastic country.
Jul 12th, 2006, 07:55 PM
#26
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,862
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Yorkshire countryside. In a sense, I think all of my previous trips have been attempts to find what I found there--nothing majestic, just a story book vision of rural life in all of its bucolic simplicity. For me, perfection.
Jul 12th, 2006, 08:02 PM
#27
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 429
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Good thread.
Amsterdam--low expectations and maybe some hesitancy to go there, but I was pleasantly surprised.
St. Petersburg--always wanted to go, but I think I was hesitant based upon my perceptions. I loved it and can't wait to go back.
Calabria--even when I'm in Italy, I still long for Calabria.
Amsterdam--low expectations and maybe some hesitancy to go there, but I was pleasantly surprised.
St. Petersburg--always wanted to go, but I think I was hesitant based upon my perceptions. I loved it and can't wait to go back.
Calabria--even when I'm in Italy, I still long for Calabria.
Jul 12th, 2006, 09:32 PM
#29
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 661
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Venice. It is beyond me how anyone could conceive of such a city. I had always heard negative things about it, so wasn't prepared to be so knocked out. Maybe that is the secret-----to go anywhere with low expectations!
Jul 12th, 2006, 10:44 PM
#32
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
1. Florence, i was expecting fine art, but never expected a beginning of a love afair with art. Since I've been, i have read every book i can find on the master, michelangelo. How I long to go back.
2. Assisi, after the tours leave in early evening, it is the most peaceful tranquell sight in europe I have seen. Very moving walking around in empty streets gazing at a hand painted madonna on every corner. Not to mention the sunsets.
3. Paris, awe the city of lights, didn't expect much but loved every minute there. I loved the fresh markets and walking the latin quater at night.
2. Assisi, after the tours leave in early evening, it is the most peaceful tranquell sight in europe I have seen. Very moving walking around in empty streets gazing at a hand painted madonna on every corner. Not to mention the sunsets.
3. Paris, awe the city of lights, didn't expect much but loved every minute there. I loved the fresh markets and walking the latin quater at night.
Jul 12th, 2006, 11:02 PM
#33
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,323
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Tanzania. We had a chance to go with friends in a group and I poo poo'd it, thinking that all of Africa was a steamy hot Tarzan type of place. Boy was I dumb and uneducated. DH really wanted to go with the group, so I did a lot of research and it looked pretty civilized to me ;-) so I said yes.
That was the most rewarding trip we have ever taken, I can't begin to tell you how much that trip still means to us.
Plus .... it was the only trip that people actually asked to see our pictures!
Also Moscow and St. Petersburg. The art and palaces overwhelmed me and the beauty of St. Petersburg itself, made and the ease with which we got around, surprised both of us. We had several restaurant meals that rivaled SF or Paris.
Nina
That was the most rewarding trip we have ever taken, I can't begin to tell you how much that trip still means to us.
Plus .... it was the only trip that people actually asked to see our pictures!
Also Moscow and St. Petersburg. The art and palaces overwhelmed me and the beauty of St. Petersburg itself, made and the ease with which we got around, surprised both of us. We had several restaurant meals that rivaled SF or Paris.
Nina
Jul 13th, 2006, 01:22 AM
#34
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Dubrovnik. Prague, Southern France and, especially, DUBAI. The latter is a fantastic experience in spite of the July heat. We stopped over for 5 days on our way back to Australia. Can't wait to go back and do all the things we missed.
Jul 13th, 2006, 01:42 AM
#35
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Macedonia, Sicily, practically everywhere between Gilgit and Kashgar, but especially finding I'd checked into the Chini Bagh (British Consulate in the days of the Great Game) hotel without realising it, Angkor Wat, Gotland, driving round Jordan, Delhi, the Mojave desert.
And Mrs F adds Las Vegas.
And Mrs F adds Las Vegas.
Jul 13th, 2006, 03:23 AM
#37
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ten corners of hidden europe that surpassed all our expectations:
1. Görlitz in eastern Germany
2. Rural Estonia (esp. the Lake Peipsi region)
3. Bergamo in northern Italy
4. Grodno in Belarus
5. The lake country of NE Poland
6. The Faroe Islands
7. The Aland Islands
8. The estuaries of Merioneth (Wales)
9. Corvo in the Azores
10.Albania
http://www.hiddeneurope.co.uk
1. Görlitz in eastern Germany
2. Rural Estonia (esp. the Lake Peipsi region)
3. Bergamo in northern Italy
4. Grodno in Belarus
5. The lake country of NE Poland
6. The Faroe Islands
7. The Aland Islands
8. The estuaries of Merioneth (Wales)
9. Corvo in the Azores
10.Albania
http://www.hiddeneurope.co.uk
Jul 13th, 2006, 04:29 AM
#38
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 665
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
For me, nearly every place I go exceeds my expectations. We can do research and study maps and pictures, but once I are actually on site somewhere, that is when it comes alive for me. The sights, the sounds, the people, the food...though many places have astounded me.
We visited Jordan last November and I thought that Petra would be the most momentous thing about Jordan. Turned out everything about Jordan took my breath away. Petra was amazing. The Dead Sea. Jerash...what an amazing country. I'd go back in a minute.
I feel that way about every place I have been: Italy, England, France, Germany, Egypt, Jordan, China, the Caribbean, Canada, South America, Central America...the list is endless!
We visited Jordan last November and I thought that Petra would be the most momentous thing about Jordan. Turned out everything about Jordan took my breath away. Petra was amazing. The Dead Sea. Jerash...what an amazing country. I'd go back in a minute.
I feel that way about every place I have been: Italy, England, France, Germany, Egypt, Jordan, China, the Caribbean, Canada, South America, Central America...the list is endless!
