I'm another one that did not expect much from Paris but fell in love. In fact, I never wanted to go there and probably wouldn't have but my daughter went on a highschool trip and fell in love with the city and then studied French for 6 years and eventually went to live in Grenoble for half a year.

She convinced me to go to Paris with her and I went because she could speak the language fluently and I thought that was the only way paris could be doable. I was so wrong. I'd go back without her in a heartbeat (and will I'm sure!) It was the most gorgeous city and people were friendly and helpful and the sights and the food were amazing. I cried all over the city (not just in front of the Louvre!)out of sheer joy!

It's so funny what experiences different people have. I've done western europe, italy,spain, france, portugaul, twice and found the the french were by far the most friendly. Not anybody was rude except train station staff in other countries but in paris people were awesome.

For me, its Istanbul, Krakow, Dubrovnik and finally, anywhere in Spain. I expected to be blown away by Venice, Paris and Santorini and I was, but it wasn't a suprise.

I agree brando - I found the French very friendly. More friendly than in countries I've been where the locals are famous for friendliness!

We just returned from Lithuania & were pleasantly surprised at how nice it is. It is much more economically developed and less run down than we had expected of a part of the former Soviet Union. Vilnius & Kaunas are both very nice cities to just stroll about in and with interesting things to see. The KGB museum in a former KGB prison has to be a one of a kind. The Baltic Sea area of the Curonian Spit national Park is very nice. This is primarily a very rural country with lots of open spaces which I never expect to see in Europe.

Another favorite area is Brittany away from the beaches. We've visited twice and would return in a heartbeat.

Czech Republic was a marvelous trip.

Romania--one of our all time favorites because it really is a taste of what Europe must have been like 70 years ago.

The Cote d'Azur--this one was a real surprise to us as we had some real apprehensions.

Muensterland in Germany--a gorgeous rural, peaceful part of Germany that is not much visited by Americans.

Edinburgh, one of my very faves of all time, and Nice....loved it more than I ever thought I would.

Mainz
Innsbruck
Galway
Siena
Vienna
York
Canterbury
Bath

Prague
Salzburg
Hallstatt
The Alps
Rouen
Mont Saint Michel
Bath
Stratford-Upon-Avon

coldwar27
<I almost cried when I saw Monet's waterlilies at Giverny. I had loved them from afar. I did cry when I saw the paintings at the Orsay>

I thought I was the only one so emotional seeing certain artworks or places.

I cry when I see Venice and I cried when I saw David and the Pieta.

Wanderlust,
I completely agree with you! Jordan far surpassed my expectations. Really, it has spoiled me for Europe.

Completely amazing country, with nice people, fabulous food and gorgeous sites/monuments.

Paris.

Completely addicted to it.

I can't think of too many places I've visited that I haven't enjoyed, but there are some that I found I liked much more than I thought I would going in: Warsaw, Vilnius, Moscow, Nice, Naples, Ferrara, Arles, Madrid.

Paris for me too. I expected to find it interesting but not addicting. I expected it to be too busy and too much like a big city to really love it. I assumed we would go, see the main sites, and be done with it. Once we checked Paris off our list, that would be it.

I was so wrong.

Nice thread, UC.

For my mother, Paris. It took me ten years to get her to go, and she still gets teary when she talks about it.

For me:

Helsinki

Auxerre, FR

St. Chely du Tarn, FR

The Valleys of the Lot and the Tarn (The Dordogne didn't exceed my expectations because they were so high - merely met them.)

Denmark, especially Frederiksborg palace.

I'll agree with my better half about Arles, Madrid, Ferrara and Naples.

I'll add to that by saying no matter how high my expectations were for Venice and the Swiss Alps (Berner Oberland)...they were still exceeded by a great deal.

I'll add Segovia, Spain and Oban, Scotland as honorable mentions.

Paris....

So many people told me that it wasn't that great and the people were snooty.

They must have had their eyes and minds closed.
The people were fabulous (you'd be surprised how well received you are from the French or anyone for that matter when you are friendly and courteous).

The place blew me away. I left my heart there...and now I have to go and get it back;-)

I guess Inverness,Scotland for me was breathtaking, never felt so much in peace with myself.

And Cinque Terre in Italy for the surprise that it was.

Sailing into the main port of Malta was pretty impressive. Also, Dubrovik and the dalmatian coast is amazing.

Russia and Moscow, in particular
Peloponessean Peninsula
The Netherlands
Normandy

Yorkshire
Paris
Siena