Not a place,... or site,.... although I have those... I was surprised that my husband and I spent 3 weeks, 23 hrs a day together, still had such a magical time together after 23 years. We had sent the kid to college and got to find each other again.... pleasantly surpassed my expectations.

Here are mine: <BR> <BR>The Sistine Chapel: high expectations blown away <BR> <BR>St. Chappelle (low expectations completely left in the dust) <BR> <BR>Paris: NO expectations -- didn't even want to go, got a free trip -- can't describe the feeling of seeing the Eiffel Tower! I spent the weekend pinching myself! <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>Dana -- After having called the Anne Frank House "over-rated" in the other post, I'll try to explain. It's not that I didn't appreciate the history, but I expected a MUCH MUCH smaller living area, etc. The articles and pictures she pasted to the walls moved me too. But for some reason, I didn't really "feel" her there, but here's what really got me -- looking out of the window from the Anne Frank House into the street, thinking about hearing those German boots, how afraid they must have been, watching people get taken away. Hearing her father say that he had no idea that she was so "mature" until he read her diary and hearing Miep (?) say that they found Anne's diary and didn't give it to her father until they knew she was dead. <BR> <BR>Don't assume that the only people who would be moved would be Jews (and the only ones who wouldn't be non-Jews). That's not fair. At Notre Dame, would you have thought that I was crying because I'm Christian? Nope, it was (to me, but not to some others) beautiful -- and that's where the real "I can't believe I'm in PARIS" feeling hit me). Being Christian had nothing to do with it. And if you had caught the tears in my eye at the Anne Frank House, you would have been wrong about me too. ;-)

First of all, after hearing terrible things about Naples, I was thrilled to love its people, neighborhoods, and food. It's an Italian New York City! <BR> <BR>I also didn't expect to like Mykonos as much as I did after hearing it was so expensive, etc. I enjoyed it and its proximity to Delos, my highlight of Greece. <BR> <BR>Watching the Acropolis light up at night was a thrill I didn't expect to move me so much. <BR> <BR>I adored the shops and shopkeepers in the Campo di Fiori section of Rome. My daughter will remember her "buying a bikini experience" for the rest of her life - for good reasons! You don't need to know Italian when a little Italian grandmother kisses your daughter's cheeks and proclaims her "Bella!" in her new bathing suit. <BR> <BR>The Alps were more breathtakingly beautiful than I could have ever imagined.

"The David" in Florence blew me away--not just the sculpture but the lighting and way it is presented <BR>The Charles Bridge at night in Prague--beautiful and romantic <BR>Berlin--what a tremendous city with all that history and culture <BR>Jungfrau and train ride up from Interlaken--majestic and the waterfall at Lauterbrennan <BR>The Hill Country in Texas--wild and free <BR>Washington, D.C.--very moving <BR>Johnson Space Center in Clear Lake and the Kennedy Launch Site--exciting <BR>Auschwitz/Birkenau--the exhibits as A. and the scope at B. <BR>Vienna--the culture, the wine <BR>Zakopane--small, scenic <BR>

I posted about some European places that surpassed expectations earlier then I noticed non-European places mentioned, too. <BR> <BR>Here goes: Montreal - the Old Town area and Notre Dame cathedral. <BR>Niagara Falls, Canada. Yes, it's a cliche but it's still stupendous to see. <BR>Viewing San Francisco from Alcatraz Island...and the prison itself was fascinating. <BR>The Muir Woods in California. <BR>Cruise on the Chicago River and seeing the city from that perspective. <BR>The French Quarter in New Orleans...and crossing the Mississippi River by ferry and seeing NO from the opposite bank. <BR>The Hoover Dam on the Nevada/Arizona border. <BR>New York City - I visit it several times a year but I always feel excitement when I'm there. <BR>Boston, MA - I love Boston and just went a few weeks ago to the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum. It blew my companion and myself away. And the North End is great for Italian restaurants, etc. <BR>Providence, RI - the Water Fire events in the river. The city itself has been wonderfully restored. <BR>Listening to the Boston Symphony on a sunny summer afternoon on the lawn at Tanglewood. I'll always remember that day. <BR> <BR>Lee <BR>

Paris <BR> <BR>Mont Saint Michelle <BR> <BR>Ile de Noirmoutier <BR> <BR>Carcassonne <BR> <BR>Hospices de Beaune <BR> <BR>

What surpassed my expectations? I remember one evening looking out a hotel window and seeing through the window of another building across the way. A French woman had put up her ironing board and was working away, glancing up now and then and what I guess was probably the television. I got my binoculars, only to see what she was ironing, and it was a what looked like a man's white shirt. I could see toys on the couch and a package from a store on her table alongside her purse. Also a glass, soda maybe? I watched her awhile, without the binoculars, and I realized that was probably what I would be doing, if I were at home. I did not expect the thrill I would feel as the realization really hit home that we really, really share a sisterhood (and a brotherhood) with all mankind.

the duomo in florence... the alcazar and cathedral/giralda in sevilla... the alcazar and albaicin in granada... camden market in london (just when i thought it had ended and was ready to be mildly disappointed, there were miles left to explore)... siena and san gimignano... paris, everything about it... traveling to london and amsterdam with my boyfriend of 3 WEEKS and having the most incredible time together, and turning out to me perfect travel companions, like we'd known eachother all our lives (3 years later, we're planning our next european vacation)

Just found this great thread while doing a search. Thought people who are planning for this year's vacation might find some useful tips.<BR><BR>To add my favorite--Romania. A beautiful country, some unforgettable historic and cultural sites, and marvelously friendly people. In many sections it is like visiting pre WWII Europe. Also, very interesting to observe their transition from a communist economy to a market economy. They need an influx of hard currency and need tourism. If you are flexible, want to see something new, and want to go to a place where tourists are welcomed and not looked at solely as cash cows, try Romania.

Edinburgh: Riding along in the taxi from the airport and looking up to see the Castle glowing in the sunrise on a winter morning. One of the prettiest cities I've seen.<BR><BR>Venice: Sitting on a boat coming around the corner to see Venice right at sunset. The colors from the buildings was more than I could have ever expected. I loved spending the next few days exploring the nooks down the little pathes in Venice.<BR><BR>New York City: Having traveled around the world, NYC was one place I had never made it to and I fell in love with it. The height of the buildings was more than I could have imagined.

Petra in Jordon - makes all the other ancient monuments and cities around the world pale into insignificence. Would go back tomorrow but would most definately stay a lot longer to explore this wonderful place

Paris and seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time, what an incredibly beautiful city.<BR>Piazza Navona at night and the pure magic of walking in Rome...looking for a restaurant in the Campo d'Fiori area for dinner.<BR>The little town of Arles and the bright colors of Provence.<BR>Walking throught the Gardens at Giverny and visualing the paintings of Monet.<BR>The beauty of the Hawaiian islands, especially the Big Island of Hawaii.<BR>

The Grand Canyon

The cemetery at St. Michael's Kirche, in Salzburg, Austria, on a warm spring morning. I wandered through it for hours, in a daze, until my wife came and gingerly led me away.

So many that have already been posted.<BR>1. Cistine Chapel<BR>2. Colosseum<BR>3. David<BR>4. Venus di Milo<BR>5. Tower Bridge<BR>6. Tower of Pisa<BR>7. Float plane ride over Mt McKinley, Alaska and landing on a glacier lake.<BR>8. Helicopter ride over the mountains on Kawai<BR>9. Snorkeling off reefs in Maui

Stockholm. Being of Swedish descent, Stockholm was included on our itinerary that ended in St. Petersburg.... was sort of a "Duty" visit. Lovely city. We've been back and hope to visit again.

Paris, every single thing about it:)

<BR>France.<BR><BR>I had 5 years of college and high school French in the States. I finally made it to France last Spring. I made it to Chenonceau 25 years after I had saw it on the cover of my high school freshman French book.<BR><BR>I enjoyed France. I did not have any problems with the French. Not a single story of being rudely treated. Maybe it was because I always tried with my pathetic French. Maybe it was my expectations. <BR><BR>I spent 3.5 weeks in France and can't wait to get back.

The American Cemetary overlooking Omaha Beach in Normandy. A beautiful tranquil piece of American soil(given to the USA by France). The enormity of the American loss could not be better portrayed by the seemingly endless row upon row of Crosses and <BR>Stars of David. When you go down to the beach and see the gunner emplacements(still in the cliffs), then you realize how so many brave people perished without having a chance. They were sitting ducks for the Germans. The fact that so many survived and eventually overcame the German defences is astonishing.

That first view of Machu Picchu. Awe inspiring.<BR><BR>Vermeer's Milk Maid-My favorite for years and finally saw it at Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.<BR><BR>The Grand Canyon after about a minute to sink in. What spectacular grandeur.<BR><BR>Chenonceau from the outside at a distance as it reflects into the water below.<BR><BR>Wieskirche, the most beautiful roccoco style church in the world.<BR><BR>Cesky Krumlov-I had no idea it would be so enchanting<BR><BR>Pluscarden Abbey in the Highlands. Serenity defined.<BR><BR>The Great Wall. I was prepared for a tacky tourist trap, but it is awesome.<BR><BR>Paestum (Greek) and the mosaic floor in the Basilica at Aquiela (Roman) in Italy. These are as beautiful as you will find. <BR><BR>Pecs in Hungary. A wonderful little City.<BR><BR>There are others, but, enough for now. Hope this helps to keep this thread at the top so others can contribute.

t

topping for Great Expectations

ALL of England and Scotland: My first, and still most treasured, trip abroad. My mother and I spent three weeks and the trip was perfection - the kind of trip where the pipe organ was playing at every cathedral just as we got there - even the weather was sunny and beautiful. London, Edinburgh, the Scottish Highlands, Wales, actually getting my mother to sit in pubs and drink ale with me. I didn't think anything could surpass the impossibly high expectations I had, but it most definitely did.<BR>Also, my honeymoon in New Orleans - another perfect trip - we stayed at the most amazing hotel - the Soniat House - in the French Quarter, with our own courtyard, then onto a plantation (which we also had totally to ourselves) and then back to a lovely B&B in the Garden District in the home of a woman whose family had lived in NO forever. She had wonderful stories to tell.

Portugal. I expected to be interested and involved; I didn't expect to fall in love with a country.

1. Gallipoli beach at dawn on ANZAC day<BR>2. First glimpse of the Pyramids of Giza<BR>3. Sun rising at Abu Simbel<BR>4. The Reclining Buddha bangkok<BR>5. The coral spawning in november at the great barrier reef, scuba dive at night was scary !<BR>6. The Italian people !

Thank you to whoever brought this thread back to the top. I don't think I caught it the first time around, and you people have brought back so many wonderful memories --like Stonehenge and the Anne Frank House -- both were for me incredibly moving experiences years ago. I don't know what I can add. My first visit to the Swiss end of Lago Maggiore went so far beyond my expectations, I was spellbound. We stayed in Gerra-Gambarogno. The tile roofs and the blue-green water in the daytime and the violet sky just after sundown and the lights of Brissago and Ascona across the water (in the middle of the night). Sometimes a city visited a second or third time surpasses expectations. On my last trip to Zurich, I finally slowed down enough to explore the old narrow streets and found a smaller, more intimate, and very beautiful small town tucked inside what to me is a big city. Solothurn is a place which surprised me. I can't even list the reasons why, but it turned out to be a lovely day and a gracious, interesting town. J.

The Louvre. Art is not my favorite thing, but collection after collection was impressive. We were most amazed by the buildings. This was the first palace where we could go almost anywhere, not just the few open public rooms. The hugeness was astounding, not to mention the historical significance. I'd love to be able to wander through Versailles, Hampton Court or any other major palace that way.<BR>Venice - I felt like I was on a film set the entire weekend. The buildings there were also incredible, usually our favorite saying "don't forget to look up" applies to ceilings, in Venice we were looking at the steps taken to keep the buildings standing.

Saint Basil Cathedral in Moscow<BR>Roman Coliseum at night<BR>Eiffel Tower last April with the twinkle lights<BR>View from the tower in Siena<BR>Lava flowing into the ocean on Hawaii's Big Island<BR>

<BR>Provence in general, and Aix-en-Provence in particular. We were there on market day, and the whole experience was just exhilirating.<BR><BR>Asissi. Had no expectations, but seeing the town on the hill, surrounded by sunflower fields, and then going into the churches was just too much.<BR><BR>Brugges, and Belgian beer, chocolates and fries with mayo.<BR><BR>David and Moses.<BR><BR>My first sight of the Big Ben, coming out from Westminister station.<BR><BR>The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, in Ghent.<BR><BR>The Prado in Madrid.

A great thread indeed! I've bookmarked it to use in planning my next trip.<BR><BR>Some of my favorites:<BR><BR>My then boyfriend proposing to me next to the Thames River in London.<BR><BR>Ireland - after driving maybe 30 miles outside Dublin into the Wicklow Mountains, we were in a beautiful rural area with stunning vistas, winding dirt roads, and sheep everywhere. One of the most breathtakingly beautiful places I've ever seen!<BR><BR>London Walks tours to Bath and Salisbury. Not being much of a fan of group tours, I was skeptical, but these were different. The groups were small, and we took trains (not tour buses) to our destinations, where we walked everywhere, and the guides were superb!<BR><BR>Paris - everything about it, just as others have said, but especially Notre-Dame and nearby Ile St. Louis. Also fell in love with the restaurant Philippe Detourbe - can't wait to return so we can eat there again!<BR><BR>The town of Reims in Champagne, France. Only had a few hours there, but was struck by its beauty, charm and liveliness.<BR><BR>In spite of learning about Versailles in high school French class, I wasn't prepared for just how massive and decadent it would seem in person. Standing in front of it, it wasn't hard to understand why the revolution occurred. You could almost feel the resentment building in yourself, just imagining yourself living during that time.<BR><BR><BR>These aren't in Europe, but they were no less amazing:<BR><BR>Snorkeling at Molokini crater just off Maui.<BR><BR>The natural beauty of Banff National Park in Canada.<BR>

Since this is a Europe Forum, in Europe: <BR><BR>The Alpes.<BR><BR>Ghirlandaio's frescoes : Santa Maria Novella. I happened on them by accident and had always loved them. <BR><BR>The Alcazar in Sevilla and The Alhambhra in Granada: I felt the wonderment of a child: They far surpassed my expectations<BR><BR>The Tate Gallery <BR><BR>The paintings of Vermeer<BR><BR>Paris: I didn't know how emotional I would get about it all: Every time I go.<BR><BR>The Louvre thrills me to tears and always surpasses my expectations<BR><BR>The food in Italy<BR><BR>My first baguette and pastries in Paris<BR><BR>Santorini on my honeymoon 1979

Haven't had a chance to read the previous replies yet, but I will. My answer to the question is, simply, the Reims Cathedral in France. It is the most beautiful cathedral I have visited so far, but I hope to see many, many more. Going to Rome in two weeks! Can hardly wait to see St. Peters. <BR><BR>Sandi

Bath. <BR>Its unexpected beauty was like a punch in the gut.<BR><BR>I hadn't planned on being there and knew almost nothing about the place. I arrived early one Sunday morning about sunrise and was very moved by its grace.

Seeing the opera (my first,Don Giovanni) in the castle in Savolinna, Finland. Watching this magnificent story in the courtyard of a castle from the 12th century where people LIVED, worked, loved, and being a part of the most wonderful NATURAL background still gives me goosebumps. When the opera was finished and we walked across the moat, there was a full moon overlooking the water and I felt that I was in another time. It was so beautiful. The fact that we were visiting the family that my son stayed with on an interchange and had been emailing with them weekly, and were NOW meeting for the first time,in their country, experiencing this incredible evening was one of the most treasured moments.

American Cemetery St Laurent - Omaha Beach - Normandy - France Went on a dark and dreary day and will never forget it.

Venice--it's better and better every time I go.

Food in Germany--not the greatest in the world, but much better than many people allege.

The caring and warmth of the nuns at Fraterna Domus convent when I injured my back when we were in Rome last December. When I had to stay in bed for four days, they brought me soup and pasta. Since I could not obtain pain medication from the emergency room, they brought a doctor to my room, and after he wrote a prescription for tylenol codeine, one of the sisters went to the pharmacy and brought me back the medicine. When I was able to come downstairs at last, the sisters greeted me with &quot;It's a miracle!&quot; and kissed me on both cheeks.

The history and feelings of Savannah Georgia and eating at Mrs. Wilkes

The Kotel (The western wall) and all of Jerusalem

The city of Natanya in Israel

The color of the water of the Agean Sea.
All of Santorini.. one of the most beautiful places on earth.

So many place to see yet

Restaurants in Prague.

When we saw the lines at the Accademia in Florence, I thought why should we stand in line to see the David when we just looked at an exact replica in the square? But we did stand in line and when we saw the original we gasped. How could it be so much more magnificent when the copy is so identical? Nevermind, it just is!