the acropolis at night<BR>on a similar vein- Edinburgh castle!

In Thailand - running up the steps of an ancient Buddhist temple - it must have been 500 steps straight up - thought I was going to die literally when I decided to "Stairmaster" it...and I agree with the Charles Bridge in Prague - I have walked across it at sunrise and sunset in every season and it never ceases to amaze and delight me to see the city sparkle.

Probably the most recent was my trip to Normandy. Driving in our rental car my husband called out to look ahead-there rising out of the salt marshes with the sheep grazing was MONT ST MICHEL!As we drove closer,it became even more amazing.The night we spent there was a dream come true-wandering the streets and ramparts after the tourists left was a treat for one senses.The wind on your face with the sea air;the history that had taken place there;etc.will stay with me for a long time.

Great Topic!!!<BR>Here are mine, in no particular order<BR>1. Coming out of the London Aquarium just before a spectacular pink sunset and seeing Big Ben for the first time.<BR>2. The Canadian Rockies from the old weather station high above the Banff Springs Hotel.<BR>3. Being the first to enter the Accademie one morning and seeing David all alone - just him....and me.<BR>4. Ariving by train in Vienna, coming up from the underground and Bam! there was the front of the Hofburg. And seeing the Lippizans walking past us from the stables to the arena. Actually, pretty much everything in Vienna is on my list.<BR>5. Yellowstone Canyon!<BR>6. The view from Hallstadt out over the lake and mountains<BR>7. My American Express bill when I got home from my last trip .

The Prado Museum in Madrid took our breath away. It has a spectacular selection of fine art that is not to be missed. Definitely in the top 10 of World's Best Museums.

Definitely Santorini in the Greek Islands. We were so overawed by the beauty sitting atop a 900ft high caldera that we didn't get to see all the other places the island had to offer. By day the vivid blue Mediterranean sea with different cruise ships moored each day and by night the most beautiful sunsets you could ever wish to see. We loved it so much we are returning this year - all the way from Australia!

I have seen many places in my time but there are only a few that I have felt. Most of them have been serene. <BR><BR>On horseback in Australia’s Snowy River Mountain Range overlooking the vastness of God’s creation and seeing the stars like never before seen.<BR><BR>On an Island in Fiji with my wife and no one else.<BR><BR>On our first trip to Venice, I was unaware of the beauty of Saint Marks Square. It was late at night when we walked out of a small dark street smack into the spectacle of a bright square with couples waltzing to strings of several bands. <BR>

1. The interiors of the cathedrals in Toledo and York: awesome and breathtaking.<BR><BR>2. Top of Zugspitze Moutain on a sunny day: incredible views. I felt as if I was on top of the world.<BR><BR>3. The English countryside, absolutely idyllic<BR><BR>4. The church in the Melk Monastery (near Vienna): the interior is breathtaking<BR><BR>5. Sunday morning church service in Santa Maggiore Church in Rome: The church itself is gorgeous, and seeing the service made the experience something very special<BR><BR>6. The Forum in Rome: thrilling!<BR><BR>7. all of Venice<BR><BR>8. Driving south on the Pacific Coast Highway in California on a sunny day <BR><BR>9. The Aztec and pre-Aztec pyramids and art treasures in and around Mexico City --- incredible! <BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><B R>

Waking up on a bus while crossing from France into Spain and seeing the Pyrenees. It felt like I was in a different, mystical world!

The new shade of green that I found in the scenery of Germany. It is so much more vibrant than what we have here in Florida. It really should be a new color for Crayola!!!<BR><BR>In Ruette the trees on the mountain were so green & vivid they took on a 3D look!

London - Gazing up at the Clock Tower lit up at night.

1- My arrival to New York for the first time, coming from Brooklyn bridge (wow!).<BR>2- San Pietro basilica in Vatican city.<BR>3- Piazza Navona, Roma.<BR>4- Aerial view of the pyramids of Giza.<BR>5- Niagara falls.<BR>6- Istambul.

I came upon sfowler's thread while searching for an obscure topic, and I felt it needed to be returned to the top. It is such a wonderful collection of those memories that enrich the lives of travelers. <BR><BR>I've just spent a few minutes reading some of the early posts--about moments in Florence after a rain, or walking in a valley near Goring-on-Thames, the view from a balcony in Assisi, and the village of Campo de Criptana in Spain. <BR><BR>I recently was able to re-visit Gerra Gambarogno, the place of my transcendent interlude, and Thank-You-God it was as magical as I remembered it to be. I wish the same to you all. And to anyone new to this thread -- please tell us your stories. This is the forum at its best. Affectionately, J.

We had spent much of the day exploring Paris, and were tired and sore. Last stop - San Chappelle. We were debating if it was worth it, but we decided, hey, we were here, lets go. Oh my. We walked up the steps and stopped dead in our tracks. The afternoon sun was coming in through those windows, and the lights in the room were off. We stood there transfixed. What was esp amazing was the number of people sitting on the benches that lined the room - yet the place was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. We stayed there for a better part of an hour, and when we came out, we were both relaxed and re-energized. One of our fav memories of the city.

Many wonderful European and American sites as describe by others but especially....<BR><BR>GROUND ZERO, NYC - December 12, 2001

The hot topless chicks on the beach in Italy - Mamma Mia!

On July 11, 1991 I found myself standing on a small, cactus-covered hill by the Pacific north of Todos Santos in southern Baja with some friends I met on the road a few days earlier. <BR><BR>I've seen some marvelous scenery in Europe. But nothing comes close to the experience that followed: a seven-minute-long total eclipse that engulfed that hill with its 360-degree sunset.

Europe:<BR><BR>A trip with my dad to the "homeland" Ireland in 1991. It was just dad and his daddy's girl. Seeing the place where my greatgrandfather was born and seeing my dad cry as he took pictures of it. This was in Athea, Co. Limerick. <BR><BR>The Cliffs of Moher were breathtaking as well. We got so close (almost too close) to the edge and the sounds of bagpipes filled the air. My dad has since learned the pipes so I am spoiled to hear them whenever I want.<BR><BR>US<BR>WTC site Nov 2001. It wasn't the site per se but the people there - everyone together as one. It was amazing to see the various nationalities comfort each other.<BR><BR>Europe Part II: <BR><BR>My goal is to be in France next summer for the first time. Thank you to all those posts who shared French breathtaking memories. Just hearing them takes my breath away.

great thread

Great question!!! I would have to say Florence Cathedral and its duomo. In Rome the Sistine Chapel.