Venice, hands down!!! Been there 4 times and I think it's the best city in the world. Well, one of! :smirk: Would love to go there again this year.

yes, sad. The Syrians are the nicest people.

Tagliolini ai 40 tuorli con tartufo bianco at Bovio in La Morra. (:

Sailing through The Lofoten on Hurtigruten, first time passing by via Svolvaer southbound. The second time Svolvaer was my destination for a camping trip. Both times were unforgettable. In general, for me, the bizarre Norwegian atmosphere, the strands of (slightly less) extreme isolation, the gorgeous landscapes, all that yields memorable experiences. It's why I learned Norwegian, to have a bit more access to that.

What a heartbreakingly poignant moment. Sighing.

I second that. Such a shame that this year's Trans Continental Race won't finish there, after 2 editions. So impressive, the ride to Kalambaka.

(I understand, publicity-wise it is beneficial to have the finish in Western Europe, I feel they sacrificed a lot of adventure and goodwill for that. Glad I rode last year's. )

I'd venture to say the most breathtaking moments are those that are unexpected. So many of us (including yours truly) do exhaustive research before our travels, and in this information age, that can mean seeing lots of photos and videos of places/things before you see them in person. This can't help but take away some of the magic of seeing something for the first time.

For me, the moment that comes to mind is Sainte Chapelle, as others have mentioned. I was young and had done only a modicum of research about Paris, with only the big, obvious sights on our "must see" list. By chance, we wandered past Sainte Chapelle and went in on a whim, knowing nothing about it. Needless to say, if you've seen it, our jaws hit the floor. It wasn't just the beauty of the place, but the sheer unexpected nature of the experience.

What's your philosophy about trip planning? Thorough research so you don't miss anything, or very little research so you can be surprised?