<BR>Since I just got back from Italy I wanted to reply to this great post again. I can reiterate the previous postings of others: Walking into the Accademia Gallery in Florence and seeing <BR>the David. I literally stopped in my tracks. And just as Nicole said, walking out of the Venice train station for the first time, blinking at the glare of the sunlight, and then opening my eyes wide at the sight of sunshine, water, boats, Venice. I felt like Dorothy coming to after the cyclone, moving from black and white to glorious color. <BR>However, I will add one more of my own. <BR>I went to the island of Torcello, I got off the boat and walked along a deserted-looking canal for about 15 minutes, passing a couple of small <BR>cafes and very few people. I say the Byzantine church I had wanted to see, it dates from the 7th century. I walked into the building, which from the outside looks appropriately decayed and ancient, and saw the most glorious <BR>mosaics and gilded painting I have ever seen. It was literally of another world, of another time. Awesome!

Some of my favorite views are the Amalfi coast, Venice (my favorite!), Istanbul in the late afternoon with its many mosques and the sounds of the men up in the minarets calling everyone to prayer; the Acropolis in Athens; the many cathedrals such as the ones in Chartres, Barcelona, Seville, Rome, and Paris (esp. Chappelle!); Montserrat near Barcelona. I'm looking forward to my trip to France next year where I'll discover new experiences and to this list.

Great posting............... <BR> <BR>Christ birthplace in Jerusalem <BR> <BR>Standing on glacier Mt. Cook - New Zealand <BR> <BR>View from Belvedere lookout - Moorea French Polynesia <BR> <BR>So many - very thought provoking. <BR>

hard to top those posted but here is a simple experience that we treasure: <BR> Sitting in an outside cafe in the hart of Vienna enjoying the coffee and pastry that only Vienna can produce watching the world go by without a care in the world.

I had been many times to Buenos Aires, a city I love. All the Argentinians wanted me to go and see the glaciers in Patagonia. I was always telling myself : "What the hell, glaciers, we've got thousands in Europe, why fly 4 hours to see one and come back." Finally, it's what I did last February. When the bus was driving on the road towards the Perito Moreno, it suddenly stopped,and the driver said : "Now, the curve of the sighs". After the curve, you see the glacier : 14 km wide of blue ice, falling into the lake. The weather was exceptional, you could hear the cracks of the monster ; later we spent 3 hours observing it, seeing huge blocks of ice falling into the lake in an apocalyptic sound, but I could have stayed two days. I really had the feeling of being at the end of the world, in a kind of early chaos. It did take my breath away !

Sainte Chappelle <BR>We went there right after Notre Dame Cathedral and I had told my husband it is something everyone says not to miss when you go to Paris. He said,"I don't see why this is so special" then we went upstairs. I could have spent all afternoon and my husband agreed it was awesome. So beautiful and peaceful. <BR>

My wife is a native of Venice and we never tire of visiting that fascinating city. A couple of years ago, we entered by cruise ship and gained a whole new perspective. Coming in from the Adriatic sea early in the morning, we were actually looking down on the city from our veranda about seven decks up. The first small mud flat islands that come into view look as the area probably did before Venice became a city. Coming into the lagoon, the waterfront front seemed within arms length and the view of the Bridge of Sighs, Doges Palace and entrance to San Marco square took our breath away! It was a unique and wonderful experience.

We just returned from a month honeymoon combo 2 week cruise in Mediterranean /2 weeks in Italy. Saw many breathtaking places but hands down because it was unexpected and magical. Will never forget it. Our cruise cancelled a stop in Olympia Greece due to rough weather. The captain decided to move toward our next destination. All of a sudden, while in our cabin after dinner, I realized the ship had stopped. I looked out our window and an instictive wow just came out of my mouth. I was staring at Santorini at night. It was like a dream. In the morning, we went up to Santorini and the view from above was also breathtaking!! I am convinced that Santorini has to be one of the most beautiful places on earth.

I was awe-struck by: <BR>- the area surrounding the Torre de Hercules in La Coruna, Spain <BR>-bus ride from Barcelona into Andorra <BR>-the Grand Canyon <BR>-Lake Tahoe <BR>

So many amazing sights, but here are the places I was overcome with awe: <BR> <BR>- At midnight, coming upon the Coliseum in Rome. Illuminated against the night sky, it stood as a monument to history and humankind's perseverance. <BR> <BR>- Travel weary and alone, I arrived in Brugge, Belgium, checked in to my hotel, and went walking to find dinner. After a simple meal, I began walking the city without consulting a map. To my utter delight, I walked into the main square - a completely magical nighttime sight, especially when unprepared for the experience. <BR> <BR>- The landscapes of Wales. So incredibly lush and green and untouched by the modern world. It's a spiritual experience to spend any time in the outdoors in Wales. <BR> <BR>- Again, tired and travel weary, I decided to take a quick walk from the hotel to explore Canterbury before going to bed. The sight of Canterbury Cathedral at night - oh! It was also a magical, mystical sight. <BR> <BR>- Arriving at night in Prague, I took a taxi into the city. What a fairytale sight! The spires, the Cathedral, oh my it was so beautiful. <BR> <BR>And if anyone has read my topic on Cathedrals, it is obvious that I am awed by the Cathedrals and beautiful churches in Europe. <BR>

When I first read this posting, over a month ago, I thought of a particular experience, but discarded it as not outstanding enough. Today, as I read the initial and then the latest posting again, the same time came to my mind. <BR>A year ago, almost to the day, I sat on the shores of Lake Como, in the tiny town of Varenna. What permeates my remembrances of the lake area is the wonderful sense of peace I felt - not an urge to see the sights, just an enjoyment of the morning sun on the water, the mountains rising in the light mist across the lake, and a wonderful time for me personally of appreciating the Creator of such beauty. <BR>

On our way from Milan to Amsterdam, my husband and I had to take an overnight train from Milan to Duisburg, Germany. I can still vividly recall awakening a little before 7:00 a.m., looking out the window, and seeing the most beautiful lake. It was so calm and still that it looked like a mirror. On the opposite side of the lake stood the most charming bavarian cottages. There was a light fog carpeting everything. It was magical. <BR> <BR>Also, I still feel ecstatic every time I think about the first time I walked onto San Marco in Venice. I remember seeing the incredible castle-like palaces all around. It was as if I was on another planet or in another world. I could imagine what it was like 800 years ago there. <BR> <BR>The last thing I'll mention is as follows: My husband and I went on our one and only (so far) trip to Europe this summer. We flew into Amsterdam, but were so utterly exausted that we went to sleep around 6 or 7 pm without dinner. Needless to say we woke up very early the next morning not being able to sleep any longer. We showered and got dressed, but it was too early to eat breakfast (breakfast at our hotel started at 8:30), so we decided to take an early morning walk. It was Sunday, so nothing was open. I remember turning onto Spiegelstraat (spelling?). The street was empty, the air was brisk. The street was lined with quaint shops and a very old citroin. At the very far end of the street, we could make out the Rijksmuseum. It was so beautiful. <BR> <BR>I know I have a whole lot more, but I'll spare everyone. My trip to Europe left such an impression on me, that I feel the need, almost like an addiction to go back and back and back. Now I just have to convince my husband.

1991, I was a poor student living in Paris who had a Eurail pass. <BR> <BR>It was a stormy Saturday and I took the train to Chartres. The place was empty, and I must have sat there for three hours watching the lightening flash brilliantly against the amazing stained glass. I was positively awestruck that something non-living could evoke that much emotion in me.- I just cried. <BR> <BR>On a happier note, the winged victory gets my vote too!!

I noticed Assisi mentioned a few times. I was in Italy for my honeymoon. One day in Assisi this big storm rolled in and all the natives were closing the shutters, etc., so we did the same. After the violent, brief storm, we opened the shutters and the light was just incredible--that really yellow light after a storm? It lit up the pink stones of the building and the countryside--it was just like a painting. Those were some of the best pictures I took--the view from our balcony in Assisi.

Coming up above the clouds on the journey from Interlaken up to Jungfrau. I took a whole role of film in about 10 minutes! <BR> <BR>Arrived travel weary and alone in Prague with its mystery language. Was wandering about with my map in hand, not really looking at it. Started in Wenceslas square and wandered through the narrow streets teeming with people. I suddenly came into the Old Town Square. This took my breath away. I didn't even know this place existed and came upon this square in early evening when everyone was out and about. It was beautiful. <BR> <BR>While I have since been to the Jungfrau which beats all views, my first experience on the top of an Alp was the Untersberg near Salzburg. This just took my breath away. And my pictures came out awesome!!

This summer I climbed my first mountain in Norway. As an older person of 49 I was not prepared to see the turquois blue of the River( Lake) Gjende as I was suspended on rocks 1700 meters above it on Besseggen in the Jutenheimen Mountains. The rock climb was strenuous for me but the view was breathtaking. The combination of the uniqueness of the adventure of the climb and the surprise of the color of the water so far beneath me as a neophyte climber took my breath away. Now I am training to be a climber so I can again be able to have this unforgetable experience. As the day progressed the water became lighter in color. It was incredible!!!!!! It was not a guided tour. It was a climb without ropes. There were no "American" signs saying climb at your own risk or don't climb if you have the following health conditions. I couldn't believe I did it! <BR>

It's a quiet morning. My other window is boring me, so I thought I'd bring this back up. <BR>I've *really* enjoyed the variety of experiences we all have shared. They have been complex and simple, natural and/or human creation. Sometimes the simplest things can give great pleasure. The *perfect* baguette in a cafe. Just watching a salamander sun on a rock in Provence or Greece. [While you do just about the same!] <BR> <BR>But a more complex one comes to mind. My husband found a concert under the dome of the Hungarian National Parliament in Budapest. Touristy? You bet! It was expensive by local standards, but there were clearly hungarians as well as tourists from everywhere. <BR>You could enter early to tour the building, which is amazing. The contrast between the gold leaf and intricate stenciling on the walls, coffers and the dome itself and the simple native stones used for the columns and lower walls was surprising. No richly veined marble here. Around the bottom of the dome were gilded and painted statues of the rulers they choose to remember. <BR>There we sat. Listening to a chamber orchestra play the usual baroque culprits [unfortunately no Hungarian music until the rather obvious encores - a fact that galled our Hungarian companion]. The acoustics were "bright" [too much stone!], which created a certain buzz as we sat there, hardly believing our eyes as we looked to the dome, to the stenciling and stone. <BR>If you ever get a chance to do this. Don't miss it! <BR>*sigh* back to work...

Standing on the Rock of Cashel at daybreak, looking down across the pastures and seeing the remains of the medieval Horre Abbey looming through the early morning mist.

This summer I was in Hammerfest, Norway, the Land of the Midnight Sun. Hammerfest is the northernmost city in Scandinavia. I was with a group of good friends and we decided to celebrate a friend's birthday by going up on a mountain above our camp and having a late night picnic. We were on this mountain over looking the ocean and there we watched the sun set at 12:00 and then rise a hour later. It was an awesome sight. The sun was barelly out of view before it came back up. I still get a chill down my spine from thinking about that beautiful sunset and sunrise. After seeing the sun that morning I have never looked at a sunrise or sunset in the same way. I've made it a goal to see a sunrise and sunset at the beginning and ending of each trip that I take from now on. I have officially become a sun worshipper.

Another great topic - my second favorite after the Great Cathedrals of Europe forum.... Anyway, here are my Top Ten experiences that left me speechless, in no particular order: <BR>1) Climbing the mountain above Durnstein in Austria, sitting among the castle ruins and gazing out over the Danube River Valley - no sound but the light wind, and sweeping vistas for miles; 2) the CharlesBridge in Prague very early on a Sunday morning when it was empty, walking to St. Nicholas church for Mass; 3) driving through Luxembourg, coming across a monastery in Clairvaux, deciding to stop and finding the monks there singing in Gregorian chant; 4) seeing the unexpectedly vast interior expanse of marble and the dome of St. Peter's -following it up with a visit to the restored Sistine Chapel ceiling; 5) dinner on the terrace of the Tener Hof in Kitzbuhel - it semed like five minutes, was actually three hours; 6) the interior of the Church of San Andrea del Quirinale in Rome - a real jaw-dropper; 7) a late night ride to the top of the Eiffel Tower; 8) touring Anne Frank's house in Amsterdam, looking out the skylight to see the spire of the Westerkirk, just as she described it; 9) seeing the ovens at Dachau; and 10) the American Monument in Bastogne, Belgium, where the heroism is not forgotten. <BR>