There are so many wonderful memories and breathtaking moments to be savored from travel. Here are a few of mine. The Pieta in St Peters-the first time I saw it I was a 15-year old student and it was not yet enclosed and I was overwhelmed and then a few years ago I saw it again and while this time it was enclosed I could not take my eyes off of it. Then a few minutes later I went into the Sistine Chapel and tears came to my eyes-indescribable! In Florence I was virtually breathless the entire time seeing the David was awe-inspiring. On a somewhat different note while in Vienna I went into Mozart's apartment and while it was nothing much to see I was taken by the thought of all the creativity that came out of this tiny place. Also in Vienna watching a rehearsal at the Spanish Riding School was a once in a lifetime thrill for the horse-loving side of me. I could go on and on- as I am sure we all could, but I'm leaving for France in a week and must search this forum for more suggestions to, once again, have my breath taken away.

Denise: <BR>Can you tell me what flower laden stone balcony that was in Portofino? I may look into staying there. <BR>

My progression from stepping off the plane in Madrid at 8:00am, staring off into a sea of Spanish faces, knowing no one was there for me--that it was just me, my guide book, and my bag...and having a slight heart attack, to a year and a half later...(after meaning to stay for only 3 weeks) sitting in the cool sand of the empty Alicante beaches at 5:30am, watching the burnt-orange and yellow sun rise over the Mediterranean Sea, after spending a night dreaming in Spanish, and thinking I may never want to come back to the States...

My progression from stepping off the plane in Madrid at 8:00am, staring off into a sea of Spanish faces, knowing no one was there for me--that it was just me, my guide book, and my bag...and having a slight heart attack, to a year and a half later...(after meaning to stay for only 3 weeks) sitting in the cool sand of the empty Alicante beaches at 5:30am, watching the burnt-orange and yellow sun rise over the Mediterranean Sea, after spending a night dreaming in Spanish, and thinking I may never want to come back to the States...

On our first trip to St. Andrew's, Scotland our hotel room had a huge bay window overlooking the sea. Our first day there it was sunny and warm just beautiful. The town of St. Andrew's was not at all what I expected. I expected a golf course and nothing else. The next morning we opened the curtains to find a fog rolling in like I had never seen before here in the US. I had always heard about the fog rolling in but this was the first time I had seen a fog come in like that. It was amazing. I can't wait to go back.

Just one of many "breathtaking moments," but it happened during a visit to Rome last month. Looking out over St. Peter's square during a late evening mass and seeing over 75,000 people holding candles in different colored holders. Then seeing the Pope in his "Popemobile" from about 25 feet away. <BR> <BR>Rod Hoots <BR>Arlington, Virginia <BR>

!!!!!

Would have to be 2 moments that really stick in my mind. When I was in Turkey, taking a cruise down the bosphorus, and saw a chuch, sinagon and mosque all side by side. But the most memorable sight would defernately be while hikking in the Himalayase Mountains, walk out of the tent one morning to see a Yetti running along a cliff about 30-40 meters above the spot we had set up camp. Was an absolutely unforgetable experience, but I don't know if I froze from terrior or the cold (am still trying to figure that one out).

King, LOL!!!! <BR> <BR>I know this is a serious question and I should not be encouraging this type of response, but you had me rolling with that last story.... <BR> <BR>P.S. You need to go see 'The Blair Witch Project'...

So many places, so many memories: <BR>1. My first time viewing the caldera from my terraced apt. on Santorini, glancing to my right and left to see the cascading buildings literally built into the rock. <BR>2. Coming out of the train station in Venice -- having absolutely no expectations -- and seeing the gondolas riding on the Grand Canal. <BR>3. Stayed in a charming pension outside Salzburg. Arrived at night. Looking out my bedroom window in the morning actual did take my breath away. <BR>4. The English countryside. <BR>5. Although I would not call it breath-taking, walking through the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam was so emotional I can never forget it. <BR>6. Agreeing with an earlier post, looking down at Portofino from the castle.

OK Marcel, <BR>my first response to this thread was in March, before I visited Giverny. You are right. Seeing the Monet's gardens in bloom, on a beautiful sunny day was truly awe inspiring. After seeing the beauty of his garden's, it's no wonder that his paintings are incredible. No wonder he was so inspired.

I arrived in London Fri. night for Princess Diana's funeral Sat., and sat on the street all night right by Parliament Square. I was there in the morning when the sun was rising, with the flag flying at half staff, and the sun just glinting off of Parliament. It was such an impressive sight. <BR> <BR>Also, Neuschwanstein Castle, a place I had dreamed of visiting. Nothing like the sight when we came up the road to just see it perched on top of the hill. Couldn't take my eyes off of it. It was more than worth the hike up to the top and couldn't believe it when I finally hiked to the top and realized I had fulfilled a dream. <BR> <BR>The countryside of Ireland was absolutely beautiful. Giants Causeway, The Ring of Kerry, and Cliffs of Moher were incredible.

The Taj Majal. The Northern lights. The Grand Canyon. The center of Bali. When mountains plunge to water. Borabadur in Java. Machu Picchu. Walking amid the zillions of penquins at Ponto Tombo in Patagonia. In Europe: the Norwegian fjords, Amalfi Drive, Italian Lakes, gondeliers moving in purple twilight. the Acropolis, David, Chartres, the Pantheon. The unexpected beauties and furies of nature.

I first answered this thread exactly a year ago (Sept '98) when I posted on the breathtaking quality of the town of Assisi in Italy. A year later, another memory, posting-worthy, comes to mind. The sight of the altar in the Cathedral of the town of Santiago de Compostela blew me away. I can't even imagine what an amazing sight the altar must had been, and still is, for weary pilgrims that have embarked on this grueling route since medieval times. A kind of mystical experience that transcend religious affiliations.

a very inspiring read here are my additions <BR> <BR>climbing the mountians in northern Spain in July standing amidst fields of poppies by a mountian lake and having a snowball fight in my t-shirt and shorts on my birthday <BR> <BR>I've been to Venice more times than I can count and it always takes my breath away -- if you have the chance take a boat ride through the canals at 5:30am <BR> <BR>

Top of the Eiffel Tower at sunset, just after a brief, early September rainstorm. It was comfortably breezy and the sky was a blazing palette of orange and reds. I felt beautiful and romantic even though I was alone. A man asked if I wanted a picture of myself with my camera. I said, yes, certainly. He captured that memorable moment for me: Smiling, hair blowing in the breeze with the setting sun in the horizon.

This posting takes my breath away! a distillation of the awakening power of travel, the essence of why we love it and how it touches the soul. <BR> <BR>I have to add my two cents on Venice, as my visit was a nonstop wonder. <BR> <BR>I stepped out of the train station on an early morning in March and was immediately stunned by the vista: a fairy tale city floating on water, fog lying heavy and low, lending it a magical air. As I walked to the vaporetto, a big burly street vendor was setting up shop, singing opera in a beautiful basso voice. <BR> <BR>The dreamscape continued as I rode the vaporetto, the city strangely quiet except for the grinding sound of the boat engine. Through the fog, the sculptures atop the palazzo facades appeared to be floating overhead. It was bone-chillingly cold, but I could only feel wonder and amazement at what I was seeing. <BR> <BR>I found the house where I might stay and the kind signora showed me up to a cozy attic room: views of the terra cotta roofs of Venice framed by warm green shutters and little white curtains with apples embroidered on them. <BR> <BR>After agreeing to take the room, I left her and stopped on a little side bridge to pinch myself and catch my breath. Leaning on the railing, I could hear someone playing a slow and achingly beautiful piano sonata, all other sound still muffled by the fog. "How can this possibly be real? I must be dreaming." was all I could say to myself. <BR> <BR>Every day of the three months I was in Venice, I could never shake this feeling of wonder and magic. It is a city that transcends the swarms of tourists that mob it in all seasons, the most romantic city I've ever been and where I can't wait to return. My heart is still in my throat when I think about it. <BR> <BR>Keep sharing the magic, amici!

Flying low over the flat, featureless, Arizona desert in a single-engine airplane and suddenly having the earth open up under you. This first glimpse of the truly Grand Canyon literally took my breath away.

The pock-marked beaches of Normandy. Time stood still, I was completely alone <BR>and completely with the terror and the people who died, and I had to cry. <BR> <BR>Also, the never-ending, almost too- colorful Duomo in Florence. Driving around it in a taxi; I couldn't see the top of it and I really thought it was some sort of crazy wall. Later, on foot, I found that Florence has so much color everywhere, buildings like bouquets... <BR> <BR>And the dune of Peyla not far from Bordeaux.

Memories.....