I had been so eagerly anticipating my first trip to Europe for what seemed like forever, everything was surreal.

However, the very first place that made me feel that way was sitting in front of the Trevi Fountain in Rome. Rome was our arrival city and we didn't get in until the late afternoon. We didn't have concrete plans until the next day, so we decided to wander around. We turned a corner and there it was.

I remember thinking about how many times I had seen the fountain in photographs - and there it was, right in front of me.

For the rest of the trip, all of the iconic landmarks affected me much the same way - The Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, the Colosseum, the Grand Canal in Venice, etc.

I probably walked around during that entire 3 weeks with my jaw half open.

'I probably walked around during that entire 3 weeks with my jaw half open.'

chepar- I'm betting that it was a wonderful trip then:). I felt that way on my last trip to Europe, and I'm hoping I spend the entire next trip like that- if it doesn't move me, I don't see a point in going.

Thought of another moment- Standing on the cliff edge at Dun Angosa in the Aran Islands. Stark, remote and breath-taking. It was the edge of the world, and it made me feel insignificant and powerful all at the same time.

The Taj Mahal - I couldn't believe I was actually there, and it was much more amazing in person.

In Rome - The Colosseum and the Vatican.

Definitely Stonehenge. Also, the Tower of London. These are icons to me (as an anglophile and lover of history) that mean the world to me.

Flying into Paris one rainy morning and seeing just the top half of the Eiffel Tower poking through the clouds.

Notre Dame Cathedral during Sunday mass.

All of the art in the Louvre that I studied in my Art History classes.

For our first trip to Venice we arrived by car and took the vaporetto near the parking garage. It turned onto the Grand Canal and the moment was breathtaking. I have also taken two of my children (one at a time)and made it a point to watch their jaws drop as we walked out of the San Lucia station.

On the Island of Terciera in the Azores, walking among the volcano's steam vents with the slight smell of sulfur. Each vent had its own small and colorful ecosystem.

My first view of the Western Wall (1970)in the old city of Jerusalem -a place where until 1967 I had forbidden to travel. A very surreal and emotional moment.

All th above of course, but the best was POMPEII!!!!!!! I couldn't believe I was in the real city and it was still there if you could reach into your imagination...and fill in the blanks and the best was the modern world did not distract from the viewin any way ....it brought tears to my eyes

Four breath-taking 'I-can't-believe-it' experiences for me were --

((*)) Michelangelo's Pieta
((*)) from a plane window, the snow-capped peak of Mount Fuji peeping up above the clouds
((*)) the Grand Canal in Venice as I stepped out of the train station
((*)) flying in a tiny eight-seater plane down the middle of the Grand Canyon

And this is why I travel.

Glastonbury's Tor: We experienced it on a warm summer evening under clear blue skies. The mystical, magical sunset among all those mystical magical people was unbelievable.

Sitting on a Swiss mountain, watching the brown Swiss graze in the meadows and hearing an alphorn in the background. Perfect!

Machu Picchu--most definitely!!

The David

The first time I flew to Italy. We went over the Swiss Alps as the morning sun was coming up. Glorious! The sun sparkled on the snow on the mountains which gave the snow a golden hue and there were little villages scattered here and there.

Next was standing and looking at the Duomo in Milan.

Driving into Rome and trying to find our hotel and suddenly right ahead of us was the colosseum!

Driving from Rome to the Region of Molise. The mountains, the greenery, the still simple lifestyle of the residents. Older ladies all in black leading donkies loaded down with hay as they did centuries before.

To many beautiful and perfect memories.

Notre Dame de Paris, seen from the taxi on the way in from the airport. I cried.

The Grand Canal in Venice as we stepped out of the railroad station on a glistening October day. I cried.

Oh. Wait. I forgot about seeing the gorgeous Tuscan countryside!

We arrived in Athens,checked into our hotel. Travel time - 36 hours Sydney/London/Athens. So you can imagine we were feeling pretty strung out. However, we headed off on foot to start exploring and I will never forget that first unexpected moment when I looked up and there is was........... the Parthenon!! We were both completely overwhelmed!!

Later that week.... the beauty and calmness of Olympia.

These are great! I have to agree with many of yours, especially in Italy.

Goddesstogo, definitely Mount Fuji from the plane.

And - the first time I saw it from the rooftop terrace of our house in Tokyo, tiny & snowcapped in the distance.

Seeing a lump on the horizon as we drove across France, and then, as we got closer & it took shape, realizing it was our destination:
Chartres Cathedral.

Seeing the sunrise from the top of the Great Pyramid of Egypt.

A volcano puffing little puffs of smoke (steam?) on the island of Java near Borobodur; Indonesia itself is the most surreal country I have ever visited.

Walking around a corner in NYC and seeing the Chrysler Building looming up before me. I gawked like a happy idiot.

Walking along the Seine and seeing Notre Dame just like in the movies & looking down on the city at Sacre Coeur with a harpist playing La Vie en Rose.

Walking through the welcome center and actually being in Chichen Itza and seeing the Kukulcan Pyramid.

Walking up the hill in the rain and finally being able to see Neuschwanstein!

St. Peters Basilica, The Coliseum, Venice

I know this is the europe board, but the most surreal for me without a doubt was the grand canyon. It looks like a backdrop even when you're standing right in front of it.

Exiting the train station in Venice and immediately facing all that beauty. Not having to wait to get to St. Marks or some other landmark really surprised me.