Sorry...I meant to address it to "enroute"....

It's probably whatever you see first. Over time you just get jaded sadly.

For me it was probaby Big Ben after popping out of a subway station directly under it.

This is going to be so unique for each person.

Thank you, tower. Thank you very much.

-e

danon,
I feel exactly the same way when I see the real painting or cathedral after all those years of art history slides.

With paintings in particular, I love to stand close up. I always think "I'm standing exactly where _________ stood when he made that very brushstroke!"

Lady Liberty- God she's beautiful!

I don't know why it was also quite emotional for me.

<With paintings in particular, I love to stand close up. I always think "I'm standing exactly where _________ stood when he made that very brushstroke!">

My mom, who is an artist, and I were just saying the exact same thing. I can't wait to go to the Orsay in Paris and stand as close as possible to those.

Most surreal?

Prices!

The Parthenon -- had to wipe the tears from my eyes

The Eiffel sparkling at night -- I was so excited, I jumped up and down

Goya's painting, The Third of May (at the Prado) - touched me in a way I will never forget

*The moasics in the Choria in Istanbul.
*St. Peter's grave in the scavi under St. Perter's.
*Landing on a grass strip in Honduras near Copan, getting out to find ourselves surrounded by men armed with machine guns there to guard the plane.
*pretty much anywhere in Bali

Shelly, I just loved the Orsay! It's a beautiful building filled with beautiful art and it's 'human-sized'.

We had lunch in the formal dining room (the day was planned by my SO as a surprise for me) and I believe you need a reservation for that, but there's also a wonderful-looking more casual restaurant behind the big clock.

I'm so envious of your visit there!

1) Lava flowing down the Arenal volcano in Costa Rica. I mean, there was a real volcano in front of me!

2) Times Square/Statue of Liberty in NYC. Oh, and attending the Macy's Day Tday parade. What a thrill!

3) Just being in London, my first trip overseas.

4) Golden Gate bridge

I leave for Italy in 1.5 weeks, so I know I will greatly add to this list.

I feel like this on nearly every trip, but really memorable ones are:

The ruins at Angkor

The Silver Pagoda in Phnom Penh

Driving through the countryside in Spain

Seeing Manhattan from the air, at night, flying into LaGuardia

I am going to Galapagos soon and expect to have a few of these moments there!

St Peter's Basilica, my daughter taking her First Communion at the main altar on Easter Sunday.

A far distant second, The Grand Canyon.

Willtravel I love yours!...
I just remembered a really "surreal" one (ala Dali) I was at a concert in the St Merry Church in Paris and looked up to see a chair(a wooden straight -back oak) stuck to the ceiling!!! (an Art show left over...don't you just love the French!)

After hiking the Inca Trail I walked into Machu Picchu on my 40th Birthday and there was a double rainbow over the Urubamba River.

Stu Tower, so many of your posts always touch my heart in ways I can not explain. You are a very special person.

Europe
St. Peter's Basilica - I was in awe.

Sitting in our hotel room in Positano and looking over the city and sea. After seeing pictures, it was so exciting to actually be there.

Stateside
I'm always impressed by the site of Devil's Tower. Flatland all around and suddenly there it is.

On 2 prior brief visits to San Francisco in June we had fog and the Golden Gate Bridge was barely visible. During Christmas vacation we had 2 miserable rainy days in NAPA Valley.
On Christmas Day we headed south to Muir Woods and San Francisco. Gorgeous blue skies and sunny. When we approached the Golden Gate Bridge recreational area from the North side and I finally saw the bridge and surrounding area it was an awesome site and I nearly teared up.

Arriving after dark for my first visit to Athens (and Greece). Checked into the hotel, opened the balcony door and being completely astonished at the Parthenon floodlit above me. It was so close I felt I could reach out and touch it.

It was an experience I will never forget. In my years of travel it was the most pleasurable and surreal.

Joe

Great thread!

The most breathtaking, wonderful moment ever for me was when I got lost on my first morning in Rome and accidentally stumbled upon the Roman Forum at sunrise. I was all alone, it was totally quiet, and the air smelled amazing...and then I looked up and saw the Colliseum in the distance. It was an unforgettable vision. I still get shivers thinking of that moment.