I, too, flew Icelandic on my first trip to Europe in 1973 I didn't stop over in Reykyavik, though. Luxembourg was the first city but we stayed for only a few hours to transfer to the train station and buy the first of many bread and cheese meals. I do remember being impressed by the great bread and the glimpses we had of the city.
In true Eurailpass/backpacking style we then hopped on an overnight train to meet some friends who were in Florence.

florence was of course amazing. we met our friends by Ghiberti's bronze doors exactly on schedule. I was overwhelmed by the sense that I had somehow been transported inside my Fine Arts Jansen textbook.

Moscow, 1992- I was fourteen. I remember it looking back now as stunningly different than the US. Compared to now, it was completely devoid of all the trappings that now make it similar to NYC- advertisements, traffic, etc. Standing on Red Square- the cold air, silence- the clock tower chiming- and it started to snow. I'll never forget that feeling.

On the same trip I went to Saint Petersburg. To me, that city will always be more brilliantly gorgeous than anywhere else.

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Paris, 1989. The first step in a lifetime of wanderlust!

London in 1982. :)

My birth town.

lobo mau - sounds like you were born in Hawaii? what is that birth town - you need not give the year, however.

London - 1992. Couldn't believe I had really 'crossed the pond' until seeing-and hearing-Big Ben! Have had an ongoing love affair with Europe ever since - as we all have!

Like PalenqueBob, we landed in Keflavik and spent a couple of days in Reykyavik on the way to Luxembourg in October 1971. The earth was so barren that astronauts trained there becasue it was the place on eath most like the moon. There were drunks of all ages in town including an elderly lady in white gloves and a dress. The smell of a Icelandic food suace permeated the airplane and the city. Hot water was supplied by the nearby sulphur springs. Although filtered there was more than a faint odor in the water. Colorful cod baots dotted the harbor during the few hours of daylight. It was all I hoped it would be.

Amsterdam, 1985, when I was 18. First stop in a 19 day student tour of Western Europe that did the fairly typical loop. Amsterdam, Heidleburgh, Innsbruk, Venice, Rome, Florence, Switzerland, Paris, and London.

It was definitely a revelation, and probably a good first European city to start with. Made it a little bit easier to work up to Rome, Paris, and London.

Dublin 1964 with a summer scholarship at UCD. Less than a year later return to Rome to teach and havnt left since.

Madrid in 1972 (I think.)

Paris - 1998 - fell in love with Paris. Returned in 1999, 2004, and 2007. Can't wait to go again!

Rome --- arrived the day before the Pope died. We were in Rome for 2 weeks, visiting our 19-yr-old daughter, who was working as an au pair. What a crazy time to first experience Italy!

Athens, in June 1979. Quite the culture shock for a 15-year-old from Arizona--although the weather was pretty familiar.

It's taken almost 30 years, but I will be back for a return visit in March.

I was lucky enough to follow my Army husband to Frankfurt, Germany in June 1990. Lived in Ansbach, Germany until August of 1993. Loved every moment of life in Europe.
Got to see Paris, London, Amersterdam, Venice, Salzberg, and so many more beautiful towns and cities.
We decided to see as much as we could because who knew when/if we'd ever get back. Its now fourteen years since we've been home, but hopefully we'll get to go back to Europe in two years for our 25th wedding anniversary.

Heidelberg, Germany. Lived there 10 years!

Landed in Gatwick in 1985 - walked over to the train station, looked up at the board & picked Brighton as I knew about the Brighton Pavilion. Hopped on the train, found a B & B through the tourist service & wandered around for a day.

The next day, I visited my great aunts who lived Kent. I then went on to Holland & back to England later on.

I was very lucky, England & London were everything I had ever imagined and better.

Lisbon, February 1969. Arrived by sea just after sunrise - a glorious day!

Rome, July 2007!

I can't wait to go back, but loved Monterosso - stop number two.

Next trip I'll add Paris or Venice and revisit the first two. I'm hooked.

Dublin, when I was 14 years old, on a family trip. I don't recall being especially excited about it. The love affair with Europe began four years after that when I spent a summer session at at the end of my freshman year of college--no parents that time! It was one of the most wonderful trips I've ever taken. I went back to Ireland and then over to London. I'll never forget how alive I felt that summer. If only for that, Europe will always have a soft spot in my heart. I found art, architecture, a profound sense of history, a beautiful countryside and so much more.