I just discovered this forum, and even though this is an old message, I can't resist: <BR>1. An outdoor cafe on the Plaza Mayor in Madrid, Spain, listening to the "tunas" (student musicians) and watching gypsies sell red carnations <BR>2. Charleston, South Carolina, especially strolling along the Battery <BR>3. The Cloisters in New York City, in any season, overlooking the Hudson River <BR>4. Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii, at sunrise and at sunset <BR>5. A spring day I walked through the Roman Forum when roses were in full bloom

Oh there are so many, but here are the first ones that come to mind - <BR> <BR>Borobudur - a massive ancient Buddhist temple amidst rice paddies in Java, Indonesia <BR> <BR>The ruins of a Moorish Castle in Sintra, Portugal (My husband was so moved by this place he almost proposed to me right there and then, but he didn't have a ring to give me, so proposed three months later in Paris) <BR> <BR>Tamala Station, Shark Bay Western Australia - spent many childhood camping/fishing holidays here. Could spend two whole weeks without seeing anyone besides my family. <BR> <BR>Thanks for the question! <BR>

Eva, thanks for your question. I enjoyed reading everyone's magic place & 2 magic places and moments came to my mind. Both occured on my honeymoon which might have added to the "magic" feel but here goes anyway.... <BR> <BR>1) driving along the Amalfi coast with the sun shining above and the bluest sea shimmering below. It was the most "magical" drive I have ever taken! <BR> <BR>2) Checking into the Excelsior hotel in Firenze. My husband was talking to the bellman while I began opening windows to let the light into our dark hotel room. Little did I know.....I open a "window" to find a small terrace and stepped out onto the terrace to find the Arno right in front of me. The beauty of the river took my breathe away. I often think about this magical moment and know that this was "once in a lifetime."

The village of Hvar -- on the quay by the harbor, 20 minutes after sunset as the lights come on in the cobalt blue -- on the island of Hvar off the Dalmatian coast.

Some places that have my vote: <BR>~~Sonoma & Mendocino coasts, California <BR>~~Grand Canyon & Tuscon deserts, <BR> Arizona <BR>~~Cotswolds villages, England <BR>~~city centers, Edinburgh & Glasgow, <BR> Scotland <BR>~~Villa Borghese & Pantheon, Rome, Italy <BR>~~old town, Quebec City, Canada <BR>~~Manhattan, New York City <BR>~~Puget Sound islands & Olympic Nat'l. <BR> Park, Washington state <BR>========================================

Oh my!!! What wonderful memories, my personal favorites, (keeping it down to three: Standing atop the Pont du Guard in the south of France, at dawn, just before the hoards of buses arrive. Just breathtaking. the beuatiful square at Sienna Italy. Finally a beautiful port side cafe at Russell Bay in New Zealand, the north Island. Thaks for letting me share!!! <BR> <BR>

1.Fountains Abbey( ruins near Ripon,England)-so peaceful and quiet that you can "feel" your spiritual side! <BR>2.Glacier National Park(in Montana in the USA)-the beauty of the mountains and lakes overwhelm you. <BR>3.Lunch on top of the Eiffel Tower with a view that can't be beat! <BR>I want to leave now! Debbie

Thanks to all who answered my question <BR> on the magic places. I didn't think <BR> that this topic will be interesting <BR> for many persons. I enjoyed reading <BR> your opinions and I hope to see many <BR> of these places. <BR> Have great trips to the magic <BR> places!

Hi, <BR>My magic places would be: <BR> <BR>- The North of Norway in winter time watching the Northern Lights. That is breathtaking. <BR> <BR>- The Summer Palace in Beijing, China. <BR> <BR>- Magens Bay, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

How to limit to just a few... <BR> <BR>Walking on the Great Wall, sensing the amazing history and awe of the structure. <BR> <BR>Standing on the Champs d'Elysee at dusk just as the lights are coming on (the 1st place that ever took my breath away). <BR> <BR>Being on a deserted beach north of Rio with sand so fine that it squeaks as you walk on it. <BR> <BR>Walking through the Roman Forum just "a few years" after Julius Caeser... <BR> <BR>Central Park in the snow... and walking along the river at Battery Park City. <BR> <BR>That view of Vernazza shared by so many others. <BR> <BR>Manhattan and Venice - ANYTIME!! <BR> <BR>Thanks for letting me share... <BR> <BR>Dona <BR> <BR> <BR>

Great answers to this post! Mine are: <BR>1) Arches National Park, Utah <BR>2) Bellows beach on O'ahu, Hawaii <BR>3) the top of St. Peter's overlooking Rome <BR>4) Neuschwanstein castle in Bavaria

Great question, Great answers. <BR> <BR>Top3 - Let me think. <BR> <BR>1 - Interlaken, Switzerland - A youth hostel right on the lake that even managed to impress 3 17 year old kids, of which I was one. Those were the days. <BR> <BR>2 - Your first sight of Venice as you step out of the train station. It's a different world. <BR> <BR>3 - The Wye Valley, Wales. I'm biased becuase its home, but it's still beautiful. <BR> <BR>Keep up the answers, getting loads of travel ideas. <BR> <BR>Steve

1. Sitting on the edge of the north rim of the Grand Canyon at sunset <BR> <BR>2. Walking on the Charles Bridge (anytime). It literally brought tears to my eyes. <BR> <BR>3. The entire town of Assisi. I loved everything about it. I truly felt at home there, very at peace.

That spot on the neck, just below the ear.... uh - oh - guess you didn't mean THAT.

Wow! What a wonderful way to spend my lunch hour! Thank you all for sharing - some I've experienced, some I know I've GOT to get to! <BR> <BR>My top 3: <BR> <BR>1. Strolling the narrow streets of Safed, Israel, where everything is blue - almost reflecting the sky! <BR> <BR>2. Experiencing the majesty and beauty of nature that is Yosemite. <BR> <BR>3. Mayan ruins at Tulum - being completely amazed at the ruins themselves, and wondering just how they got the water THAT blue! <BR> <BR>Ok, I'm ready to go - who's driving to the airport?? <BR>

Dear Eva: <BR> I'll vote for: <BR> (1) Pena Palace in Sintra, Portugal - it's as if the royal family just stepped out (they fled during the 1916 revolution). Talk about atmosphere! <BR> (2) Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris - on a sunny Fall day. <BR> (3) ITALY! from north to south, including Sicily. What a gorgeous wonderful country.

Read this - popped out, got a sandwich an had to come back to !! <BR> <BR>1.Imerovigli, Santorini - enjoying breakfast on the terrace of our apartment overlooking the caldera - eating fresh fruit, drinking strong coffee and enjoying the most magical view on earth. <BR> <BR>2. Luxor - the view of the Nile, fertile strip and the desert/hills beyond - with the sound of the town in the background (a real town not solely a tourist incarnation like Hurghada) <BR> <BR>3. Being a Londoner I have to say sitting on Primrose Hill looking at the city stretch out into the distance <BR> <BR>We're off to Central + South America for 4 months this summer so I hope to have more magical places to add

the first site of manhattan sky line day or night when you drive over the midtown tunnel. i do it every day for 10 years and it's still makes me in awe.

Eva, It seems you've struck a pleasant chord with a lot of us. Mine in no particular order are: <BR>1. The top of the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotiuacan, Mexico. (Don't go there during he weekend. A Tuesday or Wednseday is better). <BR>2. Conques in France, a hilltop town that was once a stop for pilgrims on the way to Santiago de Compostella. The Romanesque Cathedral of St Foy "feels" holy. <BR>3. The shore around Le Mont St Michel during a sunset. There is a littel shrine to the Virgin (?) among the rocks on the shore. Very spiritual. (Watch out for the tide). <BR>4. The Grand Canyon. A very different view from the bottom than from the top. Not as magical from the bottom. <BR>5. In Saintes, France: The ruins of a Roman amphitheater with the tower of St Eutrope rising in the background.

It's been a while