Tell Us Your Favorite Travel Experiences
 

My article this week concerns the experience of travel. When you travel are you looking for that big, iconic experience, or is it the little thing that makes your trip? What are your most memorable travel experiences? It's not so much about what you've seen, but what you're experienced on your trips. Be sure to tell us where you went and when, but this is a thread that I'm very interested in reading as it develops. Talk to us.

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Hi Doug - Enjoyed your article.

So many great memories and experiences in my travels, and I'm sure I'm missing some of all the trips I've taken. But here are a few:

1) Renting bicycles in Bruges (from our B&B owner) and riding them along the canal to Damme. This was in Sept 08 and a bit chilly, but we had the entire bike path to ourselves and the canal is lined by tall trees. So peaceful and serene.

2) Walking around Bruges at night (Sept 08) when the buildings are all it up and all the daytripping tourists are gone. It has a completely different feel than day time.

3) Hiking the pedestrian path from Granada town center up to Alhambra (Feb 08). It's a different route than the bus takes. When the path gets close to the entrance, one makes a 180 degree turn and suddenly there you are: face-to-face with the Gate of Justice entrance.

4) Sharing a table with a Hollywood star in a restaurant in London (Sept 07). I didn't even recognize who he is until half-way through dinner. Serendipity indeed.

Doug,

I've traveled a lot and have seen many of the grander places.

Once, when I had 6 weeks in Europe, I stumbled upon Colmar, in Eastern France, intending just to spend the night.

I fell in love with the town and its small canals. I found a hotel that was actually situated in a park; one of those parks with the grand fountains and places to stroll.

I stayed there for 6 days, just basking in the loveliness and quaintness of this town.

When it rained, the locals told me it was the tears of God, giving moisture for the grapes.

Very relaxing time for me in the middle of my six week odyssey.

Standing atop Machu Picchu left me speechless! For a person that is never at a loss for words to either speak or write I was at a total loss. I was also unable to move as I looked down. My friends and family whom had not traveled with me can't believe that Machu Picchu could do what none of them had ever been able to do, stop words from flowing out of me!!!

We recently traveled to Ireland and unlike every other single vacation we have had for the past 7 years, we decided to have ZERO itinerary in hand. All we knew was that we were arriving in Shannon and departing from Dublin...and that we were going to rent a car for the duration of our trip. I cannot begin to tell you just how exciting and invigorating it was knowing we were about to embark on this journey. And the journey did not disappoint...

To be honest, I no longer remember the specific route we took...I remember our first stop (fighting through jet-lag, which wasn't hard b/c just driving was beautiful), was the Cliffs of Moher. We intended to stay for an hour...instead, we stayed for about 4 and decided at that point to "crash" at the closest BB. Thankfully, the town was peppered with BBs so our selection was based on which eatery/pub looked most authentic and we stayed at the BB right across the street from it. We were immediately greeted by two locals and to my surprise, we all engaged in a lively conversation on our upcoming elections (this was June 2008 so there was still a lot of speculation about Obama & Hillary (no Replubican candidates came up during the conversation!). They treated us to unlimited beers, snacks and conversation and we gracefully accepted...

After that...we somehow landed in Kenmare (my partner's favorite town EVER! we stayed at the Park Hotel for a few nights b/c it had a beautiful entrance and curb appeal... and it was by far the best service we've ever experienced -- and we will surely return); we stayed in Killarney for 1 or 2 nights and then drove through Cork City (we thought we would stay, but reminded us to much of our hometown in NYC so we passed and went to a town by the beach instead...though I can't remember the name of the town -- really long and started with an I...). After 1 night, we somehow got to Kilkenny (which was MY favorite!!! I could totally see myself living there) and we spent several nights at Butler House which I just LOVED...Small BB but clean, functional and perfectly located. We were on the top floor and had 3 huge windows overseeing the garden...it was very, very hard for me to leave Kilkenny and I cannot wait to return. I believe we then headed to Wicklow before we landed in Dublin.

In tune with this thread, the purpose of this trip was to be moved by snapshots of genuine and authentic Ireland. Driving the entire time allowed us to explore remote towns; eat at the most authentic-looking restaurants and select the most charming BBs. Yes, sometimes we stayed at the bigger, predictable hotels, even if just for the night, but again, unlike ever before, we allowed ourselves to just play it by ear and based our decisions solely on whether we were inspired by the town and its people. Throughout the trip, we were able to strike hearty conversations with some of the most pleasant, welcoming, friendliest of people and for such reason, we never once felt alone in this trip (oh, and yes, we were blasting Cranberries, Sinead O'Connor, Celtic Women and he like in the car!)...It was great to remember and rediscover the joys of traveling without an agenda and we will make sure to plan more similar plans going forward. Highly, highly recommended as a way to recharge the traveling soul... :)

This topic is dear to my heart! I am a highly focused travel planner; indeed, my friends often make fun of me and accuse me of being a control freak. However, we have found that if we plan about 30 percent of our trip (tours, concerts, restaurants, etc.), we can happily leave the remaining time open to serendipity. And this free time is often the best part of the journey -- but not always.

When we return, we are often asked, How did you know about the wine expo/open-air theater/contemporary music festival? Answer: Do some research and plan ahead. You won't regret it!

On the other hand, there is nothing like stumbling upon a cozy bistro, wandering into a street fair, or enjoying a friendly exchange with locals in a strange place. These are the moments that make travel truly come alive.

Reaching the top of the Great wall and having NO tourists anywhere! Standing there in the misty morning, the trees showing their pale fall colors blending gently amongst the rolling hills, it was like standing in a imprssionist's oil painting.

Great topic!

Here are "best experiences":

In 2005, I travelled to Ontario, Canada visiting several places and these took place during that trip.

I stopped and visited Bergeron's Exotic Animal Sanctuary in Picton. The owner, Joe, gave me a personal tour of the sanctuary walking me around inside the main fencing area and telling me about the animals. I had asked to get a photo of him and one of the big cats and he happily obliged me, bringing out one of the cougars, Jeannie. He then let me pet her. I had never been so close to a big cat and it was scary and thrilling. After he put her back away, he walked me around some more. We visited the Siberian Tigers and I got to see Thor (one of the largest Siberian's in North America) up close. Seeing him that close really brought home just how BIG these guys are - his teeth were bigger than my fingers. Next we visited the African lions. While Joe was talking to other visitors, I was kneeling, happily taking photos of the big male lion lying in the sun. After several shots, Joe calmly said "you might want to back up from the fence about another 2 feet". Stalking me from just inside the enclosure was a female lion. Had I not moved, she would have reached out and grabbed me to her. It was another moment of realizing just how dangerous these creatures are. We visited some of the smaller cats (bobcats, linx, etc.) and he showed me one who had just been surrendered by her owner. The cat was still hiding out in her crate within the enclosure and as Joe explained how he works with the abused and scared big cats, I was surprised at how similar it is with how I work with abused and scared regular cats. To end my "private tour", Joe invited me to visit with two 6-month old wolf cubs. Before going into the enclosure, he warned me to remove any dangling items as the wolves would grab them and not let go. When I went in, they immediately started grabbing my hair in their teeth to pull me down with them. While Joe got down on the ground with them and they rough-housed with him, I noticed they started rolling on their bellies for me as I was still standing. This was an experience I will never forget. I think the best thing about it was to see how Joe interacted with the animals and how happy they were with him. There was no nervous pacing, etc. When I showed my photo of the male African lion to a photographer friend in Africa, he commented that the photo wasn't sellable because: 1) it was obviously taken in a manmade setting so couldn't be used as "the wild lion" photo; and 2) the lion was happy so it couldn't be used as "caging lions is a bad thing" - everytime I look at that photo on my wall I remember just how happy and relaxed he was lying in the sun. (You can see him at: http://www.toedtoesproductions.com/P...s/animals.html - he should be the first photo to pop up - if not it's the "I Remember it Well" image.)

My even better experience was on the same trip. I was spending a couple nights in Peterborough and got the opportunity to see the late great Willie P. Bennett perform solo. He was absolutely amazing. The next night, I was invited to have dinner with my very favorite musician, Cris Cuddy, and his SO. Having never met me before, and only communicated via emails, they invited me to their home for a homecooked meal. The dinner was wonderful and we spent several hours talking about everything. I have been able to visit with them since that trip, but I still get goosebumps when I remember driving back into Peterborough from their house with the rain pouring down and the frogs crossing the road and my being on an extreme high from such a great evening.

P.S. Like Kitty, I am a major planner. I always have things planned and do major research before my trip. I normally plan two activities per day, and enough days in each location to do all the activities I am interested in within that parameter. This gives me flexibility to make changes (some activities only take an hour or so) as I go. In the above experiences, I had planned on going to Bergeron's, but the experience I got was much more than I could have ever imagined; I had not planned the dinner, but I was easily able to adjust my schedule to get together with Cris at his convenience while I was in the area.

I'm a firm believer in following one's instincts and that the path we're on is very much where we're supposed to be, even if, at the time, it may seem to be leading nowhere!

Like so many others, I've also travelled fairly extensively. I love travelling on my own, but on one trip a good friend joined me at the last minute.

I had always dreamed of visiting Italy - had written away to the Archeology Society to find out about doing volunteer work around Naples, had investigated different cooking school options, subscribed to Andrea Bocelli's website, rolled the Italian names for vegetables joyously over my tongue, greeting the monthly full moon in Italian...I was an Italphile!

After 20 years of dreaming, the trip was finally realised. I wanted to see it all, of course! But with just two weeks, it was impossible! I eventually settled on a few days in Rome, then a drive up to Tuscany for another few days, and the last week down on the Amalfi Coast.

Each day revealed something magical and I have to say, colours seemed to glow with an iridescent light, landscapes perpetually teased and enchanted my photographic eye, the freshness, flavours and simplicity of the local dishes seduced my tastebuds, the creative energy refilled my decorator's cup....and amongst all this the ancient history that flowed above and beneath ground was so tangible, so visible wherever we went.

In a leather shop in Montepulciano, the owner took us down into a cordoned off area at the back of the shop, where they had discovered Etruscan objets when they bashed through a wall to expand the shop. We descended some stone steps into a cool, softly lit cavern with moss growing on the walls. Pretty much most of what had been found had been removed, but a few pieces of exquisite pottery remained. I was entranced! This treasure-trove had been tucked away for eons behind an obscure wall...and here we were, invited into its heart.

We meandered our way through the Tuscan landscape, picnicked under tree-shade along a deserted track of someone's farm, the wind rustling the leaves up above the only sound, but for an infrequent passing car which we couldn't see from where we were hidden...the fleshiest green olives, grilled melanzane, easily-drinkable Vernaccio wine from San Gimignano, and courtesy of our breakfast buffet, some country bread, traditional smoked meats and cheeses......maybe it was the wine, maybe it was the sunlight dappling through and gently warming us, maybe it was both, but a happier, more carefree moment, we couldn't imagine!

Another favourite memory from that holiday chanced upon us in Cortona. We'd been on the go all day and reached the walled-town in the late afternoon. After stopping in an antique shop and 'chatting' with the rather rotund owner, we arrived in the piazza and wearily, but happily, plonked ourselves down
at a sidewalk cafe to enjoy a well-earned liquid refreshment. No waiter appeared to serve us, but next door was a shop with a sign above it proclaiming it an "Enoteca". I went inside and asked the man if we could get a glass of 'vino', to which he replied he could not. BUT, if we bought a bottle of wine, he would be glad to provide glasses and we could sit on the steps of the church which overlooked the piazza, and enjoy our wine there. I asked if this was allowed, to drink in 'public', and his response was: "But where are you from? Here, Italy is democratic - you can do what you want!" and with that ceremoniously 'thwopped' the cork from the bottle and presented it to us with two elegant glasses! From our seat above the piazza, surrounded by coo-cooing pigeons, we watched the local evening life unfold around us as the setting sun lent a pink blush to the old stone buildings. We didn't see much more of Cortona, but we didn't need to - that simple moment is a favourite memory and Cortona along with it.

What I didn't know then was that our next destination, the Amalfi Coast, was to change my life. We drove down from Tuscany, took a wrong turn and ended up in what I would only find out later, is one of the worst neighbourhoods of Naples! It was chaotic! No road rules applied and it was an apparent free-for-all! There was a procession taking place, the narrow streets congested with banners, people, cars - and when we did finally find our way out, it was on a ridiculously twisted pot-holed road that wound its way higher and higher into the mountains. Some time later though we crossed over and started the downhill towards the sea - we'd somehow found our way to the Amalfi Coast, which left us oohing and aahing at the terraced mountain-slopes and houses built like a stack of cards, one upon the other.

Our base was Positano, perfectly situated on the Amalfi Coast to explore the towns around it and get to Pompei and Capri. At first glance I was somewhat disappointed - I guess I had expected it to be in better condition - but it wasn't long before the magic and energy of this enchanting seaside town captivated us.

The week we spent there wasn't enough and when I got home I cried for 4 days and realised I had left my heart and soul behind and had to go back and get them! I did that 2 months later - and stayed for a month!

In that time I not only fell in love with the natural beauty, but also a very special man, and I've been living here now for just short of two years. Talk about serendipitous!!!

I closed my (successful) interior decorating business, sold my car, let go of my 'things'and left everything familiar to come and BE.

I now understand the power of that perpetual dream and yearning to come to Italy; realising it couldn't have happened at any other time in my life, realised that the point and circumstances which allowed it to happen when it did, were serendipitous in themselves - but that's another story!!

FOLLOWING ONE'S BLISS ALLOWS MORE AND MORE SERENDIPITOUS MOMENTS TO ENTER OUR LIVES.

vademecum: I am inspired by your story...thank you for sharing!

Here are a few of mine.

--Standing in Shinjuku Station during rush hour, and noticing that it was very crowded...but absolutely quiet, except for the sound of footsteps. My husband and I finally stopped and stood by the wall for a moment and watched the people walking by. (Tokyo, 2006)

--Baseball game in Tokyo. Whenever a runner would get on-base, even if it was a walk, the announcer would say (in English), "It's a chance!" We thought that was such a great way to look at it. (Tokyo, 2006)

--Watching my daughter play at the Children's Museum in Lexington, Kentucky. The trip cost almost nothing, we didn't have to do much planning, and it certainly wasn't glamorous, yet we had so much fun watching our little girl have the time of her life. (Lexington, 2008)

One of my favourite experiences took place in Morocco, on our honeymoon, but it started as an unpleasant experience. My husband and I had signed up for guided 6-day hike in the Atlas Mountains. It was just the two of us, plus our guide Mohammed and his mule. After 2 nights at a pleasant, newly built hostel, we hiked to a village called Tachedirt (sp?), which I think means "more dirt than you could ever imagine". We were supposed to spend the night at a French Alpine Club lodge, but instead we ended up in what I called the Berber B&B. It seems that when the tour group consisted of just one or two people, the local organizer took things into his own hands and placed the clients in a resident's lodge, instead of the Alpine Club Lodge.

The Berber B&B seemed to have been built into, or carved out of, the rocky slope across the river from the main, small village. There was a stinky outhouse built into the side of the building, with a squat toilet, buzzing with flies, and an overly friendly goat that seemed to know how to open the door. Our room was on the top floor, which required us to climb huge, uneven stairs (more like rocks or boulders) up two flights. Our room consisted of a couple of mattresses on the floor, covered with blankets - and a nice balcony overlooking the village. Mohammed and our host proceeded to make lunch for us - consisting mostly of fresh, unwashed fruits and vegetables that we hadn't peeled ourselves. I shuddered at the thought of the difficult climb downstairs to the goathouse (I mean outhouse) in the middle of the night, if I was overcome with tummy trouble. I decided, against good sense, to take some Immodium prophylactically. Meanwhile, my husband took one for the team and ate most of our not very hygenic lunch. We didn't want to disappoint our hosts, who were so pleasant and welcoming.

I decided that the best way to survive the next 16 hours or so was to sleep through as much of it as possible, so we lay down to have a nap. We easily slept for a few hours, but then I was woken by insistent noise of a baby animal - a goat or sheep I guessed. I headed downstairs, where I discovered where the animals slept - diretly under our room, in the house, it seemed.

There was, however, an adorable kid (human) holding an adorable kid (goat variety). I asked our host, mostly through sign language and fractured French, if I could pat the goat. Instead, the little boy carefully handed the baby goat over to me, and he snuggled up under my chin, then leaned back, looked me in the eye - and baaad right in my face. Bad breath but totally adorable.

Later that afternoon, my husband and I enjoyed sunset on our deck as we watched the village's children escort the animals hom from the fields - right into the houses. We never would have seen this if we had stayed in the Alpine Club Lodge.

A perfect day - well worth the discomfort.

Good Experience: Hiking the Cinque Terre in 90+ degree weather and coming upon a little heaven-sent homemade lemonade stand stuck in the side of the hill during the last grueling section.

Bad Experience: Watching people pee on the sidewalk outside a public bathroom in Italy because they didn't have a Euro to get into the bathroom.

On my first trip to Europe (summer, 1976) with a backpack and Eurail pass, my friends and I were stranded at a train station in a little town outside Malmo, Sweden. Having taken some bum advice from a fellow on the ferry from Copenhagen, we got to this little town at 10 p.m. with no trains departing to anywhere until the next day and no hotels whatsoever. We were prepared to sleep in the station and had decided to head north to a lake and a town called Karlstad. We literally closed our eyes and pointed to a random spot on the map. We were tired of the major metropolitan cities and wanted something different.

A young guy was in the station waiting for friends to meet him. He was Swedish but spoke English like a California native, having been an exchange student in LA. He asked his friends if we could spend the night at their house and they eagerly piled all 4 of us into their little car and took us home. They were teachers and were very eager to meet Americans and treated us with amazing hospitality.

They asked where we were headed next and we told them that we had randomly chosen the town of Karlstad. It turned out that they actually lived there during the school year! At that late hour, they immediately phoned friends and found us a place to stay. They set us up with bedding, fed us breakfast in the morning and drove us back to the train station. When we arrived in Karlstad, their friends were there waiting to pick us up and they took us to their home.

They had children in their teens who were all away on various trips so there were bedrooms free for us all. We stayed 4 days with them. All they asked was that we supply food every day. They drove us to any place that they thought would interest us; the lake, the charming town, and at the end of the day we brought home groceries and together we all cooked dinner and watched Swedish or American TV shows and talked about the world.

It was probably the most enlightening and authentic travel experience I have ever had. And it was only one of many places where my friends and I were welcomed into strangers' homes that summer.

THAT is why I love being a traveler.

Carnival in Dominica. I went there to scuba dive but got so caught up on the events of Carnival I decided for forgo diving for a good part of the week. I met a Dominican on the plane on the way there and he invited me to participate in carnival events with his friends and family. It was a truly unique experience. I remember waking up at 3:00 am to join them in dancing in the streets until the sun came up. Women wearing nightgowns with their heads wrapped up in turbans - and men wearing boxer shorts (no shirts). The streets packed tight with everyone doing the "jump up" (dancing in sort of a march) behind flat bed trucks carrying musicians. An experience I'll never forget.

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Rafting down the Colorado River with my son the summer he graduated from high school. We went with an organized tour and had a fabulous time. Seeing the Grand Canyon from a raft - the rapids - hiking - camping -- it was amazing. My son is now 34 yrs. old and we still talk about it.

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Feeding the kangaroos in Australia. I was in Port Douglas and went to a place (I can't remember the name but they feature having breakfast with the birds). I arrived very early (before they opened) and they let me an hour before any tourists arrived. I walked passed the breakfast area into the park where the kangaroos roam free. An attendant gave me some food to feed them. It was a beautiful sunny morning and having the kangaroos hopping all around me (some with babies in the pouches) with amazing.

You’ve created a monster with this question. Or I am a monster waiting to happen.

It makes a nice trip down memory lane.

Chichicastenengo, Guatemala—I volunteered on a cultural exchange program where we helped build latrines for a local school. As we posed for photos in the newly completed latrines, thunder boomed, the skies opened, and torrents of poured down to kick off the June rainy season. We were trapped in the latrine for several hours until the rain subsided.

China—I volunteered for a week at the Wolong Nature Reserve, a panda sanctuary in Chengdu. It was a memorable week of manual labor and panda viewing. Just prior to Wolong, I visited a penpal of 18 years in Guangzhou. We had met when I was on a group to China 18 years earlier and had corresponded every since. We still correspond. One of the most amazing nights I ever spent was the night I slept on the Great Wall. Three friends and I spent an evening strolling The Wall at Jinshanling, we then had Chinese take-out, as a meal was delivered to our dining room in one of the watch towers. We retired for the night on the wall and were up at 4:00 am for the sunrise and more hiking and to beat the 100° F heat.

Churchill, Canada—-We watched Polar Bears, Arctic fox, and Arctic Hare in Hudson Bay from the comfort of a tundra buggy and from an isolated lodge that had previously been a house of ill repute.

Holbox, Mexico—I swam and snorked with wild whale sharks who had no interest in interacting or in being aggressive. They were so cool when they opened their giant mouths for plankton.

Galapagos—I did the longer 11-day in the island trips. There were magnificent birds and iguanas on the islands and more magnificent wildlife viewing in the water surrounding the islands. We could snorkel with sea lions who played with us and one even game me a gentle love nip on my upper arm. We also snorkeled briefly with penguins and hammerhead sharks. When a hammerhead or reef shark was spotted, one of the group would call out, “Shark!” The reaction was the opposite of the movie Jaws. We swam toward the sharks, hoping for a glimpse.

Katmai Coast of Alaska—This is a bear lover’s paradise with Alaskan Brown bears everywhere, doing everything from fighting to mating to catching salmon at the falls to nursing young. At Hallo Bay Wilderness Camp, some of the highlights were not even the bears. We had red foxes scamper up to us, sniffing out of curiosity and I am proud of my wolf sighting—a wolf was watching us and we were watching bears and eventually we were watching the wolf.

Near Sandy Cay, Bahamas—I swam/snorkeled with wild spotted dolphins. These wild creatures actually took an interest in snorkelers and showed off their swimming skills.

Orr, Minnesota—Vince Shute Black Bear refuge. From cubs in the trees to sparring juveniles to lumbering dominant males, this place offers fantastic opportunities to see wild black bears. The early morning hours when mothers and cubs emerge from the forest into the clearing are magical.

Pantanal, Brazil—I had setup the trip to maximize my chance at seeing a jaguar—just a glimpse and just one would be fine. I ended up seeing eight, seven along the Paraguay River, six in one remarkable afternoon, with pictures of five, four were in the protected but unfenced Taimai Jaguaur Reserve, three were along the river just outside the reserve, two were males hanging together, and one was seen at night along the Transpantaneira Highway.

Pribilof Islands Alaska--From the puffins on the cliffs to the Arctic foxes in various stages of molting that skittered about the lush carpet of wildflowers, this was an enchanting island. I was able to celebrate the 4th of July on St. Paul with a small parade of ATVs doing wheelies and the mayor dressed like Uncle Sam.

Round Island, Alaska,--Unpredictable and unpleasant weather is typical for this tiny Bering Sea island that is home to thousands of walrus. But for the three days of my early August visit, skies and water were brilliant blue, temperatures were pleasant, wind was calm, and the foul smelling, noisy walruses were out in abundance.
Steppes of Mongolia—I stayed with a nomadic family in their ger. I had asked to accompany the “Man of the ger” on horseback as he herded his semi-wild horses through the steppes to an area where the mares were milked. I thought it would be an interesting thing to see. Something got goofed up in the translation and they thought I asked to participate in the herding. Me herd? I can barely ride a horse. I only became aware of the miscommunication when we came upon a splinter group of horses after about half an hour of ascending the sloped steppes. “Man of the ger” pointed and whistled at me to head back down the hill with the horses. He galloped off to find the rest of the herd. Not wanting to jeopardize the livelihood of the family, I tried my hand at herding on horseback and to my surprise it wasn’t that hard. Eventually “Man of the ger” caught up with me and we brought in the herd together.

The Empire Builder train--Chicago, north and west to Seattle with stops in Glacier National Park, it was a perfect belated honeymoon trip. We saw America through the big window of our private train car.

Tortuguero, Costa Rica—Moonlight and flashlights revealed a huge female leatherback turtle on the beach laying eggs. She awkwardly scooped sand with her flippers to create a safe haven for the eggs. Eventually she lumbered back into the sea and disappeared. Watching this play out was a religious experience for me.

Africa—every day, almost every moment, of every trip is mind boggling, eye opening, breath taking, and awe inspiring.

There was the goodbye cheetah kiss on my first visit in Kenya.

Elephants drinking from pans in the sunset, the black rhino that took two days of tracking on foot, the rainbow that is often present midday in Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe;

The vastness of the Serengeti obscuring two lion cub heads popping through the tall grass;

Staying with a Maasai family in Kenya and having such a good time I returned the next year;

Canoeing channels of the Zambezi and walking across the Mwaleshi to Kutandala camp in Zambia;

Attending a local Zulu family reunion, tracking a total of 6 white rhino on foot, watching a young leopard learn to hunt, and watching adult Great White Sharks prey upon seals in South Africa;

Volunteering at a Jane Goodall chimp sanctuary, and seeing wild chimps make their nest for the night in Uganda;

Observing a leap of 5 Leopards, watching leopard family reunions, and having a young female leopard peer through the netting of my tent in Botswana;

Witnessing primate history with 7-week old gorilla twins being nursed by their mother as their 4-year old sister who helped them survived looked on in Rwanda.


This can also serve as a personal count your blessings list and a wishlist when you see what has inspired others.
<b>Many more happy travel memories to you all.</b>

woah, this was a great thread. And I'm trying to plan a week for my husband and I for mid-April (less than a month)!
I'm interested in Amalfi Coast, Churchill, Ca, Orr, Minnesota, Colmar eastern France, and Bergeron's Exotic Animal Sanctuary now... also, Bruges... got a lot of researching to do!

<b>Africa:</b> Buzzing a grass landing strip to clear the elephants before landing, dining in open tents from tables laden with crystal, silver and china, our first animal sighting – a stately giraffe at sunrise. Watching two male lions fight for territorial position, Cape buffalo battling horn to horn like Sumo wrestlers, gazelle jumping in mid-air and clashing in an aerial ballet. <b>Standing up in a Range Rover driving across Africa</b> - it was all amazing!

<b>Rangiroa, French Polynesia:</b> Sitting on the deck of Les Relais de Josephine watching a pod of 30 spinner dolphins play in the surf of Taputa Pass while enjoying a bottle of great French wine and watching the setting sun.

<b>Paris:</b> In celebration of 30 years of marriage, being whisked off to Paris completely by surprise. With no idea where we were headed, it wasn't until we arrived at the airport check-in and he handed me a gift box containing the Fodor's guidebook that I knew I was destined for my <u>very first trip to Paris!</u> Quite the scene - crying, laughing, and hugging absolute strangers while standing in line. Unforgetable surprise, unforgetable trip!

So very many to choose from! We have seen so much of Europe including the biggies, eaten at Michelin starred restaurants, etc. but our best memories have been the smaller local/cultural things such as:

- Italy - we had just completed a long hot drive and were famished. We came across a teeny village and went to its only local restaurant which was closed. However, a gentleman came out and told us (as far as we could tell in his Italian) we could have whatever was left over from lunch. So, we told him how much we wanted to spend and he kept bringing out food - we had no clue what it was until he set it on the table. Some of the best homecooked food ever, served by a gracious host who loved making people happy with his cooking. A fantastic memory.

- Croatia - we were looking for a place to spend the night on one of the islands. We often book in advance but wanted to wing it for a night or two. It was off season and there were no availabilities so we decided to look around the seaside village. It was tiny and had a gorgeous swimming hole. After "talking" with the locals we were waved over to someone's house. We went in and he proceeded to cook us up a meal of fresh fried whitebait and mussels he had just caught. He spoke absolutely no English and we spoke very little Croatian but we managed to have a superb visit. He then asked us to stay overnight (he did not have a B&B but a spare room). He was incredibly hospitable - a superb cultural experience!

- Bodnant Gardens, Wales - my husband and I were strolling amidst one of the most glorious gardens I have ever seen, hand in hand. Incredibly romantic setting. I had tears in my eyes as the beauty was almost too hard to believe and asked my husband, "Have you ever seen anything so beautiful in your life?" He replied, "Yes, you on our wedding day." We were in Paradise and for that moment time stood still and everything was just perfection.

- Istria, Croatia - truffle hunting. Whilst truffle hunting itself is not the most thrilling thing in the world the experience is. We were blindfolded and taken to a location late at night by a local guy who had never taken visitors truffle hunting before. We decided on a rate and did it. We loaded up his dogs and began our journey. The guy spoke only a few words in English but we had such a fantastic time as we are huge truffle fans but also love being immersed in local activities and culture. The dogs found several truffles that night and we were given those that had slight imperfections that he could not sell. The next night we feasted on risotto with our shaved truffles!

- Croatia - we fell so hard in love with the country on our first (well, and subsequent trips) that we decided immediately we must live there some day. So, we began looking for houses and just bought one a few months ago. Whilst we were in that area it was impossibly glorious to know that we would be living there some day and actually live the experience rather than just travel there. It is amazing to be able to look at things in a totally different light - as future residents. When we drive by a little village or the sea or whatever we think, "This will soon be our little village" or "this is where we will find some fresh mussels" or "this is the bakery we will come to each morning". Meeting locals has taken on a whole new meaning - they will be our neighbours! We've already been invited into their homes for meals and olive grove and vineyard tours. Wow. Indescribable.

There are so many to choose from! How do you put one knock your socks off, take your breath away moment ahead of the others?

-Hot air balloon ride in the Australian Outback at dawn. It was so amazingly peaceful, awe-inspiring and energizing at the same time.

-I was lucky enough to spend a few days with a homestay family in a small town near Vienna in 2000. They were so welcoming and friendly, I felt like I was long lost family. They took me to the Danube festival, to an amazing rose garden and on the tour through the Cathedral in Vienna. The sights are amazing, but it's often the people who really touch your heart.

-The Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London. This ceremony has been performed the same way, every single night for centuries.

-Sydney, Australia. I was expecting a big city with busy people, and I got a big city with wonderfully welcoming people and a rich history. A gentleman walked out of his auto shop to ask my small group of four if we needed help or directions. We were simply trying to decide where to go next and he walked well out of his way to offer help to a bunch of strangers.

-London. The people were very friendly, and the history is just amazing. I can't even imagine living or working daily near these landmarks that have been such a part of world history.

-One of Pope John Paul II's Wednesday morning prayer services. I'm not Catholic, I'm not even religious, but that man had charisma and just a presence surrounding him.

-Scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef. It was amazing and terrifying. My small group of six was surrounded by a swirling, flashing, mass of thousands of silver fish. There was an absolute wall of living silver. Every few seconds we could see beyond them to the shapes of people swimming at the surface, large fish, and mysterious shadows that bring to mind the theme music from Jaws. Yikes!!

-Loch Ness in May. The sky was brilliant blue, the gorse was bright gold and Urquart castle was reflecting on the water.

-The other people on the Cosmos tour through England, Scotland and Wales. Most of the people are my parents age and pretty well adopted me once they knew I was travling solo. Couples from the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and even one couple from Malaysia were all so very friendly and always made sure I knew I was welcome to join them in exploring.

Thanks for reminding me of all of those trips and the various groups I've traveled with. The sights are breath taking, wonderous and amazing, but it's the people I meet along the way who really make travel addicting.

Favorite sights -

Duomo San Marco when the lights are on. The gold glass tiles look like the entire building is made of gold, amazing.

Salzburg cityscape in the evening. I walked toward the Brewery on the path along the river and crossed one of the bridges. In the middle I looked back at the old city center. It was one of the most beautiful sights ever.

Favorite ruins -

Rheinfels castle on the Rhine. Wandering through the ruins allows you to let your imagination run wild. Arrive first thing and have the castle mostly to yourself.

Ostia Antica. A chance to see how workaday Romans lived in their day. Surprisingly a person from our age wouldn't feel too out of place. There are roads, apartments, fast food restaurants and public spaces. Again arrive first thing and you will explore without the crowds.

Favorite Museums -

British Museum is just great. Seeing the Rosetta Stone, the key to unlocking so much Egyptian history, is amazing. Greek, Roman and Assyrian treasures are awe inspiring.

Treasure room at the British Library. We were there with only a few other people in the room. Original Magna Carta copies, Carroll's manuscript for Alice and Wonderland, handwritten scores from major classical composers - it was great.

Alte Pinoketec in Munich. The quantity and quality of great art here is amazing. I tend to like classic art up to the impressionists (in the Neue Pinoketec). For modern art lovers there is also the Moderne.

There are so many great museums in Italy, it's almost impossible to pick the best.

Favorite meals -

We were invited to a wedding in Seoul. At the reception they were kind enough to set us with a group of very distinguished older gentlemen who spoke no English. We had great seafood and classic Korean dishes as well as the not-so-great noodles made of squid that were rubber like and dog tongue that was prepared in some way that resulted in two colors, shiny white and bright aqua. We spoke little Korean but will never forget the experience.

In Parametta, Australia we sat down at a little cafe and ordered some seafood. After ordering, a large Italian man came out of the kitchen and asked where we were from in America. I said I grew up in San Diego and he insisted, "You must know my brother." In fact, his brother owned a few restaurant/pizza places in San Diego, sponsored three of my little league teams growing up and was a friend of my mother. My wife was six months pregnant with our first child at the time so he came back and gave us a huge plate of assorted seafood "for the baby".

In Pago Pago, American Samoa we were slightly hungry so went into a small cafe and ordered fried rice and a large soda to share. The lady who took our order was a giant of a woman, not obese but giant. She came back with our food. The plate and cup looked normal size when she was carrying them. When she set them down, however, we felt like we were little children eating with grown up dishes. The plate was bigger than most platters and the cup was probably 64 oz. The fried rice was a mountain, any more and it wouldn't have been able to stay on the plate. The Samoans were all so nice, everyone had permanent smiles on their faces but the humidity was like being in a sauna.

Favorite hike -

Glacier Park in British Columbia (not the US Glacier Park). We took the recommended hike because Grizzlies were a threat at other trails. The hike was on a ridge between two glaciers that resembled views of climbing Mt. Everest. We were hiking with our kids (youngest our seven year old daughter). The only people we saw on the hike were college age young adults who kept remarking how stout our children were to hike to the top. We took some great pictures with the "End of Trail" sign at the top. The views of the wilderness were incredible and we'll never forget the day.

Favorite music -

Traditional sessions in Ireland. In Limerick, I found a pub with a traditional session and had a great time. When they finished, I asked if there was any other music around. I was pointed in a general direction and found a pub with two men playing folk songs on guitars to a huge crowd. I went in and had a nice conversation with a man, woman and their baby over a pint. He made a comment that everyone there was family and I didn't get it until he later told me it was an IRA pub.

Street music performed by remarkably talented musicians.

Choir practices in empty cathedrals.

Favorite Festival -

Bonnfest. Unlike Octoberfest, Bonnfest goes all night and has only one huge bier tent with two stages. On one stage the traditional oompah band played 45 minute sets, then the other stage took over with a rock band playing about 80 percent ABBA songs. Three generations of German families, with very few tourists, crowded the tent, stood on the tables and sang along. Instead of being herded out of the tent at 10:30 like Octoberfest, we left at 4am and the party was still going strong.

Favorite Wildlife Memories -

In Waterton Lakes, Alberta (North of US Glacier Park) we parked at a trailhead for a hike. The parking lot was empty except for at least 50 bighorn sheep (no rams, ewes and babies only). We had our daughter in the car who was using pro-sorbe bottles at the time because she had a milk allergy. I figured the soy based milk wouldn't hurt them so I rolled down the window, squeezed the bottle and squirted them. They instantly were climbing all over themselves to get some of the milk. I got out of the car and went through three bottles while my wife took pictures of my new friends and I. When the milk ran out, the sheep wandered to the edge of the parking lot and leapt 20 to 30 feet across a river gorge with seemingly no effort at all, then disappeared into the woods.

In Kings Canyon National Park, California we were camping at a lake at 9600' elevation. One other couple was also there and doing everything wrong, smoking trout on their fire, wearing perfume, hanging their food only two feet off the ground and using bio-degradable soap in the lake. We went to talk to them about doing things right. (It turned out the guy went to my wife's high-school and was friends with her brother so we've kept in touch since) Later in the day, we pulled our food down for dinner then decided to try to catch a trout or two to have with dinner. Within ten minutes we heard a commotion in our camp and found a large black bear eating our food. We screamed, threw rocks, hit sticks on trees and made enough of a commotion to get the bear to leave. While my wife figured out what food we had left, I worked to start a fire. As I was ready to strike the match, something told me to look over my shoulder. Another full size black bear was inching into camp just a few feet behind my wife. I grabbed her and retreated to a safe distance. We tried to scare this bear away but it didn't leave until all our food was gone. The only thing left was a pack of dentyne gum with a bear's tooth imprint in it. We ate with our new friends that night and all packed out the next day.

One of my main travel experiences that I cherish is the kindness of strangers. Despite language barriers, cultural differences, and political/religious ideological divergence, there is something to be said for being able to approach a total stranger and communicate in order to get help with directions, hailing a taxi, finding that perfect restaurant, or returning a dropped item.

I will never forget when my husband and I landed in Frankfurt, Germany and attempted to navigate the s-bahn from the airport. We were jetlagged and completely bewildered because we hadn't taken public transit in Europe before. Someone sensing our confusion approached us, asked us if we needed help, and showed us how to read the maps, buy the tickets, and how to make the transfers. We were so grateful for that person's help. From that point forward, we used this new skill on many subsequent trips to Europe. That one small gesture made all of the difference in how we traveled.

I had planned a trip to northern Italy, with a house booked for a week near Vicenza and many day-trips already planned in the Veneto. However one of the highlights of that trip, real serendipity, was visiting Mantova. I looked at the map to see where we could spend a few hours en route from Asti to Vicenza. It was pouring with rain in Asti so we couldn't explore there.
Mantova was wonderful, especially the ducal palace which was amazing. It reminded us of the Alhambra in Granada for its scale, the variety of architectural styles and the many hidden treasures (including a room decorated by Mantegna).
On that same trip we also explored the countryside south of Padova and visited Monselice, Este and Montagnana, all beautiful and very different.
And really near the house, in Costezza, we discovered a complex with 3 villas; you could visit the gardens of one of the villas and we ate at a restaurant in another where we were invited to see another of the dining rooms which had ancient frescoes on the ceiling (which I found were featured in a book about Venetian villas I had bought earlier that summer).
Another trip, to the Baltic, plans to go to St Petersburg on a mini-cruise from Helsinki were foiled and with further investigation I discovered we could go to Riga (by bus from Tallinn which we already planned to visit). We are big fans of art nouveau architecture so I'd call that serendipity too.

My trips are usually a string of little things, with sometimes a big experience. But, I travel for the whole experience, the whole package, including both big and little happenings.

Here are a few:

When I was a teen, my family and I were staying at L'Oustau de Baumaniere (sp?) in Les Baux - I still remember the potato and lamb dish I had one night, scented with rosemary. I also remember escaping the boring family (who had the temerity to take us to Baumaniere - imagine!) with another teen, a young man also with his horrible, embarrassing family, to run around in the fields at night. It was a warm, windy, moonlit night, with the smells of lavender, rosemary and thyme swirling around. We may have exchanged a smooch or two... ;)

Last summer, my youngest son and I went to Cozumel (trip planned with Fodor's help, BTW). Together, we discovered a whole new world underwater, watching many fish, eels, and SHARKS! as we went snorkeling. It was magical!

And, an incident I mentioned in my Botswana trip report: my nephew, 17 years old, really did not want to spend his winter vacation with his family (nor did my oldest son). Leaving hot, blond girlfriend and buddies to be with his cousins - a fate worse than death! Then when he saw his first lion, up close and personal (really quite close) I heard him whisper "That's tight!" And, after that, the two senior boys, son and nephew, loved the trip, fascinated by millipedes, lions, black mambas, bucket showers and drop toilets.

A few years back, we went out west. Visited the Grand canyon. We took a little shuttle bus that goes along the rim, and decided to get out and walk between a couple stops. We were hiking along, when we noticed that we were missing a child. PANIC! We retraced our steps, calling him. We asked everyone we saw. We looked everywhere. Then, another shuttle came along. We asked the driver, who said YES! a little boy had been found and had been taken to the visitors center at the last stop. He took us there where we had a tearful, ecstatic reunion, tearful on my part as I fell apart after holding it together during the search. My son (the DS with whom I went to Cozumel) was unfazed, and thrilled to have been given a Coke, which I did not normally allow him to drink.

This has the most wonderful stories! I wish I had see this before as I tried to start a topic on this subject several days ago. I agree with Doug and how he felt seeing the Winged Victory at the Louvre as a real highlight. And all those 'up close and personal' animal stories make me green with envy!

My most memorable moment was in London.

Twenty five years ago, I went to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, not knowing what I would see there. I came across the Cast Room. I'll say what it all is in ordinary terms. It's full scale plaster casts of all the great monuments of the world, in just two rooms. But in extraordinary terms, it is every treasure imaginable jammed together in glorious profusion. One's eyes can't help but dart from one fabulous object to another. Trajan's Column dominates, too large for even for the first huge room, so it is displayed in two sections. Flying angels protrude from the walls, horses strut the aisles and medieval couples sleep peacefully amidst the confusion. It is a breathtaking and unforgettable sight when you first turn the corner and come upon that room.

I was fortunate to return last year and it was every bit as fantastically gorgeous as I had remembered. I was wandering back to the entrance when a young Asian woman and her little girl entered the room. The little girl's eyes widened a large as saucers and her mother instinctively dropped down beside her and together, on the same level, they drank it all in with the most beautiful look of wonderment on their faces.

I knew I had only a split second to capture this, so whipped out my camera and took their picture. It was a terrible photo! Blurry and dark and requiring quite a bit of work to make it viewable. But even in this imperfect state, it showed everything that makes moments like this priceless. Through their eyes, I relived the first time I saw the Cast Room and , for that one magical moment alone , it was well worth going half way around the world .

I seem to remember too that, due to the delicate nature of the casts and also since it would now be impossible to duplicate these Victorian era masterpieces, children were not allowed into these rooms twenty five years ago. How glad I was that this was no longer the case!

Pictures are at http://picasaweb.google.com/kerryajs

Love the topic. My favorite travel experiences are:

* Unplannable interactions with the people I meet along the way.
- In Hoi An, Vietnam, my friend and I had gone to stare at a famed well -- a mere hole in the ground -- from which the water to make a certain kind of noodle reputedly must come. The woman next door invited my friend and me into her front room, where she was teaching English to a mess of small children. We turned into impromptu teaching tools for conversational skills.
- In Marrakesh, a man complimented me on my halting, rusty French in a pharmacy where I was trying to buy talcum powder. He can have no idea how happily and how often I've thought of him over the years.
- Somewhere around Newcastle West in Ireland, as I tried to head from Limerick to Dingle via back roads, I got myself thoroughly turned around and headed into a small country gas station for directions. The man behind the counter chatted happily with me, and with a grand flourish, a bow, and a laugh took a free giveaway AOL disk from a display on the counter and presented it to me as "a token of his appreciation" for my visit to his country.
- Same trip, same problem -- thoroughly lost, this time somewhere in County Cork, I believe. I stopped at a gas station under construction for directions. The very young man to whom I appealed with a "could you help me? I am *totally* lost!" responded with a gentle "ah, well, we're all a little lost now, aren't we?"

* Discovering that thing that in retrospect I can't believe I never knew about each place.
- Pittsburgh's setting is lovely, cradled in the steep hills around its river junction.
- Bavaria has for me a color, the faded "Kodak yellow" of its glorious old churches.
- Tokyo isn't Manhattan. Most of the buildings are no taller than those in Washington, D.C., maybe 10 stories high.
- The Wasatch Mountains rise so abruptly from the pancake-flat valley floor on which Provo sits that the terrain doesn't look real.

* Challenging my assumptions about the way the world is by visiting supermarkets, pharmacies, stationery stores, and other "daily life" spots.
- I smile to remember 21-year-old me standing in a Sainsbury's supermarket in Cambridge, having my mind quietly blown as I discovered that dishwashing liquid could come in a *straight-sided* squeeze bottle. Who knew? Who knew that the U.S.-style curvy squeeze bottle had not descended from on high as the ne plus ultra of dishwashing-liquid bottles?
- My favorite trick for getting myself into ordinary places is shopping for talcum powder everywhere I go. It's cheap, light, and available pretty much everywhere, but not necessarily in the places you'd think. (Finding my powder is how I wound up talking to the man in the little shop in Marrakesh; there, all I could find is powder for babies, and it's kept behind the counter.)

My brother and in a tiny restaurant in Oltrano in Florence, meeting newlywed American couple who had married in Florence and were renting an apartment for a month. They were probably in their 30s, from San Francisco, and invited us to sit with them and have an after dinner drink. We had vin santo and cantucci cookies, then wanted lemoncello and the waiter said, "I drank it all." so we had Grappa, which tasted like battery acid. We told stories and laughed hysterically and had a great time. Kissed each other on each cheek when we parted. I had a bad cold and was physically miserable, but so so happy, the memory that really stands out. And of course the statue of David, another highlight.

Doing a conga line at a Swiss folk show in Lucerne - the whole room got up and danced around the room.

Fireworks on the beach in Waikiki
Fireworks over the castle in Edinburgh after the Military Tatoo
Riding a long tailed boat in Bangkok
Incredible art, incredible theatrical performances, incredible scenery
the Princess hotel in Scottsdale

My only trip abroad was last year, and it was after learning some useful tips from the Fodors forums.

I went to Switzerland for eight days. Based on some advice, I did as much couchsurfing(.org) as I could. It wasn't for the savings, but rather because I was traveling alone, and I wanted to try to experience the real life there. After visiting the CS site, I found the members to be positive, friendly people.

My absolute best, most clear memory of my trip was my first night there. I was staying with a French young woman and her German boyfriend in Bern. I met her after her work. We took the tram (my 8 day all-you-can-ride pass), stopped at a little grocer for fresh ingredients and copious amounts of chocolate, then continued to her flat.

Her boyfriend and I enjoyed a variety of snacks and wine while she cooked and we all chatted. Then we sat over dinner, wine, and chocolate for hours talking about life, the world, our countries, and so on. That was unquestionably the most enriching part of my trip.

Beyond that I enjoyed the architecture and history of Switzerland... an attention to structure and permanence that seems to be missing from much of American life. I fell in love with Luzern/Lucerne, and I spent a night or two in Zurich, Lugano, Luzern, and Geneva as well.

Geneva was the most colorful city in more ways than one, and my CS host there was a gracious man who gave me a tour of the city, including most importantly his favorite pub with its great selection of beers and traditional Swiss food.

Now if I could only figure out how to get a Schengen visa for more than 90 days!

My first trip to Europe was in the city of Rome. I knew that drinks were served warm in Europe and ice had to be requested. We sat down to dinner the first evening at this beautiful sidewalk cafe and I was pleased when the waiter asked what I thought was "Ice?" but what he actually said was "Gas?" which I figured out when he brought sparkling water with no ice. I also learned first hand what is meant by "When in Rome ..." Watch the locals and follow their lead for great service and assistance. During my first trip to Paris I learned not to stop in the bicycle lane and take pictures!

My first trip overseas was for my German class in high school. That trip opened my eyes and gave me a little taste of what was really out there.

My second trip was unforgettable. My best friend and I just graduated college and decided to spend what little money we had on a trip to Europe. We went to London and Paris, also visiting Stonehenge, Bath and Versailles. We met this laid-back Aussie from our tour group, and we hung out with him and another guy from Venezuela the whole time. The Aussie and I completely clicked, and we continued talking after the trip was over. He was stationed in Iraq and I was back home in Ohio, and we planned how we would visit each other when he was home from Iraq. A year later, after multiple visits, we got married!

Since then, together, we've been to Australia & the US, Tahiti, Bora Bora, NYC, Niagara Falls, Ireland (twice), Spain, Morocco, the Netherlands, Mexico, Italy and we are planning a trip to Costa Rica. I can't imagine what amazing experiences I would have missed out on if I wouldn't have met someone who likes to travel as much as I do.

Call me biased, but one of my favorite travel experiences was in Australia. We went from jumping on a sailboat and diving the GBR, to holding a koala and petting a kangaroo at the Cairns Zoo, to stopping on the side of the road and breaking open a sugarcane stalk, tasting the sweetness, to hiking down to Cape Tribulation "where the reef meets the rainforest", to standing next to the termite mounds in Litchfield, to experiencing some interesting cuisine at the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets...such a memorable trip!

We are all so fortunate that we have the means to experience life like this.

I was traveling with a friend and we had mapped out our month backpacking trip pretty precisely. Until one day she left and I stayed behind in Switzerland—I was meant to be meeting with her in a couple days elsewhere. I ran into a girl I knew from school who had come from Germany—a place not on our itinerary—and couldn't stop talking about how much fun she had.

With that, I threw my plans out the window and took off to Germany. I have yet, since then, to plan a vacation. You never know about the best places until you are on your way. And even if you only see what's in the guidebook, knowing you allowed yourself that freedom makes all the difference in your experience.

I was very lucky as a junior in high school to have spent that year as an exchange student living with a family in Saltillo, Mexico. When I came home from that experience I exclaimed to my parents I wanted to explore more of the world and visit Europe. An extravagence in the 1960's. I worked my senior year in high school to pay for my "summer abroad" before I left for college. I remember meeting so many kids from so many other countries in the hostels in London and Madrid and Barcelona. There was no fear and only wondermunt as we hitched for rides from place to place or mapped out our next stop knowing that our final destination was Paris. Meeting up with friends made in London at the American Express Office in Paris (which is where EVERYONE went to get mail and money from home) is probably one of the most vivid memories. What has always stayed with me is how we are all the same. We speak different languages, we have some different customs and ways of expressing our thoughts, but we still care about our families, we are still basically good people who are honest and nice. Call me naive but in the 40 years of travel I have done since that first trip abroad that view of the world has not changed only been reinforced.

Ok, I'm amending my post. Here's an anedote. My family spent a summer in the southwest of France in the small village of Chalus. We had rented a gite for two weeks. During the time we were there we had gotten to know the people in the village, the butcher, the postmaster, the people who owned the small pizzaria, etc. Our last night before returning to Paris, the kids decided they didn't want to eat a big meal out nor did we have the makings to eat at home. So we went to the small pizzaria in the village owned and run by a young couple. There were 7 of us, my husband, our two teenage children, friends from Rome and their one year old. We took up half the restaurant. After we were seated. Each of the people from the village that we had gotten to know over our two weeks there came in and took up the remaining seats at the restaurant, forming one long table. We ended up having a going away party. They toasted to us, we toasted to them. We talked and talked and laughed and got to know each other better. They had not had Americans rent in their tiny village before, usually only Britians. They had preconcieved ideas and we seemed to alleviate them of these ideas. Only our daughter spoke French that was passible, but we all seemed to be able to communicate that evening.

The trains went on strike in Italy (for a soccer game!) and we gathered 10 tourists together from about 4 different countries, and rented 3 Mercedes taxis to take us to Venice. There were 3 students from Canada who were on a tight budget, so we all pitched in and paid their way. We had a German translator to wheel and deal the price- great fun, and met alot of interesting people!

When my wife and I arrived in Rome last March, we were so exited to be finally living a long sought dream that we eagerly sequestered our jet lag, dropped our bags and stormed to the Forum and the Palatine Hill. I was filled with a deep sense of satisfaction as we stared fondly at the vestal pool, the Basilica Julia, and the Domus Augustus. But there is one memory which I will never forget. Our good friends and traveling companions--veteran explorers of Rome--led us to the Basilica of San Clemente, a modest looking façade on the Via Di San Giovanni in Laterano. Our modest first impression was quickly cast aside as we descended to the original basilica, dating to the fourth century. And our surprise at seeing the original basilica was transformed to elation when we descended even further to walk the original herringbone streets of Rome, stand in houses built during the Republic, and gaze at an in situ Mithratic Temple. This was an awe inspiring site! These experiences are truly the stuff of life!

I was 19 and had begged/worked while going to college full-time to go on a Spanish Study Abroad program through my university. After a month studying in Madrid, seeing the Olympics in Barcelona, the World Expo in Seville, etc., my friends and I made use of our Eurrail passes and saw a new city just about every 2 days for a month...England, France, Germany, Austria, and on and on. I started off as a sheltered, innocent Virginia girl and ended with a passion for travel, exploration and education. I am now married, have been a teacher for 15 years and STILL have the bug to travel. We leave for Switzerland next week!

Two iconic Paris experiences that, for me, cemented the city as every bit as romantic and inspiring as it's described:

Both of these were on a weekend trip to Paris with a small group of kids from my study abroad summer in London.

It was scorching hot in mid-July when we were there and we were having a blast, eating gelato every hour and a half or so and taking in the sights around St. Germain.

We didn't want to spend all of our money on lunch, so two girlfriends and I opted for a crepe stand and a crepe au jambon et fromage. Just as we parked ourselves on the curb of a quiet side street to enjoy our simple lunch, talking to each other about how amazing street food is sometimes, a little old french lady walked by with her groceries in a basket, looked at us smiling and said, "Bon appetit mademoiselles!" before walking away.

Who said the French were snooty? I am a firm believer that they love to see people of any age or nationality enjoying the city that they love so much themselves.

The second was an entire night: sunset, cheap wine and music on the steps of the Sacre Coeur while everyone around us mingled and soaked in the amazing view, pink and purple sky and tired pop music...

...and more tired pop (with everyone from Germans to Argentinians and Spaniards to us singing along) later that evening on le Passerelles des Arts - a pedestrian bridge crossing the Seine. More wine, cheese and dancing with strangers on a warm July evening with the twinkling Eiffel Tower with a big, bright Paris 2012 neon sign on it (this was during their Olympic bid in '05). How romantic.

It was the first trip to Paris in 2001. We had a list of places to see. We were walking to Notre Dame and happened to see a sign for Ste Chapelle so we went toward it and found it inside the of the Justice compound. We went in and looked around the bottom floor and then went thru the wooden door to take the stairs up to the chapel. The stairs were a spiral with worn wooden steps. As we got higher the stairway became narrower and my 6' 1" husband started losing room for shoulders. We reached the top floor, took a small left and proceeded to a wooden door dwarfed in a large plain wooden wall. My husband preceded me and opened the door and stepped inside. He virtually came to a dead standstill and I actually ran into his back. He took two-three more steps and that allowed me to step forward and look up. I can quite remember as if it was yesterday, I started to cry and the hair virtually stood up on my arms. With tears running down my face( and I am not particularly religious) I gazed upon one if not the most beautiful places I have ever seen. Photos do not due it justice, and even one viewing cannot allow you to take it all in. We will be in Paris this year for a month and the return visit is an absolute for me.

We had the same experience as misty_in_stl. I swear we would still be stranded in Frankfurt if someone had not helped us out at the train station. Our most memorable experience of our only trip to Europe (and hopefully not our last!) was getting off the boat from a cruise down the Rhine. We were in the middle of street fair in Koblenz and heard music coming over the speakers. The tune seemed familiar...my husband and I recognized it at the same time and cracked up laughing..."you picked a fine time to leave me Lucille" sung in German, by a woman. We knew we weren't in the U.S. anymore! This is also when we discovered we travel best with a map, a rental car and only a vague idea of where we want to end up.