Most interesting place you've visited

[Barry]

Every place I have been to in the USA !!!...

Much truth to that. I'm not much of a traveler. I lived in California most of my life, and seldom even left that state, hadn't exhausted all the beautiful places to visit. My favorite in California is the Big Sur coast between Monterey and Morro Bay.

Did a lot of backpacking in the Sierras, too - absolutely astonishing! Generally went alone because few folks enjoyed my style of backpacking - spend one day walking in, a week trying to figure out where the heck you are and how to get out. Backpacking alone is terribly dangerous, shows horrible judgment, and is highly recommended.

 

[Barry]

Going a bit off-topic here, Pam, but your post (and mine) sorta validate a geopolitical problem: Nevada and California are divided in a way that leaves the North of each state battling with the South. The politics, culture, and geography of Southern California and Southern Nevada have much more in common with one another than either has with the North, the South being largely urban culture and the North being largely rural culture. The dividing line between California and Nevada should have been drawn from East-to-West, not North-to-South. (My tastes run towards the North these days, but when I was growing up back when dinosaurs ruled the earth, Southern California was paradise.)

 

[Sherry]

Well, I'd definitely have to concur with Dave and Cort, Colorado this past October was definitely a high point. Red Rocks, the snow-capped Rockies, the Coors plant, wow...

However, another interesting place I visited as an 18 yr old was the German island of Sylt off the coast of Denmark. Everything about the island was beautiful, interesting, and for an 18 yr old, lots of rowdy fun, but perhaps the most interesting aspect was the way they shuttled you out there by train on a very narrow strip of land. I've attached a Google shot of it. BTW, when I went with my German family, we were parked on the top row of the train. The way it rocked back and forth scared the poo out of me. I can still remember that ride to this day.

 

[Marge]

[geebee] "I'll have to go with Paris (since I haven't yet been to Egypt or Greece). Other than being filled with mostly unfriendly people ...."

That strikes me as strange. The "unfriendly" part, I mean. I've been to Paris a number of times & rarely encountered anybody I'd call "unfriendly". I speak French, which is a help, but my husband doesn't, and he doesn't think Parisians are unfriendly either & hasn't had any problems there. People in Paris have always been very nice to us.

It's hard for me to pick and choose among the places I've been. In the US, probably Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico -- I love that whole area.

Out of the US, probably Oaxaca (Mexico), Venice, and Morocco (especially Fes, Marrakech and the Berber villages in the mountains) were the most fascinating places I've been.

 

[Barry]

[geebee] "I'll have to go with Paris (since I haven't yet been to Egypt or Greece). Other than being filled with mostly unfriendly people ...."

That strikes me as strange. The "unfriendly" part, I mean. I've been to Paris a number of times & rarely encountered anybody I'd call "unfriendly"....

I visited Manhatten several years ago (highly recommended if you like architecture and art) and many people warned me about how unfriendly and hostile New Yorkers were. I found them to be delightfully friendly and helpful (I have a tendency to get lost) and had no problems at all. Even the drug dealers and prostitutes were polite, friendly, and had no problem with "No, thanks."

 

[Karlynn]

Our first night in Paris, last summer, my husband and I were left to fend for ourselves. Our French-speaking daughter was off to meet up with her, then, boyfriend. We wandered into a little restaurant and had a marvelous experience with a very friendly and accomodating waiter, who put up patiently with my Jr. High French. He ended up sitting down and sharing some wine with us. He worked on his English, I worked on my French. It was a great start to our week in Paris. We never experienced anyone unfriendly, some were stand-offish a bit, but most were very willing to help out if we made an attempt to communicate.

Our daughter leaves for 8 weeks in France next Saturday. She'll be living with a French family and taking classes. (French is her double major.) We are so excited for her and her forth-coming experience. Our son is in Italy right now, with 3 more weeks to go. He was required to take 2 months of Italian prior to leaving on his Study Abroad experience. He has emailed me this week that he is so grateful for the 2 months of Italian. He said that those students who don't even attempt to communicate in Italian are having a horrible experience. But he says he's already learned so much more by just trying to speak Italian. Everyone he's encoutered is more than willing to help him out and add to his vocabulary.

So, my money is going to Europe this summer, but I'm not!

 

[Karlynn]

A 'spiritual' place..

Not my photo, but I hiked up there.

Totally awesome place Janie! I think I would spend the rest of my life just traveling, if my funds were unlimited!

 

[Guest]

I think I would spend the rest of my life just traveling, if my funds were unlimited!

Oh my goodness, can I identify with this statement!!!!

Course, the difference being that I'd be road tripping all over the United States...he he he.


Cort, "Mr MC" / "Mr Road Trip", 31swm/pig valve/pacemaker
'72,6,9/'81,7.hobbies.chdQB = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/
MC Guide = http://www.chevyasylum.com/mcspotter/main.html
"I ain't up to being strong now" ... Wynonna ... 'Is It Over Yet'

 

[mamsram]

USA---so much here

USA---so much here

Interesting thread
Hi Cort, just have to say I've done a lot of road travel also. I usually start the trip singing "country road take me home" and then when im weary, I sing, "six days on the road and im gonna make it home tonite"
I love to travel, and have had a lot of wonderful vacations. The only time I have been out of the good ole U.S.of A. Canada (does it count?) (lots of relatives there.) was Indonesia, but thats not on my list.
Most Interesting??--Well beauty is in the eyes of the beholder,hey. So I would have to say the big Island of Hawaii. fascinating, from the ranches, to rain forest, black sand beaches,and the volcano. About the volcano, it was strange to see holes with smoke wafting out and to put your hand near and feel the heat. I was tempted to put my arm in the hole,BUT, what if I touched molten lava, not only would I do some serious damage, but would be thought a fool by all. Another site that I could not stop looking at was the road that stopped abruptly because about four ft. of lava seven miles wide had flowed over it to the sea. There was still a little stream of lava still pouring into the ocean.

Just want to add my Wahington D.C. trip was much better than I had anticipated-- Clean, great subway system and so much to see!

 

[Marguerite53]

almost too hard to choose

almost too hard to choose

I echo others' love of DC. I grew up just outside, had the Mall as my playground, so to speak (in the 1960's). I have not been back lately, but the rock room (before they remodeled it) in the Museum of Natural History was my favorite place to be.

I'll have to admit, though, it's hard to beat an African Safari. I was SO lucky to go to Tanzania with my husband (and in a large group). We stayed in 3 National Parks, Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti.

My favorite moment was rumbling through the Serengeti, 2 couples, our driver and the San Diego Zoo's Animal Behaviorist. We spotted some giraffe far away across the plain. Being NUTS about giraffe, I asked if we could stop to wait for them to get closer. The behaviorist said it was very unusual for giraffe to travel in large groups. This turned out to be 12 of them! I begged our group to wait. We pulled up into the shade. There was a river just to our right and it was obvious the giraffe would be heading for the surrounding acacia trees and the river water.

It was absolutely surreal, watching them lumber slowly across this magnificent plain towards us. One of them never took his eyes off of us. They could have gone anywhere, but the mutual curiosity drew them and eventually they surrounded the jeep (well, Range Rover with flip top). We had the who is watching who, dance, and then they sauntered on to the river. I was star struck!!

There were, of course, so many other amazing encounters with the wildlife. In the crater, one day, we came upon female lions lounging in a shallow pool of water. Many jeeps gathered just abit off the road. Cameras clicking wildly. Then, they decided they'd had enough, got up and walked toward us. Man! Down came the flip top,up went the windows, off clattered the telephoto lenses!! They walked right past our window, practically brushing up to the side of the jeep -- could have reached out to pet them. The driver (local) was laughing so hard at us! Why close the windows. If those lions want you, no window is going to stop them!!

This has been a fun thread, thanks, Barry. I've had such a lovely life thus far!! This old heart thing is just a little bump in the road. Remembering special places and hearing about others. It is so good to be here, isn't it??

Marguerite

 

[Guest]

Hi Cort, just have to say I've done a lot of road travel also. I usually start the trip singing "country road take me home" and then when im weary, I sing, "six days on the road and im gonna make it home tonite"

He he he...and, let's not forget Willie Nelson's "On The Road Again" . I usually think of that one while I'm packing for my trips .

 

[Marguerite53]

try this one....

try this one....

Cort et al. When you're travelling through mountains and western countryside, try Bob Dylan's soundtrack to Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. I just love that music when cruising through Colorado. Makes me feel like I'm really back in the old West!

Marguerite

 

[CJL]

Hi - I'm new to VR.com and so very glad someone guided me to the link! I had aortic valve replacement surgery in Jan 2004 and have only talked to one person (other than the docs) who has had the surgery! I have been reading all the terrific and helpful information you all have posted. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Since my surgery I've moved to Germany and have been travelling everywhere, whenever I can. The US, is, of course, my favorite and my last city there was DC - I'd been there on a senior trip (many, many moons ago) but living there for several years afforded time and now maturity in which to visit our fabulous memorials, museums, etc., there. Before DC, I lived in Alaska for 8 years and there I believe I saw the most beautiful land to date! The northern lights were magical and breathtaking - different colors, movements, and believe it or not - sounds! The winter is my favorite time because I'm orginally a Florida girl and up until Alaska had never seen snow, really. The ice and snow in Alaska is indeed like a winter wonderland! Ok, it does get -30 degrees Farenheit sometimes, but that's just a minor issue Now, that I'm in Europe, I have travelled to Budapest, Hungary,and Luxembourg just yesterday for Memorial Day events at the American Cemetery there. Visited Paris and other parts of France -- many places here in Germany -- so many places to go, so little time!

I enjoyed so much reading about everyone else's travels and experiences - gives me more ideas on where I want to go. Also, the island of Sylt that someone had visited is on my list! I was just reading about it this past week. Thanks for the info.
Cheryle

 

[Georgia]

One of my favorites is the St. Lawrence - Thousand Islands, Port Alexander. I grew up in that part of the world and have loved going back. Also love the Canadian Maritimes. An underrated part of the world.

 

[geebee]

I am so happy so many had good people experiences in Paris. Maybe being able to speak French (even a little) helps. I was there visiting a friend who was studying French and the experiences I had with Kia were nicer than the ones I had when I was sightseeing alone. Maybe it was just a cultural thing and not personality issues but I did not have anyone who seemed interested in trying to communicate with me other than a couple from Mexico who owned a store. I was able to "talk" with them because of my high school Spanish and found it interesting that they felt the discomfort levels in Paris that I did.

Maybe things will be better when I go there next to show it to my S/O who has never been.

Incidentally, just got back from a trip to NC from OH. I had forgotten how beautiful the Smoky & Blue Ridge mountains were. We traveled through the Blue Ridge going and the Smoky Mountains coming back. What great memories and new experiences the trip triggered.

Another fascinating place - Teotihuacan in Mexico. The pyramids of the sun & moon are impossible to describe. Marsha - I agree with you about Mexico City. Despite being so very crowded and busy, it is a fascinating city. The Anthroplogy museum is unmatched (Anthropology major here) and the culture is constantly changing. I had my first sushi in a restaurant in Mexico City Talk about enjoying diverse cultures (and a little bravery or stupidity )

 

[Guest]

Cort et al. When you're travelling through mountains and western countryside, try Bob Dylan's soundtrack to Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. I just love that music when cruising through Colorado. Makes me feel like I'm really back in the old West!

He he he...I can imagine!

On one of our family trips out west, we put on a tape of the theme to Chariots Of Fire as we traveled along the roads in the mountains ... it was an extremely awesome experience ... one that none of us (Mom, Dad, my sis and I) have not forgotten .

 

[strawberry]

Harrybaby, I loooove Aruba. Of course it's the only place I've ever been to outside North America. Took a three week camping trip up to Canada, over to the falls, and back to Ohio. Yes Ohio Ross. You're from Canton it says? You have that football hall of fame right? And who can forget King's Island? Come on, you can walk in the Brady Bunch footsteps...The log flume where Jan lost Mr. Brady's Architect plans, the Racer where they rode. Ah, memories. So Ohio ain't so bad.

 

[Susan BAV]

I think the most favorite place my husband and I have visited was Interlaken, Switzerland. Magnificent. We went up Jungfrau, in a cog train, but not all the way up to the top to Jungfraujoch. Mountains, Alps in this case, have always had an extraordinary appeal to me. We also went up Pilatus, in a gondola-type thing, above Lucerne. Breathtaking. And there's a really cool tunnel system cut through the top of the mountain there that you can walk through. We were there in August, four years ago. There are cows and goats up grazing in the high mountain meadows that time of year and some can be so far away, just dots to your vision, perhaps miles away, and you can still hear the bells they all wear echoing through the valleys. So beautiful.

During that same trip, we stayed in Paris for a week and traveled through France a bit and another beautiful place we visited was a very old village in the Burgandy region called Beaune (I hope I'm spelling it correctly). The architecture and history (and wine!) of some of those places is amazing. We bought some phrase books with the phonetic pronunciations and, in French, we would just gently apologize to each clerk or waiter and ask them if they could speak English. We didn't have one personal rude experience and all but one pleasant clerk could speak English at least to some degree.

 

[Bionic Valve Tim]

geebee
The attitude of french citizens seems to be a touchy topic when I talk to people who have been to Paris. Again, I had only positive (and generally very positive) experiences with Parisians, but I always spoke what little French I could manage before asking (in French) if they spoke English. A small gesture that seemed to go a long way.

I'd guess that most American retailers and food service workers would quickly tire of people coming into their place of business and expecting to place orders in a foreign language. For some reason, many Americans don't seem to see it as rude when we go overseas and do just that!

I also suspect that it's a self-fulfilling prophecy. American's who expect the French to be rude end up feeling that the French are rude.

Then again, I've spoken to Americans who have gone with an open mind, and have tried speaking French, but still had bad experiences--so who knows! Just the luck of the draw, I suppose.






Good thread, btw. I love hearing about all of these great places!

Tim

 

[MelissaM]

One night, toward the end of my stay in Phuket, Thailand, I sat and watched the fishermen bring in their catch. We started talking in that way that transcends language - gestures and smiles, pieces of each other's native tongues. He brought me several fish, pointed to my group of friends, then pointed to a restaurant on shore, indicating they would cook them up for us.

It was a totally kind gesture, out of the blue, and very indicative of the Thai people. They were kind folk and Phuket is truly Heaven on Earth. When the tsunami struck the area, I thought back to the kindness of this fisherman, and could only hope he and his loved ones were safe.


Melissa