When you go away there are times when you take a moment and realize where you are, how amazing it is, that you get goosebumps. These are my Top 10 Goosebump moments.
1) VENICE, ITALY- Although by far the most touristy place I’ve seen, I couldn’t help but get goosebumps the first time I was there. Venice had always been a dream to see. One evening, as the Piazza San Marco was in lights, live quartets were playing music, there was a light drizzle that kept crowds to a minimum. I just stood there in the rain, listening to the music, danced with myself in the square, and was in Heaven.
2) VIS, CROATIA- I was on the balcony of this villa on a hill where I was staying at (really cheaply I might add), having an evening drink watching the twilight settle over the idyllic island town and harbor. Closest thing to paradise I have ever experienced.
3) VIENNA, AUSTRIA- I had always dreamed of visiting this city, especially after the movie “Before Sunrise”. I must admit that upon arrival from the Sudbahnof I was a bit disappointed. However, during an after-dinner stroll I came across the Hofburg Palace Complex and all the regal grandeur I had anticipated… complete with a horse-drawn carriage going through the gates. I’ve been in love with this city ever since!
4) MOUNT WASHINGTON, NEW HAMPSHIRE- The first time I hiked this notorious mountain my buddy and I trekked up the very challenging Tuckermine Ravine Trail. When we finally got to the top, after some very scary moments, I could not have been more exhilarated. The views were unrivaled and I felt like Superman.
5) NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK- Riding the famous Maid of the Mist into the Falls was amazing, but nothing compared to going to the Cave of the Winds under the Bridal Veil Falls. The sheer power of the Falls overwhelms you as you get smacked with water and wind. My poncho got shredded. I laughed so hard I didn’t even recognize the cackling sound I heard was coming from me. AWESOME!
6) BARCELONA, SPAIN- My first evening EVER abroad, I just stepped out of my pension, listening to the non-English languages around me, surrounded by gothic architecture, soaking in the atmosphere, having a cigarette… I knew I wasn’t “in Kansas” anymore and that the travel bug had bit me hard! This first experience will always be with me.
7) BERGEN, NORWAY- The fjords of Norway are majestic, but photos do not do the area justice. Taking a fjord cruise, feeling the chilly misty air, smelling the freshest air on Earth and approaching a remote green island with classical music playing on the boat was amazing.
8) LISBON, PORTUGAL- Standing in a rooftop bar (above a garage) in the atmospheric Bairro Alto of Lisbon watching the sunset over the city with a new friend in my arms was romanticism at its greatest.
9) LAKE BLED, SLOVENIA- Emerald lake, check; Old island church in the middle, check; Castle on a cliff overlooking lake, check; Surrounded by snowcapped mountains check. Realizing that this straight out of a fairy tale place is real and that I was finally there was like a wish come true.
10) GRIMSEY ISLAND, ICELAND- After dealing with a literally sickening three hour cruise, we finally reached this island that lies ABOVE the Arctic Circle. It was worth it. Not like I imagined the Arctic to be, with grasslands and lots of sheep, but the marker on the island is all the proof I needed. Thankfully the ride back was smooth, and that did look like the Arctic.
