Art wanted to share this Trip Advisor website with me because he said we’ve managed to almost see all the attractions listed as the 10 most popular in the world.
The #1 spot was Rome’s Colosseum.
Our first overseas family trip was to England. We played it safe by going to an English speaking country. We then decided to go to Rome in 1993. We were absolutely awed by the Colosseum and the mechanisms underneath that created incredible spectacles for the citizens. We loved the food and all the famous sites from the ancient past. The Roman Forum contained the exact spot where Caesar was stabbed to death. I loved the Galleria Borghese which had the most amazing statue done by Bernini of Apollo and Daphe.
#2 Louvre Museum, Paris
Art and I went to Paris during my 1997 school winter break. I recall catching a cold, but still enjoying... again... the incredibly delicious dishes we sampled. It was such a thrill to see artwork that we'd only seen in books. I was surprised that the Mona Lisa was not very big. That Mona Lisa behind me must have been a poster, because it really was much smaller. I wasn't all that much a fan of the I.M. Pei pyramid. It just seemed incongruous in that setting. I was sorry the kids weren't with us. It was the first time we traveled without them.
#3 Vatican Museum, Rome, Italy
This was the same winter trip to Rome in 1993. We loved seeing the nativity scene outside the Vatican. The La Pieta by Michelangelo was breathtaking at St. Peter's Basilica. The Vatican Museum was extremely impressive. We were amazed at the colossal statue of Father Nile.
#4 Statue of Liberty, New York
Spring break in 1991 found us taking an East coast trip with the kids. As I recall, we had to wait in line for almost 2 hours before being able to climb up the statue. It's sad to see the Twin Towers behind us.
#5 Eiffel Tower, Paris
This was the same 1997 winter break trip to Paris. And yes, of course we went up the Eiffel Tower also.
#6 Basilica of the Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain
We first went to Spain in 2000 and saw Antoni Gaudi's famous Roman Catholic basilica. We saw lots of areas in the basilica where work was still going on. Construction began in 1882. At the time of Gaudi's death in 1926 only a quarter of the building was completed.
When we went back 14 years later we were amazed a see a lot of progress on the gargantuan place of worship. The basilica is about as unique a place of worship as you're likely to see anywhere in the world and we were captivated by it.
#7 French Quarter, New Orleans
We went to New Orleans during another of my school winter breaks and found it charming and interesting. Art tried their jambalaya and oyster on a half shell. I had the best catfish I'd ever eaten.
We visited the Destrehan Plantation and saw how people in the 1700's lived. Yes, there was definitely slavery. However, everyone was so nice to us at the plantation that I commented to one of the workers who happened to be African American how surprising it was to find such courtesy. He told me that was because I was in a tourist area and that it would be different once I left the grounds. I wonder.
And yes, we definitely tried their beignets which were just like the Portuguese malasadas in Hawaii.
#8 Anne Frank House, Amsterdam, Netherlands
We went to Amsterdam in 2007 because Art wanted to try the riverboat biking tour. I had not been on a bike in 30 years, and I must tell you it was a challenge. We spent a few extra days before and after the tour in Amsterdam and visited a number of interesting places. We had to wait in a long, long line to see the Anne Frank House. It was strange to walk through the areas that Anne once walked, wrote and dreamed of a better day.
#9 Skydeck- Willis Tower, Chicago
It's rather hilarious to know that though we lived in Chicago and have been to the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower (which we still call the Sears Tower) we haven't been on the Ledge. The ledges are glass boxes that jut out of the building that you can step into and hope you don't suffer from acrophobia.
#10 Piazza San Marco, Venice
We were in Venice in 2014 and saw a bit of the flooding that was already going on. It's hard to imagine what it must be like to have flood waters rising to your hip. Wow!
OK... It was interesting to hear what Trip Advisor thinks, but I think there are other places that are just as interesting.
What places would you vote for?
The #1 spot was Rome’s Colosseum.
Our first overseas family trip was to England. We played it safe by going to an English speaking country. We then decided to go to Rome in 1993. We were absolutely awed by the Colosseum and the mechanisms underneath that created incredible spectacles for the citizens. We loved the food and all the famous sites from the ancient past. The Roman Forum contained the exact spot where Caesar was stabbed to death. I loved the Galleria Borghese which had the most amazing statue done by Bernini of Apollo and Daphe.
#2 Louvre Museum, Paris
Art and I went to Paris during my 1997 school winter break. I recall catching a cold, but still enjoying... again... the incredibly delicious dishes we sampled. It was such a thrill to see artwork that we'd only seen in books. I was surprised that the Mona Lisa was not very big. That Mona Lisa behind me must have been a poster, because it really was much smaller. I wasn't all that much a fan of the I.M. Pei pyramid. It just seemed incongruous in that setting. I was sorry the kids weren't with us. It was the first time we traveled without them.
#3 Vatican Museum, Rome, Italy
This was the same winter trip to Rome in 1993. We loved seeing the nativity scene outside the Vatican. The La Pieta by Michelangelo was breathtaking at St. Peter's Basilica. The Vatican Museum was extremely impressive. We were amazed at the colossal statue of Father Nile.
#4 Statue of Liberty, New York
Spring break in 1991 found us taking an East coast trip with the kids. As I recall, we had to wait in line for almost 2 hours before being able to climb up the statue. It's sad to see the Twin Towers behind us.
#5 Eiffel Tower, Paris
This was the same 1997 winter break trip to Paris. And yes, of course we went up the Eiffel Tower also.
#6 Basilica of the Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain
We first went to Spain in 2000 and saw Antoni Gaudi's famous Roman Catholic basilica. We saw lots of areas in the basilica where work was still going on. Construction began in 1882. At the time of Gaudi's death in 1926 only a quarter of the building was completed.
When we went back 14 years later we were amazed a see a lot of progress on the gargantuan place of worship. The basilica is about as unique a place of worship as you're likely to see anywhere in the world and we were captivated by it.
#7 French Quarter, New Orleans
We went to New Orleans during another of my school winter breaks and found it charming and interesting. Art tried their jambalaya and oyster on a half shell. I had the best catfish I'd ever eaten.
We visited the Destrehan Plantation and saw how people in the 1700's lived. Yes, there was definitely slavery. However, everyone was so nice to us at the plantation that I commented to one of the workers who happened to be African American how surprising it was to find such courtesy. He told me that was because I was in a tourist area and that it would be different once I left the grounds. I wonder.
And yes, we definitely tried their beignets which were just like the Portuguese malasadas in Hawaii.
#8 Anne Frank House, Amsterdam, Netherlands
We went to Amsterdam in 2007 because Art wanted to try the riverboat biking tour. I had not been on a bike in 30 years, and I must tell you it was a challenge. We spent a few extra days before and after the tour in Amsterdam and visited a number of interesting places. We had to wait in a long, long line to see the Anne Frank House. It was strange to walk through the areas that Anne once walked, wrote and dreamed of a better day.
#9 Skydeck- Willis Tower, Chicago
It's rather hilarious to know that though we lived in Chicago and have been to the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower (which we still call the Sears Tower) we haven't been on the Ledge. The ledges are glass boxes that jut out of the building that you can step into and hope you don't suffer from acrophobia.
#10 Piazza San Marco, Venice
We were in Venice in 2014 and saw a bit of the flooding that was already going on. It's hard to imagine what it must be like to have flood waters rising to your hip. Wow!
OK... It was interesting to hear what Trip Advisor thinks, but I think there are other places that are just as interesting.
What places would you vote for?
I wish I could see any of those. I think New Orleans would technically be closest to me.
ReplyDeleteYou have been very fortunate.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to have such a breadth and depth of travel experience!
ReplyDeleteYou are such intrepid travelers!
ReplyDeleteYou are certainly world travelers. I dislike flying myself so generally just stay home.
ReplyDeleteI havent seen 6-9. Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteWhat a delightful personalization of those top spots. I'm surprised the museum let you take a flash (?) photo in front of the Mona Lisa.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite spot is HAWAII! The Iolani Palace was amazing, along with it's background history and stories. My tour of the Queen's Summer House had wonder docents providing many back stories of Hawaiian history. Linda in Kansas
Oh gracious! We would NEVER use a flash in a museum. That photo was lightened through the magic of Photoshop. Some museums won't even let you take photos, period. I was really surprised that the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam let everybody take photos of anything. Pretty darn amazing. I am so grateful for Photoshop.
DeleteWe have checked off seven of these. Haven't made it to Chicago yet, or Spain, and while I have been to New York, the Statue of Liberty was closed when we were there.
ReplyDeleteI've only seen three on that list: Sagrada Familia is most recent, New Orleans French Quarter, in 2017 and Statue of Liberty in last century. I'd like to see Paris and those sights someday though Dan doesn't want to go to France. None of the others are on our list to see.
ReplyDeleteI've seen five of them and sure would like to see the French Quarter one of these days. :-)
ReplyDeleteWow, you have seen so much of this amazing planet. You were smart and didn't wait for retirement and a bucket list. Never would I want to stand on the Ledge. Pictures of that make me queasy.
ReplyDeleteNo famous sites in China? No famous sites in Egypt. Well, you cannot see it all.
ReplyDeleteThe Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings... I agree.
DeleteI would also put in Angkor Wat in Cambodia. There are so many amazing places. However, I think this list was compiled of places that had the most visitors. I think.
Oh my, I haven't been to any of those places! You and your family are true world travelers.
ReplyDeleteTen great places to go. I went out on the ledge at Willis towers. I took the picture down between my feet.
ReplyDeleteI have been to all but the Anne Frank home and the Willis tower.
ReplyDelete