The “I’m really here” moment

First time in London,coming up from the underground and seeing Big Ben
In rome,seeing StPeters Square .

Walking around Wengen in the sunshine surrounded by the Alps in June and the view of the Lauterbrunnen Valley from my Hotel Bellevue.

At the end of the very first jetlagged day on our first trip overseas back in 2012, my wife and I getting (pleasantly) lost wandering the streets in Weston village area - just outside the tourist areas in Bath- and looking for our hotel with just the fading light in the June late evening sky. The town is touristy, but this was just us wandering for some time through lovely neighborhoods lost in a pre-Google Maps world. It felt so genuinely local, so English and so different from home. Sometimes it's a blessing to get "lost".

EVERY time I visit Paris I walk to the Champ de Mars as soon as I check in to my hotel and walk toward the Eiffel Tower. I've done it at least half a dozen times and that is always my....I'm HERE! moment!

My first trip to Italy, coming up out of the Metro in Milan and seeing the incredible Duomo. Havinf a similar experience in Rome with the Colosseum. Then again, in Rome, rounding the corner and having the Pantheon right in front of me. Unbelievable!

On my first completely solo trip overseas, the moment when I came around the corner in Florence and there was the Duomo. I nearly cried in the middle of the street. Just the thought of that feeling makes me think about trying to figure out how to live there half a year and here the other half.

First time in London,coming up from the underground and seeing Big Ben

Yes, good one, same thing happened for me. The perfect dramatic "reveal"...

Catching my first sight of the Eiffel Tower 40 plus years ago is one I will never forget...

The first time I visited Rome (1998) and saw the Trevi fountain. It was low on my wish list of sights--I thought it would be cliched and touristy (duh, what was I thinking, I am a tourist)--but in real life it was full on magic and made me feel like I had truly arrived in Italy. I have since been to Rome five additional times, and each time I revisit the fountain because I love it so much. What I appreciate most is the sound of the rushing water: you can hear the fountain before you see it.

My husband and I are too easy --- every single time we land at an airport in Italy as soon as we see the coffee shop (and I don't even drink coffee). That's a dozen times, never gets old.

Having taken the Eurostar over from London, I walked out of Gare du Nord and for a moment was “struck dumb.” Then I said aloud: “oh my God, I am in Paris.” I almost cried with a mix of joy and overwhelm.

I've heard it said a few times, when you plan a first trip to Europe, plan the most familiar feeling countries to be first in the itinerary. I imagine for me, it would be Great Britain, Scandinavia, etc. Probably not Hungary. For my first trip, we started in Vienna, which wasn't much of a jolt. Many spoke English, it was easy to get around, food was more or less familiar. Then we took a train, at night, to Budapest. At the country border, guards walked thru. That felt a little creepy. Then when we got to the train station someone walked up and tried to grab my son's suitcase. The person selling the metro tickets did not speak English, but I was prepared with a card with my destination in block letters. (She was extraordinarily nice, gave us a map, and made clear we knew where to get off). We got off close to parliament with guards patrolling the building wearing what to me looked like communist uniforms. It was a Sunday night and streets were empty. I told my son, "we are not in Kansas, anymore" (We're from Minnesota but the quote seemed appropriate). This was about 10 years ago and I imagine much has changed. When we got up the next morning, it had snowed and Budapest was absolutely gorgeous. We did a tour of parliament which is stunning and the guide spoke English. The guards looked less menacing, and the city architecture was interesting and beautiful and sparkled with the snow covering. It was easy to fall in love with Budapest.

A few years later, my husband and I went to France. I had only wanted to go to the countryside because Paris was supposedly just a big dirty city. Well, we loved all of France including Paris, and the Eiffel tower at night, wow! That did it and was when we became Francophiles.

Arriving at our hotel in Athens at night and went to the rooftop lounge to get something to eat. We walked out on the rooftop and were blown away by the sight of Acropolis right in front of us!

My husband and I are too easy --- every single time we land at an airport in Italy as soon as we see the coffee shop (and I don't even drink coffee). That's a dozen times, never gets old.

Ha ha Nancy! Ditto! On our first trip I could not BELIEVE how great it was to belly up to that counter and get an espresso hit!

I still get that joyful feeling on every walk in the Dolomites or Alps.

On my first trip back to Europe in decades I took my father to London and France.
The main/First we are here moment was after getting out of the tube we rounded a corner in the Street and aaa Tower Bridge. My dad (in his 80s) was bouncing.

Second moment was latter in the same trip walking towards the Eiffel Tower from our hotel we rounded the corner and got our first good look at the Tower from base to the top. A place that I have alwas dreamed of going to.

And to further the excitement, espresso at the airports in Italy is still about a euro, not exponentially more than prices in town!

On my first trip, arriving at my hotel, and thinking the street looked like something out of My Fair Lady. And with a perfect local pub on the next block.

We usually begin our Europe trips by flying to London for at least 3 nights, arriving early afternoon. Drop our bags at the hotel in Earls Court,and hightail it to the V and A Museum Cafe.

First bite of the scone with clotted cream and jam. Ahhh, I'm in London!

Every time we go to Iceland, we take a photo of ourselves at the “Exit To Iceland “ sign. It’s a thing there, and yes we do it too. Just a few more days until we see that sign again!

A recent(ish) one (2019) was walking on the Red Square in Moscow for the first time, at night. I was in Moscow for work on a very last-minute trip, and Russia had never been on my radar as a possible destination, so it felt quite unreal.
The fact that I was upgraded to the most ridiculous suite facing the Kremlin at the National Hotel further added to the "unrealness" of it all!

The reality for us comes after we’ve been back from a trip and we say, “I can’t believe we were in X less than a month ago. It hardly seems like we were ever gone.”

If I had to choose a few I’m really here moments, they would be standing in front of the Casa Rosada in Buenos Aires, seeing the aqueduct in Segovia for the first time, or coming over the hill and seeing the walls of Ávila for the first time.

Checking in at my hotel, purchasing and setting up 2 x 30-day data SIM cards, and continuing on with a couplea hour walk before settling in for a drink at a street side cafe.

Thankfully I've had the "I'm really here moments" often and there's still that magic feeling.

In normal work life I'm a blacksmith with a deep interest in the history of iron making technology. That moment really hit me in the chest to stand before THE Iron Bridge or Abraham Darby's first coke furnace where the industrial revolution began. Up to that point I'd only ever read about these places but I was finally standing there. I still get excited when I find 16th-18th century forged iron work and can spend a long time searching for and examining the hammer marks or looking for the evidence of welds.

The last time in London it was simply walking into a Tesco Expres, going to Borough Market and sitting in the window of my hotel room and watching the mornings come to life on the Thames.

In Venice, we were "wandering" to San Marco, taking in as much as I visualy could along the way. We turned yet another corner and...the Basilica was right in front of me!

One from my first trip, solo, in 1977: Going to St. Peter's for Christmas Eve midnight mass. I've had many other "I'm really here" moments, but none as impressive as that.

I'd met an Australian woman at the hostel in Bath in early October and ran into her again at the one in Florence in latish December. We'd both decided to try to go to St. Peter's for midnight mass. On the SRO train to Rome we met an Italian guy who lived in Rome. He said he'd try to get us a seat. It was way too late for that, but he did give us advice on what to do.

Take the bus to St. Peter's. Get there about an hour early (22:00) to wait outside. Get as close to the doors as possible. When they open at 23:00, run up the stairs and into the nave.

The center aisle will be blocked off because that's where the procession will go from the back of the church to the altar. Get as close to the aisle and to the corner where the last row of chairs intersect. Stay there until mass begins (24:00) and as long as it lasts. Do not let anyone push you out of the way and do not think you will get a better viewpoint.

We followed his advice and did exactly what he said. We ended up at the intersection of the aisle and chairs. The Pope at that time was Paul VI. He was quite old and frail and was carried in on an open litter. My friend was Catholic. I'm not, nor am I much of a believer, but he made eye contact with both of us and blessed us with the sign of the cross. She cried. I was dumbstruck.

Start to finish, it was most definitely an "I'm really here" event.

We'd been on our feet for 3+ hours, but we were full of youthful energy. It was a good thing because when we came out of St. Peter's the buses had stopped running and there were no taxis to be had. Fortunately, in the time we waited inside we met and talked to a young American woman who was studying architecture in Rome. She said she lived quite close to the pension where we were staying and volunteered to guide us home. That was at least another hour of walking, but we had a great time talking with her along the way.

Needless to say, I was totally exhausted by the time I crawled into my bed, but I will never forget that experience. In fact, when I was last in Rome (2017) I scheduled a tour that included the tombs below and spent some time at the one of Pope Paul VI.

The most profound "I am really here moment" when I sat across the traffic circle from the Arc de Triomphe and felt someone unzipping the flap on my backpack. Yup, welcome to Paris. I was really there.

For me, I'd have to say actually seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland. My friend and I were so excited, we just started jumping up and down.

Being at the Roman Forum... well at least one of them, and then walking the Appian Way. The same path. :)

This distinctive and unique sound is always a good reminder that, "YES, I'm really back in Italy" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29leW_wEi2E .

Rome - climbing the Spanish steps with the azalea bushes in bloom and enjoying the view, seeing the first of many fountains in Rome.
It was exhilarating to be there after such a long flight!

Venice - the first view of the Grand Canal was amazing, and riding the vaporetto on the Grand Canal was a dream come true.

Athens - climbing Mars Hill where the Apostle Paul spoke was inspiring as well as seeing the Acropolis lit up at night!

Oia, Santorini - walking on the promenade and side streets and seeing the blue domed churches, the caldera, and the windmills was even more spectacular than the pictures we had seen! Hiking from Imerovigli to Fira on the coastal path with the breathtaking views of the caldera was awesome!

London - coming up out of the tube to the Westminster area and actually seeing the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, the red telephone booths and red double decker buses

Bath - having tea at the Pump Room made us feel part of the Jane Austen era

Paris - sitting at a cafe on the Champs Elysees and seeing the Arc de Triomphe and realizing how large it really was!

Interlachen, Switzerland - seeing the paragliders over the Alps and experiencing the majesty of the mountains!

I love this post!
Ken, that ambulance sound takes me back as well. Also, the train station bell clanging as a train approaches. So many moments in Italy!

On my first trip to London in 2005, on my first day, I was walking over the Westminster Bridge towards Parliament when Big Ben started to chime. “WOW! I’m In London!”

My first time in Paris, coming out of the "wrong" exit from the RER-B Saint-Michel Notre-Dame station. Instead of coming up near the Saint Michel Fountain, I came out looking up at Notre Dame. Bam! I did not mind being over a block off course that morning.

I'm enjoying reading these responses!

Spotting the Eiffel Tower, the Florence Duomo, the dome of St. Peter's for the first time-they were all moments that left me totally awestruck. There's just something special about finally seeing something in person that you've seen a hundred times in movies, pictures, and history books. To me it's no wonder that people bear the crowds and heat to see some of these iconic places!

Outside of those types of moments, I always have that "I'm really here" moment when I start hearing (and sometimes trying to speak) the language of whatever country I'm visiting. While I have very basic knowledge of Spanish, Croatian and Italian, I still enjoy trying to converse with locals in those countries (sometimes successfully, sometimes not so much!).

Our first trip: we flew into Milan, bus to train station, train to Venice. As we drew near, we saw the city appearing to rise up out of a fog … unforgettable.

I had that though and feeling when I was in the center of Warsaw as a teenager, many years ago. I still remember this moment :)

The Eiffel Tower in Paris….from an overlook in Montmartre to night time twinkling down by the river Seine. Never gets old. I get the same feeling when I see the Statue of Liberty in the NY harbor. Interesting that the same man created/helped design both iconic structures.

A different take, 1999 arriving at CDG in Paris (our first European Trip) and walking down the spiral ramp.....and seeing the gendarmes standing about carrying automatic weapons. Something I had never thought of in the USA! Not in Kansas anymore for sure.

Two hours later standing in the Champ de Mars looking at the Eiffel tower - now we are really here

Hearing Big Ben toll!

Walking from Palentine Hill to the Colosseum at Sunrise.

Walking out of the train station in Venice.

Walking from my Rue Cler accommodation to the Eiffel Tower.

Climbing the stairs in Statue of Liberty.

Looking out at NYC from atop the World Trade Center in the 80’s

Looking out the windows of the Washington Monument at the Mall and Capitol Bldg

Having to pull over to gather myself on an early Sunday morning after driving through Dealey Plaza and past the grassy knoll in Dallas. An X is painted on the road. That disturbed me.

Seeing murals of Fidel Castro in Havana

Seeing Diamond Head in 1969.

Saying aloud on my first trip to Ireland as a I glanced out the window “_______ it really is that green!”

Seeing the Grand Canyon from a helicopter.

Watching a tornado set down in Grand Island from a friends back porch in Kearney ( 40 miles away) NE.

Watching the plumes of ash and smoke billowing from Mt St Helens from the rooftop of the student union building at Lower Columbia College.

And sitting in Section 43 Row 21 Seat 14 in Candlestick Park on October 17, 1989 when the quake hit.

Last perennial favorite; staying at Yosemite Lodge and walking along the path to Yosemite Falls.

Should be spectacular this year. Heading there in a few weeks. Yosemite’s grandeur never fails to make me smile. Even with the crowds.

For me it's always the first truly relaxed moment, usually sitting down somewhere with a drink. A nice one was on a big restaurant terrace on the wild Danube.

When we went to Spain, that first morning in Madrid we walked to Plaza Mayor. The moment was sitting at a restaurant for a snack and drink and watching the people go by. I'm tearing up a little just from the memory!

The grassy hill at Little Big Horn, Mt Suribachi, architecture in Pisa, my maternal grandmother’s home in Oslo, espresso looking out at the Med on an overnight train from Rome, sunrise over the Pacific in a C-141 cargo aircraft, driving through Kabul. The I’m really here moment can be the mundane or the dramatic.

The I’m really here moment can be the mundane or the dramatic.

Yup, like fresh figs for breakfast at a tourist farm (turistična kmetija) in SW Slovenia.

Like nancys8 I'm easily impressed! First time back to Europe after my first trip as a college student many years prior. My "I'm really here" moment was stepping off the plane in Brussels and seeing the giant photos of the Grand Place and other sights I'd been reading about for the past year. I was already in love before I even went through passport control.

First time to California--smelling eucalyptus
First time in Alaska--mountain peaks bathed in mist. rising above the ocean, with ravens flying around
First time to Hawaii--the warmth, palm trees, and smelling plumeria (as a kid, I felt like I was in another country)
First time to Australia--seeing cockatoos and fruit bats in Sydney
First time to Europe--being surrounded by non-English speakers (West Germany 1983) made me think I am really somewhere else!
First time on the East Coast--It was Washington DC. The humidity!
Arriving in Ecuador for my Peace Corps service--feeling the altitude in Quito and the smell of frying plantains

Bicycling to Chartres, the Cathedral appearing on the horizon from 6 km away.

Every trip to Europe. Last time was in mid-April stepping out of my hotel in London onto the sidewalk to stroll the neighborhood. I savor these first moments as I get reacquainted with London or wherever I’m traveling.

First palm tree sightings by this Midwesterner!! (I don't honestly remember now whether that was just off the plane in Florida or California - but I was enchanted!)

wintea1948, my husband and I still remember 40 years ago, Chartres Cathedral appearing magically above the fields as we drove towards the city. We almost thought it was a vision!

ORDtraveler,
Yes, it was a beacon, wasn't it? I had started out from Paris, 50 mile away, and I felt rewarded to have it greeting me the last few miles, drawing me on. I felt like a pilgrim, reaching my goal.

On my first trip to Paris, in 1999, seeing the Arc de Triomphe as we drove into the city was the somewhat incredulous “I’m really here” moment.

On my recent trip to Edinburgh, it was when I walked down to Princes Street after getting off the tram at St. Andrew Square and saw first the Scott Monument and then, after rounding the corner, the Balmoral Hotel.

That moment...well, the first time in London after my first flight in 1971.

Other such momentous moments were: the first time ever in Paris in July 1973, knew immediately, no matter what happened or experiences ,in Paris, pleasant/unpleasant , good , bad, or whatever, I would be returning to Paris the next time in Europe, which I most certainly did 4 years later, devoting almost another week in Paris.

The first time in Berlin(west) in July of 1971 flying in from Hannover-Langenhagen (that air corridor) on the first trip...unthinkable not to go to Berlin, culturally and historically, and seeing the Brandenburg Gate, if only from its western side.

The first time in Fontainebleau in Aug. 1977....that one really hit me, absolutely could not believe I was there at the Chateau, in light of the Napoleonic events connected with the Chateau, more than Versailles given all the historical momentous events having taken place there.

All these places still hold the interest, the attraction, and the magnetism of repeated return trips, if not the original awe. Going back to Paris and Berlin is like a pilgrimage.

Another such moment was in August 1987, the very first (cold war era) time in Potsdam, couldn't believe I was seeing this place as part of a guided tour from Berlin(west) . Still, the place struck me as if the clock and history had stopped in 1945.

One more place that struck me with the "can't believe I am here " moment was in 2003 when we went to Gdansk, taking the almost all day train ride from Berlin to get there, 2 transfers included.

I had never thought, ie, beyond my imagination that I had come this far east in Europe to the mouth of the Vistula., the lower Vistula area was intriguing to say the least. Seeing that landscape from the Oder to the Vistula was an absolute eye-opener.

The Sacre-Coeur overlook in Paris, my first solo trip abroad many years ago.

The birds in the morning in Italy. How the sounds echo off the rock walls and streets. Don't know what bird it is. But it tells me, I'm there.

1970, after 15 days at sea, arriving in Sydney Harbour, under the Harbour Bridge and docking across from the yet to be completed Sydney Opera House.

My first cruise on The Norwegian Epic.

Standing outside on the dock for. a long time. Then the doors open. And it is security. Very sterile. And I go through security and I start walking. And it gets prettier and prettier. It gets plusher and I am seeing aquamarine.

And I keep walking and checking in and having my picture taken.

And I keep walking and the environment becoming even prettier. Lots of plush and lots of aquamarine.

And I walk into a very large room with lots of people and refreshments and a very large window. I look over at the window and there was my ship, The Norwegian Epic.

I was overwhelmed with the beauty. And I offered up a prayer because I felt so emotional and overwhelmed.

I was going on a cruise. Really, I was. I was going on a cruise. Life had been so hard for so long but now it was getting better. And I was going on my first cruise to the Eastern Caribbean.

And there is one other.

It happened on my Baltic Cruise in 2019.

I was in St Petersburg, Russia. We overnighted in St Petersburg and I went on two or three separate excursions.

One was to Nevsky Prospect Street, a main street somewhat upscale. I do not remember the exact excursion but we went to a restaurant and ate. And then it was time to get back on the bus to go back to the ship but we had to wait because a motorcycle club was having some kind of procession.

So I had time to look around. The street was crowded with mostly locals, not a lot of tourists.

And I remember watching and thinking "they look like us" meaning Americans.

People looked just like people in NYC or Austin or Miami. They did not look poor.

The restaurant had been crowded with diners,.. There were servers, The bathrooms were ok.

Later, there were many bikers on their motorcycles holding up everyone on Nevsky Prospect.

And life looked to be like it was going on. Truthfully, no one looked oppressed.

And I remember looking at these people and thinking "they look like us"

What was I expecting. I did not know what to expect.

And it was a Really Here Moment. I was in Russia and it was at that moment incredible.

For me it was a flight into Rome when the plane swooped in low over the Colosseum. I couldn't believe what I was seeing!

I get that feeling almost every time I'm somewhere new, as soon as I get out of the plane or taxi and I see the beauty of the city.